As winter brings their breeding cycle to an end, rats are attracted to the warmth and shelter of your home as a nesting place when the temperatures plunge outside.

The cold weather also makes it more difficult for rats to scavenge for food, so they’ll tend to expand their search to new locations, such as your home and garden.

Since they can squeeze through gaps as small as 14mm in diameter, it’s not difficult for them to sneak into your home. They can even chew through ridge cap plugs.

You may find them hiding in less frequented areas such as sheds, garages, inside roof spaces, walls and ceilings, underneath cupboards, floors and bathtubs and behind boxes. They may also lurk in your garden behind thick vegetation, wood piles and rubbish heaps.

With persistently cool, damper conditions and more rainfall, the increased moisture attracts more cockroaches and in turn, rats.

For centuries, rats have been notorious for causing a nuisance in homes and businesses alike. Look for the following clues to help you identify a rat infestation:

• Droppings look like shiny black grains of rice that are 12-18mm long
• Scratching, squeaking and running noises at night in walls, ceilings, under floors
• An unpleasant musty odour from urine and droppings
• Gnawed food and crumbs scattered around
• Gnaw marks and holes on walls, timber, electric cables and conduits and pipes
• Greasy fur marks from sebum along walls and skirting boards
• Swinging marks from tails on dusty surfaces
• Burrows and tracks through gardens and soil, along fences and flooring
• Rat nests are usually hidden, but look like a pile of various scraps and materials

You can learn more about the signs of a rat outbreak here: Rat and Mouse Guide

Preparing your home and yard is the best way to keep rats away this winter.

Declutter less frequented areas such as attics, sheds, garages and other storage areas to reduce the number of hiding spots.

Ensure your backyard is tidy by trimming excess vegetation and foliage, disposing of fallen fruit, pet waste and piles of organic matter. Tightly seal rubbish and compost bins.

Use wire mesh to cover rainwater tanks and floor vents and install a chimney grate or cap as this is a popular entry site for rats. Consider fitting weather strips around windows and at the bottom of doors.

Remove all potential food sources and water, and practice safe food handling and storage by wiping all preparation surfaces and keeping food in tightly sealed containers. Avoid leaving uneaten pet food outside.

We recommend regularly inspecting your home for entry points, around the entire perimeter, from the ground to the roof. You can consider using products such as waterproof sealant, silicone or caulk to seal off any small cracks, crevices and holes.

Applying strong smelling products such as peppermint oil, black pepper and cayenne pepper around home perimeter can also be an effective deterrent for rats.

Learn more about how to rat-proof your home this winter here: Keep Rats Out

There are many readily available products that you can purchase easily from your local hardware store and some supermarkets to prevente a rat outbreak.

Rodent bait stations are a popular option but may only be a short-term solution if food and shelter are still readily available. Also, due to the toxic nature of the chemical baits, they must be used carefully in the presence of children and pets.

Traps are another common method for rat control. Remember to purchase the correct size for rats as they are larger and stronger than mice. We recommend removing the captured rats as soon as you can and spraying the area with insecticide to remove fleas.

For persistent or severe outbreaks, it’s best to call in the experts.

An Allstate pest technician will first inspect your property to identify the source of the outbreak, as well as potential entry points and nesting sites. We can also check if there are any secondary pest infestations.

We’ll then seal off all entry points and place lockable, tamper-proof bait stations in strategic spots around your home to ensure that they are easily accessed by the pesky rats. Rest assured that these are completely safe to be used around pets and children.
Your technician will regularly monitor and replenish the bait stations, and remove the dead rodents promptly, even if they happen to be in hard-to-reach spots.

Patience is needed as it can take up to two weeks before you notice a significant reduction in the rat population, especially if there is a heavy infestation.

The cold weather makes it more difficult for rats to survive outside for many reasons.

Firstly, as warm-blooded mammals, rats favour weather that is between approximately 18-26 degrees Celsius to regulate their body temperature. With the mercury dipping far below that temperature in an Adelaide winter, it’s no wonder a warm home is so appealing for them.

The harsh outdoor conditions also make it much harder for rats to find food and scavenge for meat, fruit and vegetables. 

Since your house provides plenty of warmth, food and shelter, it’s easy to understand their desire to come inside and make themselves right at home.

Rats can squeeze inside surprisingly small openings – as tight as a few millimetres wide. With further assistance from their sharp claws and teeth, they can even penetrate through tough materials such as timber.

That’s why it’s important to regularly inspect your home for potential entry points and keep them well covered, protected and reinforced where necessary.

If you notice any gaps that are large than a quarter of an inch, they can be covered with wire mesh, sheet metal, steel wool, or hardware cloth.

Here are some suggestions for protecting vulnerable access points:

• Install mesh or screens over vents, chimneys and water tank openings
• Fit weather-strips at the bottom of each exterior door and around windows where there are gaps
• Install a metal kickplate on your door if you notice gnaw marks

Tip 2. Use natural rat deterrents

Strong smells can sometimes to keep rats away by causing irritation to their sensitive noses and airways. You can try spreading peppermint oil, cloves, black pepper and cayenne pepper around the perimeter of your home and possible entry points.

Tip 5. Remove clutter inside and outside

Rats can easily find places to hide, breed and nest in less frequented parts of your property. It’s helpful to check these areas carefully on a regular basis and keep them tidy.

 Some favourite hiding places for rats and other pests include green waste, old furniture, cars, appliances and other hard waste items. Make sure to remove these on a regular basis.

 If you are storing wood piles, firewood or stacks of bricks, ensure that there is at least 30cm clearance above the ground and away from walls.

Tip 6. Use rat baits, traps and poison with caution

There are a range of rat traps, baits and poisons that are commercially available and can easily be purchased from your local hardware store.

 We strongly recommend that you use these products with caution as they can be toxic and dangerous if not used or prepared properly. If you are unsure about how to safely use them, contact Allstate and speak to a pest control technician for professional advice.

 For rat prevention inside the home, you can use cage traps that are safe to be around children and pets.

 Baits and poisons are only able to be used safely outdoors, because they can easily be spread and cause danger to people and pets. For this reason, they must be positioned in out of reach areas.

 Remember not to tamper with the bait station to ensure that the rat bait stays secure within.