If a child or pet gets into rat bait
For a child, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away. Take a pet to the vet now. If someone has collapsed or is having trouble breathing, call 000.
What's local about St Albans
Rodents
Brimbank says it doesn't provide rat or mice removal services but does offer advice. It lists droppings in cupboards and ceilings, and burrows under buildings and rear storage, as signs to look for.
Snakes
The council says it runs a professional snake catching service for residential properties within Brimbank, seven days a week including after hours. Its page was last updated on 29 January 2024, so ring to confirm. Snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, and it's illegal to capture, kill or harm them.
The grassland edge
The council says the Jones Creek Trail passes the Victoria University St Albans campus and runs alongside very significant, intact grassland. It also says mice are a snake's favoured food, so stored grain and pet food can draw both.
Foxes
Brimbank says foxes are a declared pest animal, landowners must prevent their spread, and it doesn't manage or remove foxes on private property.
Rodent control in a St Albans house
The noise usually comes first: scratching or squeaking in the ceiling at night. A pest business should start by finding how they're getting in and where they're feeding, not by dropping bait in the roof. Bait stations (locked boxes that hold rodent bait) are part of the job, and sealing the gaps is what stops it coming back.
Tell the technician about kids, pets and any allergies in the house so they can plan the treatment and tell you any precautions. Ask which product they'll use, and its full name.
Your part and theirs
You can
- Seal gaps around water and waste pipes and under eaves, as Brimbank advises.
- Keep dry goods in sealed containers and don't leave pet food out.
- Move clutter and firewood away from the house.
- Keep the grass down along the fence line.
Leave to a pest business
- Finding where rodents are entering and nesting.
- Placing and checking bait stations.
- Inspecting for termites and giving you a written report.
Termite inspection and treatment in St Albans
Brimbank lists termites among the topics its property information covers, which is the place to check any building rule for an address. For the house itself, you need an inspection. Don't disturb mud tubes or damaged timber if you find them. Our Melbourne termite page sets out what to expect.
What we'd do about pests in St Albans
Fix the food and the gaps before you pay for anything, then see what's still moving a fortnight later. If the noise carries on, tap Rats or mice with your postcode. Snakes stay with the council's catcher.
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.
