Mernda and the gorge
Plenty Gorge Park
Parks Victoria describes expansive bushland only 20km from Melbourne, home to an abundant variety of plants and wildlife. Its Plenty River Trail project names a bridge north of Hathfelde Blvd in Mernda and links to Mernda station, so the park is right on this suburb's doorstep.
Rats and mice
The City of Whittlesea lists them as health hazards and says they can damage walls, pipes and electrical systems. That's why a chewed cable in the roof deserves more than a shrug.
Possums
Whittlesea says they're protected by the Wildlife Act 1975 and can't be killed by poisoning or any other means.
Snakes
The council says snakes are protected, are best left alone and will go away by themselves, and that a licensed snake catcher can be called. If someone is bitten, call 000.
Rodent control in Mernda
A good job starts with a walk around the outside. The technician should look at where rodents are coming from, such as stacked timber, the shed, the compost and any gap under a garage door, then at the roof and wall cavities. Bait stations (locked boxes that hold rodent bait) only help if the way in gets closed as well.
A follow-up visit is normal, so ask whether it's included in the written quote and when it would happen. Tell them about kids, pets and allergies so they can plan the treatment and tell you any precautions.
When it's more than one mouse
- Fresh droppings in more than one room.
- Noise in the ceiling several nights running.
- Chewed wiring or insulation in the roof.
- Burrow holes along a fence, shed or retaining wall.
What you can sort out yourself
You can
- Keep bins lidded and pet food sealed.
- Stack timber off the ground, well away from the house.
- Seal gaps around pipes and under doors.
- Empty pot saucers and other standing water before the warm months.
Leave to a pest business
- Finding nests and entry points you can't reach.
- Setting and checking bait stations.
- Closing up a roof so a possum can't get back in.
What we'd do about pests in Mernda
Clean up outside first and watch for a week or two. One mouse in the laundry isn't always a job worth paying for. Noise every night is. When that happens, tap what you've found and 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.
