Norway rats, roof rats and house mice each behave differently, nest in different parts of the property, and need a different approach to control. Getting the species right on day one is the difference between a quick fix and a recurring rodent infestation. Tap any rodent below to see how Apex Pest Control treats it.
Most common rat in Sydney
The Norway rat is the heavy, grey-brown rat you will find around sub-floors, garbage bins, drains, and warehouse loading docks across Sydney. They are strong burrowers, prefer ground-level harbourage, and follow the same runways night after night. Our rat extermination approach combines tamper-resistant bait stations along their travel paths with snap traps in concealed voids, then we seal the burrows and gaps they came in through.
The one in your ceiling
The roof rat is slimmer and more agile than the Norway rat, and it lives high. Roof voids, wall cavities, palm trees, and overhead cabling are its preferred territory, which is why most night-time scratching and scurrying complaints in Sydney homes trace back to this species. As your rat exterminator, we treat them with elevated bait stations in the roof void, internal trapping where needed, and proofing of every roof penetration and overhanging branch giving them access.
Small but prolific
A single pair of house mice can produce dozens of offspring in a year, which is why mice and rodent control jobs escalate so quickly when ignored. Mice are small enough to slip through a gap the width of a pencil, and they spend most of their time within a few metres of food. Effective mice control means saturating the active zone (kitchens, pantries, garages) with small bait stations and snap traps, then sealing the pencil-width gaps they came in through.
A single-storey home in a leafy Sydney street faces very different rodent pressure to a multi-tenant apartment block or a busy warehouse. Where the rats and mice come in, where they nest, and how you treat them all change with the property. We shape the plan to your space, your species, and the result you actually need.
Rats and mice in a family home are not just a nuisance. They contaminate food, foul insulation, and chew through electrical wiring, which is a genuine fire risk inside roof voids and wall cavities. Our residential pest control uses tamper-resistant bait stations placed out of reach of kids and pets, snap traps in concealed voids, and full proofing of the entry points found during inspection.
For restaurants, cafes, warehouses, food storage, retail premises, and offices, a single rodent sighting can fail an audit, damage stock, and put your reputation on the line. Our commercial pest control program delivers scheduled baiting, station-by-station logs, and after-hours service so your operation never pauses while we get the problem under control.
Rodents leave evidence everywhere they go; you just have to know what to look for. If you notice any of the signs below around your Sydney property, the colony may already be active and growing. Booking professional pest control services early can help keep the job smaller, safer, and easier to manage.
Rat droppings are large (around 12 to 20 mm), dark, and cylindrical, often left along skirting boards, on top of beams, and inside cupboards near food. Mouse droppings are smaller (around 3 to 6 mm) and look like dark grains of rice. The location and quantity of droppings give your technician an immediate read on the species and the size of the population.
Rodents have to gnaw constantly because their incisors never stop growing, which is why you will see teeth marks on timber, door frames, plastic, food packaging, and electrical wiring. Damaged wires inside a roof void or wall cavity are the most dangerous sign because they are a known cause of house fires.
Night-time scratching, scurrying, or soft thudding sounds from the ceiling and wall cavities is almost always roof rats moving between nests and food. The noises are loudest just after dark and again before dawn, when rats are most active.
Rats follow the same routes night after night, brushing their oily coats against walls, beams, and pipes. Over weeks, this leaves a dark, greasy smear along the route, often along skirting boards, around pipe penetrations, and across roof void timbers.
Look for shredded paper, fabric, insulation batts, or chewed cardboard tucked into wall voids, behind appliances, and in roof corners. A strong, musky, ammonia-like smell in an enclosed space is rodent urine and a sign the colony has been there for a while.
Rats and mice breed fast, and a small problem becomes a serious one inside a single season. Call our Sydney team or book online for same-day rodent control, eco-friendly products, full proofing, and a written 6-month warranty.
The two things that separate a real rodent job from a one-off spray are killing the active population and stopping reinfestation. Apex Pest Control does both, in the same job. Here is how the work happens on the day.
Your pest manager works through the roof void, sub-floor, garage, and external perimeter to identify the rodent species, locate active runways, and find the entry points giving them access. We map every harbourage site, point out the evidence on the way through, and explain exactly what we have found. You then receive a fixed-price quote in writing before we touch a bait station.
