Why Eltham is different
Not every small animal is a rat
Nillumbik's pest page separates house mice and rats from the native bush rat and the Agile Antechinus, and it's firm that those two must not be poisoned. Get whatever's in the shed identified before any bait goes out.
Butterfly reserves close to homes
The shire owns and manages six bushland reserves for the Eltham Copper Butterfly, and Parks Victoria looks after the Pauline Toner reserve. If your block adjoins one, tell the technician before any outdoor treatment.
A green wedge shire
The Green Wedge covers 91 percent of Nillumbik, with Eltham one of its key centres, and streets around Bolton Street and Main Road are classed as bush garden neighbourhoods. Canopy over the roof is normal here, and so is what lives in it.
Mynas in the gutters
Indian mynas are in Nillumbik, and the shire says they block downpipes and roof gutters with their nests. See bird proofing if yours are overflowing.
Termite inspection and treatment in Eltham
The signs that matter are damaged timber and mud tubes, those thin earth tunnels termites build. Don't disturb them: CSIRO says several control options rely on finding active termites. Photograph what you can see and leave it for the inspector.
We couldn't confirm a Nillumbik termite designation, and that wouldn't tell you much anyway: it's a building rule for new work, not a map of termites. Treatment depends on what's found, so ask for the inspection first and a written plan after it. Termite treatment explains the usual options.
Rodents in the walls, possums in the roof
The shire says rats and mice head indoors for food and shelter, particularly in winter, and nest in floors, behind walls and between partitions. That's why a technician will want to look there, not just at the pantry.
Possums are protected wildlife, so what's sold as possum removal is really proofing and lawful catch and release on the same property, within 50 metres and after sunset. Ringtails can't be trapped without a permit.
Tell the technician about
- Any small native animals you've seen, with a photo if you have one.
- A reserve, creek or dam that touches your boundary.
- Where garden beds and mulch meet the house or sit against timber.
- Fish ponds, veggie gardens, pets and children, so they can plan any treatment and tell you the precautions.
If it were our place in Eltham
We'd get the animal identified before buying anything for it. Take a photo if you safely can, then tap what you think you've seen and your postcode, and let a local pest business confirm it.
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.
