Is a mouse plague about to strike Sydney?

Usually in winter, various pests will find their way into homes seeking the warmth that we all crave. Homeowners can often handle a small incursion of mice by using traps or occasionally baits, however this year is set to be a much bigger year for rodents than normal.

The recent rains and ensuing grass, pasture and weed growth has increased the ability of mice and rats to forage for food, which often comprises of snails or grains and seeds and insects associated with grasses and weeds, this also allows for a plentiful supply of nesting material and good shelter in neglected paddocks, yards, parks etc.

This year due to the good season, South Australia and Western NSW have been suffering from an upsurge in mouse numbers to the point where pesticide suppliers are having extreme difficulty in keeping up with the demand for rodenticides. The numbers of rodents in these areas is currently bordering on a plague. There have been reports of larger than average numbers of mice in Tasmania this month.

In the Last few weeks there has been a large surge in the numbers of enquiries and jobs, from homeowners into Sydney based Pest Management Company Pestec's office. In an average week Pestec fields many enquiries regarding rodent issues, recently the calls have tripled and the numbers of rodents that customers are reporting is also increasing.

One customer in Leumeah in Sydney's west has experienced more than a dozen mice that have been caught in traps before calling Pestec to solve the problem. After giving up and calling the experts in, a large business in Homebush found that they had suffered a considerable amount of stock damage due to the "hundreds" of mice that infested part of their storage facility, and in their offices mice chewed through an electrical cable of a photocopy machine causing a short and damage to other office equipment. A customer in Denham Court this week has had a very rude awaking when a rat chewed through the pipe supplying water to his dishwasher, the resultant leak caused the ceiling of the room below to collapse, the room was deluged with water which ruined the carpet, furniture and furnishings, the estimated bill to date, $12,500.00.

Pestec senior technician Rowan Gregson says that "many of the enquiries are coming from residents in semi rural areas on the fringe of Sydney however the suburbs are also experiencing an influx. Normally the mice and rats will stay outdoors but in winter they need extra shelter so come looking in nice warm houses, they simply don't mind sharing" he said.

Apart from the obvious damage that rodents do to foodstuffs, making them inedible, there is a very real threat of our families contracting a rodent borne disease which in a long list can include bubonic plague and rabies. Steps need to be taken before mice or rats are noticed because by that time it is often too late.

Call Pestec on 1800 111 616