Tamper-resistant bait stations are placed along the active runways, with snap traps used in concealed voids where appropriate. Bait is rotated and managed across follow-up visits so the population goes down quickly and stays down. All bait is locked inside child and pet-resistant stations, so there is no loose poison anywhere on the property.
Killing rodents is only half the job, sealing the gaps they came in through is the other half. We proof damaged airbricks, weep holes, pipe penetrations, vent screens, and gaps under doors so the next family of rats or mice cannot follow the same route. Every job is covered by a written 6-month warranty for your peace of mind.
Scratching in the ceiling kept us up for weeks. Apex came out same-day, identified roof rats getting in through a gap behind the gutter, set bait stations in the roof void, and sealed the entry point. Quiet again within a fortnight. Honest pricing, no upsell. Highly recommend.
Mice droppings in the pantry every morning, supermarket traps were not touching it. Apex placed proper stations behind the appliances, sealed a pipe gap I had no idea about, and walked me through how to keep food storage tidy. Problem gone, kids and dog safe. Brilliant team.
We needed a proper baiting program for our warehouse ahead of an upcoming food safety audit. Apex set up stations across the site, did monthly checks, and gave us the documentation we needed. Professional, on time, and our auditor was happy. Will use again.
Rodent jobs are the most common callouts we handle in Sydney, and it is the work our pest exterminators have built their reputation on. Here is what you can expect from every job.
Every Apex Pest Control technician works under NSW Pest Control legislation, with full public liability cover and approved rodenticides used on every job.
Every bait station is tamper-resistant and locked. No loose poison anywhere on your property, and placement is chosen so kids and pets stay clear of the active product.
We seal the gaps that let rats and mice in, not just bait the ones that are already there. Proofing entry points is the difference between a 6-month fix and a 6-year recurring problem.
Book before 12 pm and a licensed pest manager is on site the same day, anywhere across the greater Sydney area, including weekends.
Rodent pest control in Sydney starts from $89, with the final price depending on the species, the size of the property, the number of bait stations needed, and the amount of proofing work required. Your pest manager will inspect on arrival, then give you a fixed-price quote in writing before any work starts. There is no callout fee and no obligation.
Yes. Book before 12pm and we will have a licensed pest manager on site the same day for rodent control Sydney-wide, including weekends. Most rodent jobs are completed in a single visit, with one or two follow-up checks scheduled inside the warranty period.
Droppings are the fastest tell. Rat droppings are 12 to 20 mm, dark, and cylindrical. Mouse droppings are 3 to 6 mm and look like dark grains of rice. Rats also leave louder ceiling noises, larger gnaw marks, and greasier rub marks along their runways. If you are not sure, send us a photo and our team can confirm the species before we book.
Most retail rodent baits are single-feed products with low active ingredients, no proper station placement, and no follow-up. Rats often bait-shy after one bad dose, which can make the next professional job harder. Our pest control for rats uses commercial-grade product locked inside tamper-resistant stations, placed along confirmed runways, and managed across follow-up visits.
Yes. Every bait station we use is tamper-resistant, locked, and only opens with a specific key. The active product is contained inside the station at all times, with no loose poison on the floor or in cupboards. Stations are placed in concealed spots out of reach of children and pets.
Proofing. After Apex Pest Control knocks the population down, we seal the gaps that gave them access in the first place. That includes damaged airbricks, weep holes, pipe penetrations, vent screens, and gaps under doors. Without sealing, the next family of rats or mice follows the same route inside a few weeks.
Most domestic rodent infestations are under control within 1 to 3 weeks of the first treatment, depending on the size of the population and how quickly the bait is taken. Heavier infestations and large commercial sites usually need 4 to 6 weeks of ongoing baiting and follow-up checks to clear out completely.
For one or two mice in a kitchen, snap traps and good food storage can sometimes hold the line. For anything larger, DIY rarely keeps up with the breeding rate and almost always misses the entry points. Effective local vermin control needs commercial-grade product, proper station placement, and the proofing work that follows. That is what gets the population down and keeps it down.
Tell us what you have noticed. No callout fee, no obligation, same-day response if you book before 12 pm. Explore our full range of pest control services, or submit the form, and we will call you back within the hour.
