Rat infestations are a nightmare for property owners all over the world, but especially in Australia where they frequently cause significant damage and health concerns. The good news is that there are proactive measures you can and should adopt to prevent these unwelcome rodents from making their home at your residential or commercial premises. Read on to find out more about four rat control prevention measures that are truly effective on rats.

Improve Your Sanitation

To begin with, good sanitation is the best defence against rat infestations you could take. Rats require food and water to survive. Therefore, if you eliminate these resources, they are less likely to take up residence on your property. Proactive rat control means keeping all food stored in sealed containers, cleaning up crumbs after mealtimes and dealing with spills promptly. It should also mean regularly removing rubbish from the property and sealing what rubbish there is in bins with secure lids. It is also a good idea to get rid of any standing water sources, such as birdbaths or pet water dishes left out overnight as another effective rat control measure. Make sure that your compost bins are well maintained and enclosed because rats like to access them to eat rotting foodstuffs that may be in them.

Deny Access to Inside Your Property

Another important rat control measure is to seal up any potential entry points. Rats are ingenious creatures and capable of squeezing through even tiny holes that you might think are too small for them. To deter their unwanted entry, seal gaps around doors and windows, as well as cracks in the exterior walls of the property. To do this, it is good advice to use steel wool or a similar, strong material that rats cannot gnaw through. Don't overlook areas where utilities and pipes enter your home, either. These also frequently serve as entry points to Australian buildings.

Clear Cover That Rats Enjoy

Thirdly, you should maintain your property and its surroundings to get rid of ground cover. Overgrown vegetation, piles of wood and general clutter can provide ideal nesting spots for rats while making it harder for their natural predators to spot them. Preventative rat control should include trimming back shrubs every year so that they do not touch any walls, for example. Clear away any debris or piles of wood near your property, as well. It's also advisable to keep storage areas like garages and garden sheds tidy and well-organised to reduce hiding places for rats.

Consult a Professional

In the end, professional preventative pest control services offer the simplest option, especially for larger properties where all of the other rat control measures would take a considerable amount of time and effort to implement. Regular inspections from a pest control professional can identify potential rat problems before they get out of hand. They can provide tailored advice based on the specifics of your property and employ more targeted treatment strategies to keep local rat populations in check. 

For more info about rat control, contact a local company.