Bait, bites and children
If a child might have swallowed rodent bait, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away; there's no need to wait for symptoms. If a pet has, go to the vet now. After a rodent bite, NSW Health says to clean the wound with soap and water, dry it, cover it with a clean bandage and see a doctor.
Mouse or rat?
| House mouse | Rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Body length | 60 to 100 mm | Black rat 165 to 205 mm; brown rat 180 to 255 mm |
| Droppings | Black, rod shaped, 3 mm to 6 mm | Black, torpedo shaped, 10 mm to 18 mm |
| Holes | Gnawed holes up to 20 mm wide | Holes about 80 mm across, sometimes leading to a nest |
| Ears and tail | Large hairy ears, tail about as long as the body | Black rat: large thin ears, tail longer than the body |
| Feeding signs | Nibbles the outside of grains and leaves the core | Leaves crumbs and bits of food where it fed |
What's local in Albury
Cold nights bring them in
CSIRO says cooler weather encourages mice to find shelter inside homes, which makes them more likely to be seen. In southern NSW that tends to mean autumn and winter.
Sheds, cardboard and stored feed
Victoria's Department of Health says rodents nest in hidden spots, using cardboard, paper, straw and rags. Garages and sheds full of boxes, and feed stored in bags, give them both a nest and a meal.
Renting in Albury
Under NSW rules, landlords are generally responsible for pests at the start of a tenancy, and tenants for pests their own rubbish or habits attract, such as mice. A tenant may not be responsible if they got in another way, such as through a hole in the wall. NSW Fair Trading's dispute service can help.
Cleaning up safely
NSW Health says leptospirosis bacteria can be present in rat and mouse urine and enter the body through cuts, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus usually comes from rodent urine, droppings or saliva. So clean up carefully.
Wear gloves, waterproof clothing and closed shoes, cover any cuts with a waterproof dressing, and mop floors and wipe benches with disinfectant or a bleach solution. Wash your hands with soap when you're done.
What a pest business does
The technician looks for where rodents are getting in, where they're nesting and how far they've spread: roof void, wall cavities, under the house, sheds. The usual tools are bait stations (locked boxes that hold rodent bait) or traps, placed where children and pets can't reach them, then a follow-up visit to check activity and top up.
Ask which product they'll use and its full name, where every station will go, and how to dispose of anything they leave. Proofing the gaps they found is what stops the next lot.
Where we'd start with rodent control in Albury
Look at the droppings first so you know what you're dealing with, clean up with gloves on, and fill the gaps around pipes and cables. If the noise or droppings come back, tap Rats or mice with your postcode.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
