Rodent Control Sydney

Rat & Mouse Control Across Sydney

Rats and mice are a year-round problem in Sydney, but calls rise as the weather cools and rodents look for warm, dry shelter in roof voids, wall cavities and subfloors. Three introduced species cause most of the trouble: the black rat, often called the roof rat because it climbs so well, the brown rat, which burrows and lives in drains and sewers, and the house mouse. They chew wiring and insulation, contaminate food and leave droppings and nests behind. Sydney's mix of leafy, tree-lined suburbs, older terraces with shared walls, busy dining strips and new estates on cleared farmland gives rodents plenty of places to live. Not every rat is a pest, though. Native rodents such as the bush rat are protected in NSW, so we identify what you have before we treat, then target the entry points as well as the rodents.

Know your Sydney rodent

• Black rat or roof rat (Rattus rattus): slender, with a tail longer than its body and large ears. An agile climber that runs along fences, power lines and fruit trees, and nests in roof voids. The most common rat in Sydney roofs.
• Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus): heavier, with a blunter snout and a thick tail shorter than its body. A poor climber that burrows under sheds and garden beds and lives in sewers and drains, so it often turns up around older buildings and commercial kitchens.
• House mouse (Mus musculus): small and fast-breeding, getting in through tiny gaps around pipes, doors and weep holes. Common in kitchens, pantries and garages.
• Native bush rat (Rattus fuscipes): shy, with rounded ears and a tail shorter than its body. It prefers dense bush and is rarely found in busy urban areas, but homes backing onto bushland can see them. Native mammals are protected under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, so they must not be baited.

Getting the species right matters: a roof rat problem is solved up high, a brown rat problem at ground level and in drains.

Signs you have rats or mice

• Scratching or running sounds in the ceiling or walls at night
• Droppings in the pantry, under sinks, in the garage or roof void
• Gnawed wiring, insulation, food packaging or timber
• Nests of shredded paper, fabric or insulation
• Greasy rub marks along walls, beams and entry points
• Pets suddenly fixated on a wall, cupboard or ceiling

Where we see them across Sydney

• Leafy suburbs in the Hills District and North Shore, where tall trees and overhanging branches give roof rats a path onto the roof. See pest control Castle Hill and pest control Baulkham Hills.
• New estates in the North West Growth Area, where clearing farmland pushes rodents towards finished homes. See pest control Schofields, pest control Marsden Park and pest control Box Hill NSW.
• Older terraces and apartment blocks in the east and inner west, where shared walls, old drains and bin rooms let rodents move between homes. See pest control Eastern Suburbs.

How our rodent control works

1. Inspection and identification: we check the roof void, subfloor, garage and outside of the property to confirm the species, find nests and trace how they're getting in.
2. Entry-point advice: we show you the gaps, vents, pipe penetrations and overhanging branches rodents are using, and how to seal them.
3. Tamper-resistant bait stations: registered rodenticides go into lockable stations placed where rodents travel and out of reach of children and pets.
4. Service report: you get a detailed service report with what we found and what we did.

Keeping children, pets and wildlife safe

We use registered products applied according to their labels, and every bait goes into a tamper-resistant station. We'll tell you where stations are placed and what to watch for. Because native animals are protected in NSW, we confirm the species before any baiting, and we don't bait for possums or native rats.

Why The Local Guys

A real person answers your call on 13 11 05. You get a clear quote before work starts, licensed and insured technicians, AEPMA membership and a detailed service report after every visit.

Rodent control in your area

Castle Hill · Schofields · Kellyville · Rouse Hill · Marsden Park · Riverstone · Baulkham Hills · Box Hill NSW · Eastern Suburbs · Blacktown · All Sydney areas

Also see: pest control Sydney · cockroach control Sydney · termite treatment Sydney · our national mice and rats page

Rodent Control Sydney FAQs

Why do rats get into Sydney roofs in winter?

As nights cool, rats and mice look for warm, dry shelter close to food. Roof voids are ideal, and roof rats reach them easily via fences, power lines and overhanging branches. Trimming branches back from the roof and sealing gaps helps keep them out.

Is it a rat, a mouse or a native animal?

Black rats have a tail longer than their body and climb well; brown rats are bulkier with a shorter, thicker tail; mice are much smaller. Native bush rats and possums are protected in NSW, so we identify the animal before treating.

Are rat baits safe around children and pets?

We place registered baits in lockable, tamper-resistant stations positioned out of reach, and we'll explain where they are and what to watch for.

Do I need to seal entry points as well as bait?

Yes. Baiting reduces the rodents already there, but sealing gaps around pipes, vents, eaves and doors, and trimming branches back from the roof, is what stops new ones moving in. We'll show you where they're getting in.

What attracts rats and mice to my home?

Food, water and shelter. Fallen fruit, pet food, compost, bird seed and clutter in garages and sheds all draw rodents in. Removing these, storing food in sealed containers and trimming branches back from the roof make your home less attractive and help baiting work.

Which areas of Sydney do you cover for rodent control?

We service suburbs right across Sydney, including Castle Hill and the Hills District, Schofields, Rouse Hill, Marsden Park and the north-west, Blacktown, Parramatta and the Eastern Suburbs. Call 13 11 05 to check your suburb.