Don’t let rodents sneak in this festive season

Why does rodent activity increase during the holidays?

Rats and mice are opportunistic. They look for easy food sources, moisture, and hidden places to nest. The festive season ticks all of those boxes.

Here’s why your home becomes more vulnerable at this time of year:

Extra food and rubbish: Christmas meals, snacks, and leftovers produce more food scraps and packaging. Overflowing bins, crumbs, and open containers attract rodents looking for a meal.
Open access: With more people coming and going, doors and windows are left open more often. Rodents can slip inside through small gaps under doors, broken flyscreens, or around plumbing and vents.
Clutter and storage: Decorations, boxes, and infrequently used items may be brought down from the roof space or garage, then left accessible, creating potential hiding spots.
Holiday travel: Homes left empty for a few days give rodents the quiet they need to explore and nest without being disturbed.
Bin areas under pressure: Bins may be full or left unsecured due to the extra rubbish generated, especially after parties or large gatherings.

The mix of heat, food, moisture, and access makes the festive season a high-risk time for rodent activity, particularly in homes with poor sealing or previous issues.

What damage and risks do rodents cause?

Rodents aren’t just unpleasant to find in the pantry; they cause real harm inside homes and businesses. During Christmas, when homes are filled with guests, pets, or children, the risks are more disruptive than ever.

The main issues rodents cause include:

Contaminated food and surfaces: Rats and mice can carry bacteria in their droppings, urine, and hair. Once they’ve accessed your kitchen or food storage, nothing is safe from contamination.
Health hazards: Rodents are known to spread harmful organisms and can trigger asthma or allergic reactions, particularly in children or sensitive individuals.
Chewed wires and structural damage: Rodents gnaw constantly. Electrical wiring, cardboard boxes, skirting boards, insulation, and pipes are all targets. Damaged wiring can pose a fire risk.
Odours and mess: Droppings, urine, nesting materials, and gnawed surfaces create unpleasant smells and hygiene issues, often in hidden areas like roof cavities or behind cupboards.
Ongoing reproduction: A pair of rats can quickly turn into dozens if left unchecked. Once they establish a nest, removing them becomes more difficult and costly.

The longer rodents are allowed to remain, the more damage they can cause, and the harder they are to remove.

What to do now to help keep rodents out

The best way to stop a rodent problem is to reduce the chances of one starting. With some practical habits and minor home improvements, you can make your property much less attractive to rats and mice.

Seal access points

Check for gaps around doors, garage doors, and windows.
Install door seals or draught stoppers on external doors.
Seal holes around pipes, vents, or cables entering the home.
Fix or replace torn flyscreens and damaged vents.

Even gaps the width of a pencil are enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Closing these off reduces the number of entry points available.

Manage food and rubbish properly

Store all food, including pet food, in sealed containers.
Clean up crumbs, spills, and food scraps quickly, especially after gatherings.
Take out rubbish daily, and keep bin lids tightly closed.
Don’t leave food waste in open bags or near entry points.
Rinse bottles, cans, and containers before placing them in recycling.

Avoid leaving food or packaging in easy reach. Rodents will return to any location where they’ve successfully found a meal.

Reduce clutter and hiding spots

Store boxes, decorations, and materials off the ground and away from walls.
Avoid keeping cardboard, paper, or fabric items in open piles.
Clear out garages, storage areas, and under-house access where rodents may nest.
Maintain gardens by trimming back plants near walls and fences.
Keep firewood and outdoor items at least a metre away from the house.

The more clutter around your property, the easier it is for rodents to find places to hide and breed.

Eliminate sources of water

Fix leaking taps, hoses, or air conditioning outlets.
Check for standing water around the home, including plant trays or blocked drains.
Dry out damp areas, particularly under sinks, in laundries, or around the outside of the house.

Rodents need moisture to survive. Controlling water sources is just as important as removing food.

Why Rentokil’s rodent control makes a difference?

While home maintenance helps, rodents are resourceful and persistent. If they’ve already entered or there are signs of activity, professional help is often the safest and most effective solution.

Rentokil offers rodent control services that focus on identifying the cause and helping to reduce the chance of it happening again.

What you can expect from a Rentokil rodent service:

A thorough property inspection to locate entry points, nesting areas, and signs of rodent activity.
Identification of species to determine whether rats or mice are present, as different rodents behave differently.
Targeted treatment plans using sealed bait stations, monitoring tools, and placement based on your home’s layout and usage.
Safe, professional application suitable for homes with pets, children, or sensitive environments.

Rentokil’s technicians are trained to treat homes safely and effectively, without relying on guesswork or general sprays. Their services are tailored to Australian homes and suited to summer conditions when rodent activity spikes.

When should you call Rentokil during this festive season?

You don’t need to wait until rodents become a serious problem before taking action. If you’ve spotted droppings, gnaw marks, scratching sounds in walls or ceilings, or noticed unusual smells, it’s a strong sign that rats or mice may already be present. Households storing extra food, preparing for guests, or dealing with bins that fill quickly during the festive season are more likely to attract rodent activity. Homes with open access points, subfloor voids, or proximity to gardens and bushland face an even higher risk.

Booking a professional inspection with Rentokil early can help reduce stress during the busiest time of year. Their local technicians understand how rodents behave in summer and can assess your property for signs of activity, entry points, or nesting areas. Even a one-time visit can provide reassurance, offer tailored advice, and help ensure your festive season runs without unwelcome intrusions.