Rat Control — Diagnosis Before Treatment
Hearing scratching or scurrying at night? Finding droppings in the roof or garage? Rats are a common cause — but not the only one. We diagnose what's actually present, investigate how the activity relates to the building and determine the appropriate control approach.
Pricing & booking
Inspection
$382 incl GSTEligible inspection + rat control bundle
$547 incl GST
Subject to inspection; additional or complex work quoted separately.
Book an InspectionThe Problem You're Experiencing
Most customers reach this page because of noises, droppings or damage they can't explain — often because they suspect rats in their roof. These are the situations we hear about most often, described in your terms, before any solution is introduced. Diagnosis comes first.
Scratching or scurrying in the roof or walls
Light, fast movement at night is the most common reason people contact us. Rats and mice are nocturnal, so the timing is a clue — but it's not proof of which animal is responsible.
Droppings, gnawing or damage
Finding droppings, chewed wires, damaged packaging or gnawed timber is strong evidence of rodent activity. But the species, the entry routes and the scale of the problem still need to be established before any control is planned.
The problem keeps coming back
Recurring rodent problems usually point to an underlying access issue rather than simply a lack of bait. If they can keep getting in, baiting alone only buys time — it doesn't solve the cause.
Signs That Suggest Rodents
These are symptoms — not a diagnosis. Several problems share the same signs, which is exactly why an inspection matters before any recommendation. Rats, mice and possums are frequently confused by sound alone.
Light scurrying or scratching at night
Fast, light movement through the ceiling or walls after dark is typical of rodents — distinctly different from the heavy thumping of a possum.
Droppings in the roof, garage or pantry
Small, dark droppings concentrated in particular areas are a clear sign of rodent activity. Their size and shape help distinguish rats from mice.
Gnawing, rub marks or damage
Chewed wiring, damaged packaging, gnawed timber and dark rub marks along runways all point to established rodent movement through the property.
A persistent musty or ammonia smell
A lingering musty or ammonia-like odour can indicate a rodent infestation, particularly where urine has built up along regular runways.
Symptoms alone don't confirm rats — or rule out mice, possums or another cause. An evidence-based inspection does.
Why Correct Diagnosis Matters
The same scratching in the roof can be rats, mice, possums or something else entirely. The wrong assumption leads to the wrong treatment, wasted money and a problem that returns. Diagnosis determines the correct solution.
Rats and mice require different approaches
Rats and mice behave differently, access buildings differently and respond to different control methods. Treating both as the same problem often means the treatment only works for one.
Rodents and possums are confused by sound
Scratching and movement in the roof overlap between rodents and possums. The weight, timing and location help separate them — but only an inspection confirms which is actually present.
Recurring rodent problems often indicate an underlying access issue
If rodents keep returning, the underlying problem may be how they are entering the building. Correct diagnosis identifies entry routes, nesting areas and environmental factors so long-term control can combine targeted rodent management with exclusion where appropriate.
Our Rat Control Approach
The Possum Man uses a systematic diagnostic process. Rather than diagnosing the problem from one sound, we consider the overall pattern — looking at the reported activity, the physical evidence and the building conditions before determining the appropriate control approach.
- Step 1
Listen
We start with what you have been experiencing — what the noise sounds like, where you hear it, when it occurs and any other signs you have noticed.
- Step 2
Interpret
We consider whether the reported timing, movement and other signs are consistent with rat activity or whether another cause, such as mice or possums, may need to be investigated.
- Step 3
Investigate
Where an inspection is required, we assess the relevant areas of the property for physical evidence such as droppings, rub marks, gnawing, nesting activity and potential access opportunities.
- Step 4
Correlate
We compare what you have reported with the physical evidence and building conditions rather than relying on any single noise, dropping or other sign.
- Step 5
Diagnose
We determine whether rats are the likely cause of the activity and identify the access or environmental conditions relevant to the problem.
- Step 6
Resolve
Where rat activity is confirmed, we determine the appropriate control approach for the property, which may include baiting, access prevention or other measures based on the diagnosed situation.
How Rat Control Solves It
Following diagnosis, this is how rat control is carried out — not as a predetermined product or simply placing bait, but as an evidence-based approach that targets the confirmed cause and addresses access opportunities where relevant.
- Step 1
Confirm what's actually present
Rat control starts from the diagnosed cause rather than an assumption based on noise alone. Where the evidence indicates another cause, the recommended approach should reflect what is actually present.
- Step 2
Investigate access and activity
Once rat activity is identified, we consider where the activity is occurring, the available evidence and the access or environmental conditions contributing to the problem.
- Step 3
Apply the appropriate control
The control approach depends on the diagnosed situation. This may include rodent baiting and, where relevant, measures to address identified access opportunities.
Rat Control Pricing & Service Bundles
We inspect and diagnose before confirming the right work. The standard prices below are starting amounts; additional or more complex work is quoted separately.
Standard starting prices
- Inspection / call-out
- $382 incl GST
- Standard Rat Control
- From an additional $272 incl GST
Inspection/call-out $382 incl GST, plus rat control from an additional $272 incl GST (from $654 incl GST). Standard rat control includes up to 4 rodent bait stations, each initially containing 2 bait blocks, positioned around the building perimeter according to the property and identified activity. Wall securing where required is $11 incl GST per station; additional stations are $61 incl GST each.
Inspection + Standard Rat Control
$547 incl GST
One inspection is included. The work may require multiple visits within the same engagement.
Book an InspectionAlso available when both services are identified
Inspection + Standard Possum Removal + Standard Rat Control
$987 incl GST
Both services must be identified and purchased as part of the same engagement; do not assume the species before diagnosis.
Bundle eligibility applies when the included services are booked together as part of the same engagement. Bundle discounts cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Additional or more complex work is quoted separately. One standard inspection is included in each bundle; the included services may require multiple visits within the same engagement.
Common Questions About Rat Control
Answers to some of the questions we hear most often about rat control.
What Happens After Rat Control?
If bait stations are installed as part of your rat control, our Rodent Control — What to Expect guide explains what happens next, including monitoring, bait replacement, ongoing maintenance and when to contact us if activity continues.
Read Rodent Control — What to Expect
What happens after bait stations are installed, when they should be checked and what to do if activity continues.
Read articleHow to Tell Possums and Rats Apart by Sound
The noises, timing and location that separate rodents from possums sharing the same roof.
Read articleWhy Rats Keep Coming Back: Understanding Access to Your Home
Why rats keep coming back when the entry routes are never found — and how exclusion breaks the cycle.
Read articleRats vs Mice: How to Tell the Difference
How rats and mice differ in behaviour, access and control — and why treating them the same fails.
Read articleAsk Kate About Rodent Problems
Not ready to book yet? Ask Kate — our Possum & Rodent Diagnosis Assistant, here to help you understand your likely problem before you decide what to do next.
Ask Kate about the sounds you're hearing, the droppings or damage you've found, and whether it's likely rats, mice or something else. She draws on the same specialist knowledge as our inspectors, so the guidance you get is consistent with everything on this site.
Booking remains the fastest way to get a confirmed diagnosis — Kate is here to help you get there with confidence.
Ready to Find Out What's Really in Your Roof?
Booking an inspection is the natural next step. You don't need to know whether it's rats, mice or something else — that's what the inspection is for. We'll listen, investigate, diagnose and explain, then you decide what to do next.
No pressure, no assumptions — just an evidence-based diagnosis and a clear recommendation. You stay in control the whole way.