Rats basically eat & contaminate foodstuffs & animal feed. They even damage the containers & packaging materials in which the foods & feed are stored. They cause great problems by gnawing on the electrical wires as well as wooden structures like ledges, doors, wall material and corners. They also tear up insulation in the walls & ceilings to nest. Among the different diseases that they can transit to human beings or livestock are leptospirosis, typhus, salmonellosis & ratbite fever. Plague is also a disease that rats in Melbourne can carry. A successful strategy of rat control in Melbourne basically includes three elements – sanitation measures, exclusion & rodent proofing and if needed control of population.
Sanitation
This is fundamental to controlling rats and should be continuous. If the sanitation measures are not maintained properly, benefits of the other measures are going to be lost and the rats may return quickly. Good housekeeping in as well as around the buildings are going to reduce the available shelter and the food sources for these species. Off-the-ground storage of lumber, pipes, crates, firewood, gardening equipment, boxes and other household goods are going to reduce the suitability of area for the rats and make the detection easy. Collect trash, garbage and garden debris often and make sure all the garbage receptacles have tightly fit covers.
Exclusion & rodent proofing
Exclusion is a successful and long-lasting form of rat control. Openings and seal cracks in the building foundations & any openings for electric wires, water pipes, drain spouts, sewer pipes & vents. No hole that's bigger than ¼ inch must be left unsealed for excluding the rats. Make sure that the windows, doors and screens are fit tightly.
Controlling the population
If water, food and shelter are available, populations of rat may increase quickly. While a permanent form of control is to limit water, shelter, food & access to buildings, direct control of population is needed. To control rats indoors, use traps. If toxic baits are used, they may die in inaccessible locations like ceilings or walls.
Trapping
This is an effective and safe method to control rates in and around garages, homes and other kinds of structures. It is an affordable option when compared with poison baits and is labor intensive. The best place where trap can be set include secluded areas where rats may seek shelter and travel.
