How to keep rodents out of your business and home

Rodents are opportunists! If there’s food, water, shelter from predators and a way in, they’ll find it.

And often it's out of your hands whether or not rodents are in your area, as they love clutter in neighbouring spaces, skip bins, bird feeders, compost bins, anyone keeping chickens, or a veggie garden where fallen produce is not cleared, for just a few examples. But a couple of proactive steps can make your home or business far less inviting to rodent squatters.

Start with access points. Mice can squeeze through gaps as small as a 5-cent coin, and rats not much bigger. Walk around your property and check for cracks, gaps around pipes, vents, under doors, and conduit piping. Seal them with durable materials like steel wool, wire mesh, or sealants, but not foam, as rodents can chew straight through it.

Next, eliminate easy food sources. Store all food (including pet food) in sealed containers, keep bins tightly closed, and clean up crumbs or spills promptly. In commercial settings, regular deep cleaning - especially behind and under equipment and in storage areas - is essential. Even small scraps can sustain a rodent population.

Water is just as important. Fix leaking taps, clear blocked gutters, and avoid leaving standing water around the property. Outdoors, trim back vegetation (especially away from your roofline), and reduce clutter inside and out where rodents can hide and nest.

Don’t forget internal checks. Roof spaces, storage rooms, and less-frequented areas are common hotspots. Regular inspections can catch early signs like droppings, gnaw marks, or scratching sounds before things escalate into a hazardous mess.

Prevention goes a long way. Lock them out, cut off their supplies, and your business and property becomes a much harder target.

Finally, consider a preventative pest management plan. Routine inspections and strategic baiting (where appropriate and always compliant) can stop activity before it becomes a problem, saving you potential health risks with pathogens to deal with, time, money, stock, reputation, and a whole lot of stress down the track.

Stay Pest-Free

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