Rodent activity commonly many signs:

• Droppings around your property or in your house
• Fruit and vegetables with bite marks
• Greasy rub marks along paths they travel
• Burrow holes around buildings, in the side of embankments or around compost bins
• Signs of gnawing damage, for example, stripping of electrical cables and bite marks on food containers
• Other pets such as dogs, cats, birds become more excitable in a particular area of the property
• Squeaking, gnawing and movement noises in walls, cupboards, ceilings, under floors and behind furniture
• Piles of empty snail shells with chewed holes in the garden.

Prevention can include simple things such as avoiding leaving food around such as pet food in bowls around but you can also take action:

• Store bulk food supplies in sealed containers
• Ensure gaps and holes under eaves, roof tiles and through external walls are sealed for all buildings
• Regularly lay traps inside your house and baits in your roof and outside and check them regularly for activity. Take care not to expose, children, pets or native animals to the baits. Information about native bird friendly rodent baits is available from the Birdlife Australia website.
• Remove fruit and nuts from trees or vines at the end of the season
• Ensure vegetation does not directly touch your house as rodents use trees and vines as ladders to your roof
• Remove garden waste or other disused materials from your property
• Store firewood away from the sides of sheds and fences and keep it well clear of the ground
• Rubbish bins and compost containers should be well-maintained and free from holes. Avoid composting meat products.

If you have found signs of rodent activity on your property or nearby properties, there are a number of steps you can take:

For more information on rats and mice:

• Department of Health website