No one wants a rat or mouse problem. Rodents have gotten out of control around New Zealand, and a large population of rats and mice can cause significant issues for our homes and for our country. Pest control might be an option, but is it effective?
Pest control will get rid of rats and mice for you, either through a professional company or by do-it-yourself methods. Several New Zealand pest control companies will rid you of your rat and mice problem and help you prevent them from returning.
New Zealand’s rodent population is out of control, so much so that the government has declared war against them (and other damaging predators), with a goal of total extermination by 2050. But you don’t have that long to wait, so let’s get into just who you can call and what you can do to rid yourself of those pesky, pink-nosed pests.
Pest Control That Gets Rid of Rats & Mice
Ridding yourself of rats and mice can be challenging, especially if you don’t exactly know how to fix the problem. Rats and mice are smart and resilient survivalists that you shouldn’t underestimate. These little guys can cause significant damage to make things even harder, and they multiply like crazy, making what was only a small problem last month a monumental one this month.
Even if you hate seeing rodents around, you may not want to deal with toxic chemicals or traps. So, you may be wondering about the efficacy of other pest control and preventative measures.
Rest assured, there are several pest control companies that can help you with the problem and educate you on how to deal with them if they should return. And there are also steps you can take on your own to tackle a rodent problem.
New Zealand Pest Control Companies That Deal with Rats & Mice
If you are looking for a professional to deal with the issue of ship rats, Norway rats, Polynesian rats, or any of New Zealand’s invasive rat species, you’ll find no shortage of companies to help you out.
- Elite Pest Control is located in Christchurch and offers both traditional and non-toxic options.
- Tauranga Pest Control Ltd is located in Papamoa Beach. They specialise in residential and commercial pest control and have been serving the bay since February 2006.
- Rentokil Pest Control is another Christchurch Pest control company. They’ve been in business for 95 years and are the digital pest control leader.
- Kiwinoy Pest Control company is out of Hamilton; they offer residential, commercial, and industrial services.
- S.W.A.T Pest Control, located in Hamilton, uses all eco-friendly products.
- NZ Pest Control in Auckland specializes in both commercial and residential, with thousands of satisfied customers.
- Positive Pest Control out of Rotorua is family owned and operated, offers prompt service and fair pricing.
- Aces Pest Control located in Auckland qualified through Pro-trains, in Urban and Timber Pest Management.
How to Get Rid of The Rats & Mice Yourself
While getting a professional to come and rid you of the problem is the easiest way, it can also be costly. Rats and mice are cunning, tiny devils, but it isn’t beyond you to rid yourself of them.
So, you can go about this one of two ways: preventative measures and elimination.
Preventative Methods of Getting Rid of Rats & Mice
First, we’re going to take some preventative measures. Rats and mice are capable of entering your home through any little holes in your home’s exterior walls.
- Seal and stuff any breaches. Check your home thoroughly and seal any cracks or crevices that might allow rats and mice in. Rodents also possess powerful little jaws, so make sure you use steel wool, concrete, or metal footers to prevent them from reopening the hole.
- Eliminate hiding places. You’re also going to want to clean up very well and remove any clutter just lying around. Remove all your objects away from the walls and clean your drains.
- Eliminate people food. Your dry storage is a gold mine to rats and mice, so you’re going to have to seal it up. One way of doing this is by removing all of your dry foods from their packages and resealing them in a Tupperware container. This will take their food source from them.
- Eliminate animal food. Doing things like keeping your rubbish bins sealed, keeping your garden neat and clean, along with only putting the amount of birdseed in the feed needed for the day, can help prevent another infestation.
Eliminating Rats & Mice by Trapping
The conventional rodent traps are very deadly devices. The force from the impact of the trap closing will often kill the rodents. Of course, this depends on the size of both the rat, mice and the trap. Predator Free NZ recommends humane backyard trapping, where the rat is killed quickly and doesn’t suffer, in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act of 1999.
Here’s how to go about setting traps for rodent control:
- Find the rodents hideouts. You’re going to want to place the trap where the rats and mice frequently visit. Just look for rodent dropping and their food source. If you have already taken those preventative measures above, they should be pretty desperate for a bite to eat.
- Bait your trap. Use food that rats and mice just can’t resist, like, yes, cheese or peanut butter. Then place it in the place you’ve deemed appropriate—ideally, a place they already trust as a food source.
- Don’t set the trap just yet. It’s not a bad idea to put the traps out with food on them, but don’t set it. This will allow the rodents to get friendly with the new gadget, find some food, and trust the source. It’ll take a little longer to rid yourself of the problem, but this is an effective way to deal with a crafty little rodent.
- Set the trap. And wait until morning. Beware when checking your trap the next morning. A strong trap can break the rodent’s neck. Traps like this one are designed to be both humane and lethal. Others, like these, use smart technology and an app to take the inconvenience out of trapping.
- Release or dispose of the rodents. If you are using a trap-and-release trap and setting the rodent into the wild, be careful releasing it. Make sure to wear some sturdy gloves, like chainsaw gloves, to protect yourself from bites. If you are using a lethal trap, use gloves for safety and sanitation.
Some Thoughts About Non-Lethal Trapping
While trap-and-release is a non-lethal form of rodent control, keep in mind that some well-known animal rights organisations, like PETA, suggest that releasing a rodent too far from its home is cruel and will eventually result in the animal’s death. And it would be hard for New Zealand to be Predator Free if we’re all just releasing our rodents into the neighbour’s yard.
Why Traps Are Better Than Poisons
You can always use poison baits to rid yourself of the problem, but this method could lead to other issues. Your pets or children could get a hold of it and get very sick.
Also, Once the rats and mice eat it, they are going to head back home to die. Which most likely is inside your walls. The last thing you need is a bunch of little rotting carcasses decaying inside of your walls.
So, it’s probably best to use a trap and remove them from your home entirely. That way, you don’t have to worry about the nasty little critters at all.
Don’t Be Afraid to Call an Expert for Rat & Mice Control
It might seem as if it’s a task that anyone can do, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Rodents are cunning, fast, and quite stealthily, and eliminating a well-established infestation could be proven to be overwhelming.
Rats and mice are built for survival. They will test their food before eating it, be wary of new objects in their areas, solve puzzles and beat traps, run mazes, and breed incredibly quickly. So, a small problem can soon become a large one.
If the infestation is just starting, you may have the upper hand and will be able to eliminate the problem yourself. Once the colony is established, the game has changed, and it might be better to go ahead and hire a professional to save yourself from the headache.