Stop the Droppings, Noises & Damage

Rats and Mice in Brisbane Homes
If you’ve heard scratching in the walls, found droppings in the kitchen, or noticed chewed packaging, you’re not alone. Rats and mice are a regular problem across Brisbane and South East Queensland. They turn up in older Queenslanders, newer estates, units, and commercial buildings — anywhere they can find food, water, and somewhere to nest.
In suburbs from Kedron and Chermside through to Carindale, Logan, and further out, we see the same patterns. Mice tend to move in during cooler months or after a dry spell when outdoor food gets scarce. Rats are more opportunistic and will take advantage of open bins, and pet food left outside, or gaps around pipes and eaves. Once they’re inside they breed quickly, so a small problem can become a bigger one within a few weeks.
How they get in
Rodents don’t need a big hole. Mice can squeeze through gaps the size of a pencil. Rats need something a bit larger, but they still use the same entry points: gaps under doors, holes around plumbing, damaged roof tiles, open vents, and poorly sealed wall cavities. In many Brisbane homes the underfloor area of a Queenslander or the roof space gives them easy access once they’re past the outer barriers.
You’ll usually notice the signs before you see the animal itself. Common ones include dark droppings (especially in cupboards or along walls), gnaw marks on food packaging or timber, a musty smell, and grease marks where they repeatedly run along the same path. You might also hear movement at night. If pets suddenly start staring at walls or the ceiling, that’s another clue.
Why DIY often falls short
A lot of people start with supermarket traps or bait stations. Those can catch or kill individual rodents, but they rarely solve the underlying issue. If there’s still an entry point and a food source, more will simply move in. Baits also need to be used carefully around kids and pets, and dead rodents can end up in hard-to-reach places and create odours.
The more effective approach is to find out how they’re getting in, deal with the current activity, and reduce the chances of them coming straight back. That usually means a combination of inspection, targeted baiting and some practical exclusion work.
How we handle rat and mice jobs
When we come out we start by walking the property and checking the common entry points — roof, eaves, under the house, around pipes, and any gaps in walls or doors. We look for droppings, runs, and nesting material so we can see how active the problem is.
From there we set up a treatment that suits the situation. That can include secure bait stations, trapping, and recommendations on sealing the main entry points. We talk through pet-safe options and make sure any bait is placed where kids and animals can’t reach it. Most residential jobs start from $355, and we quote the full job before we begin so you know the cost upfront.
Because we’re based in Kedron and work across Brisbane and surrounding areas every week, we see the local conditions that make rodent problems more common at certain times of year. Same-week appointments are usually available.
Simple things that help
While a proper treatment deals with the current infestation, a few habits make your place less attractive long-term:
• Keep bins sealed and away from the house where possible.
• Don’t leave pet food out overnight.
• Store pantry food in sealed containers.
• Trim vegetation that touches the roof or walls.
• Check and seal obvious gaps around pipes, vents, and doors.
These steps won’t stop every rodent, but they reduce the easy opportunities. In Brisbane’s climate, though, it’s still common for rats or mice to find a way in at some point — especially in older homes or properties near parks and bushland.
When it’s worth calling
If you’re seeing droppings regularly, hearing activity at night, or finding new damage, it’s usually better to get it checked properly rather than relying on traps alone. A quick inspection shows where they’re coming from and what needs to be done to clear them. Leaving it can lead to damage to wiring, insulation, pipes and stored goods, plus the health risks that come with rodent droppings.
MacCotter Termite & Pest Control is a family-owned and operated business based in Kedron. We cover Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich and surrounding suburbs. Call 1300 366 627 or request a quote online and we’ll assess the problem and give you a clear price before we start any work.