Rodent Control: Protect your Home this Winter from Rats and Mice

As the temperature drops, rodents like rats and mice begin to seek warm, dry places to shelter, nest, and find food. Your home, shed, garage, or garden can easily become their perfect winter hideout. Understanding why rodents seek shelter during the colder months—and how to prevent them—is crucial for protecting your property from infestations by using effective rodent control strategies.

Understanding Rodent Behaviour in Winter

Rodents are warm-blooded creatures that don’t hibernate. When winter arrives, they instinctively seek warmth. They look for environments that provide easy access to food, water, and nesting materials. Human homes, sheds, and garages offer all three.

Sources of Shelter

• Warmth: Central heating and insulation make indoor areas more inviting for rodents.

• Food Sources: Pet food, bird seed, pantry items, and rubbish bins are irresistible treats.

• Nesting Materials: Insulation, cardboard, fabric, and paper provide ideal nesting opportunities.

  
  

Driven by scarcity, rats push past their physical limits in winter. Their climbing, jumping and squeezing abilities become even more extreme. They can scale brick walls, climb pipes and even run along power lines to access warmer spaces!

Even the smallest gaps around doors, vents, or pipes can serve as entry points. Mice can squeeze through holes as small as a 5-cent coin, while rats only need a gap the size of a 20-cent coin. Rodents are incredibly adaptable and will settle anywhere that offers shelter from the cold.

Common Winter Nesting Spots for Rats and Mice

Inside the Home

• Roof cavities and attic spaces

• Behind kitchen appliances

• Inside walls and insulation

• Under floorboards or crawl spaces

• Pantry corners and cupboards

  
  

Sheds and Garages

• Behind storage boxes or shelving

• Among tools, tarps, and unused equipment

• Inside stored garden furniture or BBQ covers

• Nesting in the insulation of hot water systems or refrigerators

  
  

Garden Areas

• Under decks or patios

• In compost bins or wood piles

• Beneath garden sheds

• In dense vegetation, unused pots, or greenhouses

Mice and Rats often hoard food in winter, creating hidden stockpiles in drawers, insulation or under appliances. Homeowners may find these stashes - usually pet food, seeds or scraps - far from the source.

Strategies for Rodent Control to Prevent Infestations during the Cold Season

Rodents are one of the most disruptive household pests in Australia. Given the high concern for disease, property damage, and winter invasions, it's essential to prevent rodent problems before they start. Here’s a checklist to rodent-proof your property:

When to Get Professional Help for Rodent Control

If you encounter persistent rodent signs, it's time to seek help. Look out for:

• Persistent or Growing Infestation: If you continue to see signs like droppings, gnaw marks, or hear scratching noises, the problem is likely bigger than it appears.

• Multiple Entry Points or Hard-to-Access Areas: Rodents can enter through tiny gaps and hide in hard-to-reach places. Professionals can locate and seal these effectively.

• Health Risks and Contamination Concerns: Rodents carry diseases. If you have young children or anyone with a compromised immune system, expert treatment is safer.

• Damage to Property or Wiring: Chewed electrical wires or structural damage requires urgent professional attention to prevent hazards.

• Failed DIY Control Attempts: If your attempts to control the problem aren't working, consider calling in pest control experts.

• Large or Commercial Properties: Professional pest control is essential for thorough treatment and ongoing prevention in larger spaces.

  
  

Conclusion

Calling a professional early can save you time, money, and stress, while protecting your health and property. If any signs sound familiar, consult a licensed pest control service promptly.