What Are Rodents?

Key Takeaways

• Rodents are mammals with continuously growing front teeth, which is why they gnaw constantly.
• The pest rodents in Australian homes are the Norway rat, roof rat and house mouse.
• Rodents contaminate food, damage wiring and can spread disease.
• Food, water and shelter keep them coming back, so removing these is the first step.
• Our treatments are suitable for children and pets.

What Are Rodents?

Rodents (Rodentia) are a group of mammals including squirrels, dormice, mice, rats, gerbils, beavers, gophers, kangaroo rats, porcupines, pocket mice, spring-hares, and many others. In Australia, there are more than 60 native species, including the well-known water rat, bush rat and stick-nest rats.

There are more than 2,200 species of rodents worldwide. Rodents have specialised teeth for chewing and biting. These teeth grow continually and are kept short through constant grinding.

Are Rodents Mammals?

Yes. Rodents are warm-blooded, furry mammals that feed their young milk. Their defining feature is a single pair of strong, ever-growing incisors in each jaw.

Not every small furry animal is a rodent. Kangaroos are sometimes mixed up with them, but kangaroos are marsupials, not rodents, and they have very different teeth and habits.

Rodents List: The Pest Species in Australian Homes

Three introduced species cause most problems in homes and businesses across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Logan.

Species	What to know
House mouse	Can squeeze through gaps of about 8 mm and leaves holes up to about 20 mm
Norway rat	A common pest rat, leaving holes of about 80 mm
Roof rat	A pest rat that is also found around homes

If you searched for “rodant”, the correct spelling is rodent, and you are in the right place for information on rats and mice. Most rodents are small animals with robust bodies, short limbs, and long tails. They use their sharp incisors to defend themselves, gnaw food and excavate burrows.

Why Rodents Are Hard to Control

Rodents are very clever. They can quickly learn to avoid poisoned baits, which makes them difficult pests to deal with.

A rat can squeeze through a very small opening, and a mouse can pass through a gap of about 8 mm. Because their teeth keep growing, they must keep gnawing, and that includes timber, plastic, pipes and electrical cables.

How Rodents Get Into Your Home

Rodents need very little room to get inside. Once in, they nest in quiet, warm spaces close to food and water.

Entry point	What to do
Gaps around pipes and cables	Seal with wire or fine mesh
Openings under buildings	Cover with wire or fine mesh
Gaps around windows and doors	Repair damaged seals and screens
Overhanging branches and tall grass	Trim them back

Check the outside of the house first, because that is where most entry points are found. Walk the perimeter, look for gaps, and seal anything you find.

What Do Rodents Eat?

Rodents eat a lot of different foods including leaves, fruits, seeds, and small invertebrates. Pest rodents living near people take advantage of whatever is left out.

• Pet food and bird seed.
• Pantry items such as grains, cereal and pasta.
• Food scraps in open bins.
• Fruit and nuts dropped in the yard.

Rodents and Disease

The presence of rats and mice in buildings can result in food spoilage and contamination, physical damage caused by gnawing which can sometimes lead to costly fires, and the transmission of diseases to humans.

One example is salmonellosis, which is spread when people eat food that has been contaminated by the droppings or saliva of rats.

Signs of a Rodent Problem

Rodents are mostly active at night, so the signs often show up before the animal does.

• Droppings along walls, in cupboards and near food.
• Gnaw marks on timber, packaging and cables.
• Greasy smear marks along walls and skirting.
• Holes and burrows in the garden, roughly 20 mm wide for a mouse and 80 mm for a rat.
• Scratching or scurrying sounds in the roof or walls.

How to Manage Your Rodent Problem

Good housekeeping makes a home less appealing. The aim is to remove the food, water and shelter that rodents need.

• Always keep doors to food cupboards closed.
• Place all food waste in a bin with a close fitting lid.
• Keep any animal food in metal bins with a tight lid.
• Keep your yards free of all waste food.
• Keep your house dry to deny rodents access to water.
• Clear your land and house of all rubbish and timber.
• Keep grass cut short and dispose of cuttings at the tip. High grass and long weeds hide rodent burrows.
• Cover entry points around windows and openings under buildings with wire or fine mesh.

If signs continue after these steps, it is time to call a professional. Read more about our rodent control service.

Rodent Control Checklist

Use this quick checklist each month to stay ahead of a problem. It takes only a few minutes and catches issues early.

• Check food cupboards and pet food containers are sealed.
• Look for new droppings or gnaw marks in the pantry, garage and roof void.
• Inspect the outside of the house for new gaps or damage.
• Empty and clean bins, and keep lids closed.
• Clear piles of timber, rubbish and long grass.

Get Help from Control Pest Management

Our technicians are licensed, fully insured and police checked, and our treatments are suitable for children and pets. We service the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Gladstone and Logan. Ask about general pest control, or request a free quote. Call 1300 357 246.