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Invasive Rat Control Victoria
The brown rat, also known as the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), is a highly adaptable invasive pest that can cause significant damage to agricultural, commercial and industrial properties across Australia.
Brown rats are commonly found around buildings, food storage areas, livestock facilities, poultry farms, waste areas and waterways, where they can contaminate food, damage infrastructure and compete with native wildlife. They can also carry and transmit diseases and parasites that present biosecurity and public health concerns.
Their rapid breeding and ability to access food, water and shelter can allow populations to increase quickly. Effective rat control requires early detection, targeted control measures and ongoing monitoring to reduce populations and prevent reinfestation.
The Agricultural, Commercial & Public Health Risks of Invasive Rats:
Pest rodents can create significant ongoing problems for agricultural, commercial and industrial properties. If left unmanaged, brown rat populations can cause damage to infrastructure, contaminate food and feed, and create biosecurity and environmental concerns.
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Livestock & Poultry Facilities: Rats can enter poultry sheds, livestock facilities, feed storage areas and other agricultural buildings. They can consume and contaminate animal feed, damage equipment and contribute to the spread of pathogens.
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Feed Contamination & Production Losses: Rodent activity can result in contaminated or wasted feed, damage to stored products and additional cleaning, maintenance and pest management costs.
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Structural & Infrastructure Damage: Brown rats have strong gnawing instincts and can damage electrical wiring, insulation, building materials, plumbing and other infrastructure. In agricultural and commercial facilities, this can result in costly repairs and operational disruption.
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Biosecurity & Public Health: Rats can carry bacteria, parasites and other pathogens and may contribute to the spread of disease through contamination of food, feed, surfaces and water.
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Impacts on Native Wildlife: In some natural and peri-urban environments, invasive rats can compete with native wildlife for food and shelter and prey on native birds, reptiles and small mammals.
Professional, Integrated Rodent Management & Eradication:
Complete Vertebrate Pest Management (CVPM) delivers licensed, enterprise-grade invasive rodent management and commercial rat control services throughout Victoria.
. We plan and execute custom, evidence-based, and heavily targeted pest management programs tailored specifically to shield complex food production networks, commercial properties, public land infrastructure, and government assets.
Our rat control programs combine site assessment, targeted control and preventative measures:
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Site Assessment & Monitoring: Inspecting buildings, feed storage areas and surrounding grounds to identify rodent activity, entry points, harbourage areas, feeding locations and signs of infestation. Monitoring equipment may be used where appropriate to identify activity and guide control measures.
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Targeted Rodent Control: Implementing appropriate control methods based on the site, level of infestation and surrounding environment, with measures designed to reduce rodent numbers while minimising risks to livestock, pets and non-target wildlife.
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Exclusion & Prevention: Identifying potential entry points, harbourage areas and conditions that support rodent activity. Recommendations may include improving building exclusion, securing feed and grain storage, removing harbourage and addressing access to food and water.
Rodent Control for Commercial, Agricultural & Government Properties
CVPM provides professional rodent control services for poultry farms, agricultural businesses, commercial and industrial properties, government agencies and public assets across Victoria.
Each program is tailored to the site and operating environment, with a focus on reducing rodent activity, protecting feed and infrastructure, supporting biosecurity and minimising risks to livestock and non-target wildlife.
Control programs may include site inspections, monitoring, targeted trapping, exclusion, harbourage reduction and other appropriate control measures based on the conditions identified on site.
All work is carried out in accordance with applicable Victorian legislation, site requirements and relevant safety and environmental controls.
Methods of Control
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Trapping
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Shooting with PCP Rifles Thermal / Night vision
Brown Rat
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Black Rat
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Economic & Environmental impacts
Brown Rat
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Brown rats are considered a significant pest due to their ability to adapt to various
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environments and their potential to cause damage to property and agriculture.
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They can contaminate food stores, damage buildings by gnawing on structures and electrical wires.
Environmental impacts
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They compete with native Australian wildlife for resources and can negatively impact native species,
particularly through predation on eggs and young.
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Brown rats are ground-dwelling and often burrow, though they are also known to climb.
They are strong swimmers and commonly found in areas like sewers and wetlands.
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They are known carriers of various diseases that can be transmitted to humans through contact
with their urine, feces, or saliva, or through bites and scratches.
Economic impacts
Black Rat
Economic impacts
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Black rats are known to damage crops, including citrus and other fruits, leading to significant yield losses and reduced farm income.
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Rodents can cause damage to buildings and infrastructure by gnawing on wires, pipes, and other materials.
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Black rats contaminate food storage and processing facilities, leading to spoilage and economic losses.
Environmental impacts
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They compete with native Australian wildlife for resources and can negatively impact native species, particularly through predation on eggs and young.
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Brown rats are ground-dwelling and often burrow, though they are also known to climb. They are strong swimmers and commonly found in areas like sewers and wetlands.
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They are known carriers of various diseases that can be transmitted to humans through contact with their urine, feces, or saliva, or through bites and scratches.
