Reliable mice and rodent pest control services in all suburbs of Adelaide.
Kethas Pest Control has cleared rats and mice from Adelaide homes and shops for over five years. Our tech turns up in the Kethas ute, fully kitted out, for a free inspection of your place. Then we set traps. We lay safe, approved bait. Last, we block the gaps rats use to get in. That last step is key. It’s what stops them from coming back. Most home jobs cost $150 to $500. Every job comes with our six-month guarantee.
Why Rats Invade Your Home or business?
Cold weather sends rats indoors. That’s why our call-outs go up each year from March to July.
Once it turns cold, rats leave the backyard. They leave the stormwater drains too. They move into roofs and walls, where it’s warm and dry. It doesn’t take much of a gap to get in. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a 5-cent coin. A rat can fit through a hole the size of a 20-cent coin.
Rats are also good at hiding. On one job in western Adelaide, a family heard scratching at night. They thought it was a possum. We checked the roof. We found about a dozen rats living right above the laundry. There were no droppings on the floor to give it away. This is common. By the time most people spot the signs, the rats have often been there for weeks.
The most common rodent species found in Adelaide.
Four types cause most of the call-outs we get.
| Type | Where they hide | How to spot them |
|---|---|---|
| House mice | Walls, cupboards | Tiny black droppings, chewed food bags |
| Black rats | Roof spaces, wall gaps | Noise in the ceiling at night |
| Brown rats | Ground level, drains, sheds | Bigger droppings, easy to spot |
| Bush rats | Wild, mostly in bushland | Rarely come indoors |
House mice and black rats cause most home problems in Adelaide. Brown rats stick to sheds and drains. Bush rats rarely come inside.
Signs of a Rat Infestation
Have a squiz for these tell-tale signs: noise at night, droppings, chew marks, grease marks, and a musty smell.
- Noise at night. Rats come out after dark. You’ll hear scratching in the roof or walls.
- Droppings. Small, dark bits near food or under sinks.
- Chew marks. A rat’s teeth never stop growing. So they chew food bags and wires. Chewed wires can start a fire.
- Grease marks. Dark smudges along the paths rats use often.
- A musty smell in the roof can mean a nest is close by.
Spot two or more of these signs? Book an inspection soon. Rats breed fast. It’s much cheaper to treat them early.
Health Risks of Rats in Adelaide
Rats in Adelaide homes mostly link to two illnesses:
- Leptospirosis. This spreads through rat urine. There’s no vaccine for it. SA Health must be told of each case by law. It often starts with a fever and sore muscles. It can harm the liver if not treated. See the SA Health site for more on this.
- Salmonella. This spreads through droppings or dirty surfaces. It causes cramps and food poisoning.
Rat bites can pass on other bugs too. But this is rare.
Kids and pets face the most risk. They’re more likely to touch droppings or nests. Got young kids or pets at home? Don’t wait if you spot signs of rats. Book an inspection.
How we treat your home or business
Every job follows the same four steps. It could be one mouse behind the fridge. It could be a colony that’s lived in the roof all winter.
Step 1: Free inspection. We walk your whole property. We check the roof cavity through the manhole, the subfloor, and the wall cavities, plus anywhere else rats travel. We look for droppings, chew marks, grease trails, and burrows. This tells us the type of pest. It also tells us how big the job is. One mouse is a small job. A rat colony is a big one. The plan changes based on what we find. An inspection takes about , and we can usually book you in for a weekday morning or arvo, whatever suits. We’ll walk you through what we found before we leave.
Step 2: A plan made for you. We pick from the tools below. Small job? We use snap or electric traps. Bigger job? We use locked bait boxes. Some jobs need both. We explain our plan before we start any work. We’ll also tell you upfront if a job needs more than one visit. A deep nest in a wall, for example, may need a second trip.
Step 3: Blocking the gaps. Many DIY fixes skip this step. So do some quick pest jobs. We reckon it’s the main reason rats come back within a few months. We check every gap a rat could use. This means roof edges, pipes, vents, floor gaps, and garage doors. We block them with steel wool, mesh, or sealant. Traps and bait deal with the rats inside now. Blocking gaps stops new ones from getting in.
Step 4: A follow-up visit. We come back in [INSERT typical follow-up window, e.g. 2–3 weeks] to check the traps or bait. We confirm there’s no more activity. We also check the blocked gaps have held up. Still some activity? No dramas — we adjust the plan and keep going at no extra cost. That’s what our six-month guarantee covers.
Ways We Get Rid of Rats
We pick the method to match the size of your problem. We always pair it with blocking gaps.
- Snap traps. Fast. No chemicals. Best for one or two rats.
- Live traps. No harm to the rat. We release it far from your home. Slower. Best for small numbers.
- Electric traps. Quick and clean. Also best for a single rat, not a full colony.
- Bait. Used for bigger jobs. Kept in locked boxes to keep out kids and pets. Every product we use is government-approved (APVMA).
- Blocking gaps with steel wool or mesh. This is the step that stops rats for good. It’s part of nearly every job we do.
DIY vs a Pro: Which Fits You?
A single mouse behind the fridge is one kind of problem. A rat colony in your roof is another. They don’t need the same fix. Here’s an honest look at each.
| Factor | DIY | A Pro (Kethas) |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One mouse or rat, caught early | Many rats, a nest, or a repeat problem |
| Cost | About $10–$40 for hardware-store traps or bait | $150–$500. Covers the inspection, the fix, and blocking gaps |
| Your time | Ongoing. You check and reset traps yourself | One visit, plus a follow-up |
| Finding gaps | Easy to miss roof or floor gaps with no training | We find and block them as part of the job |
| Bait safety | Store bait may not sit in a locked box | Locked boxes. Every product is APVMA-approved |
| Backup plan | None | Six-month guarantee on the work |
Where DIY works well: if you catch one mouse or rat early, before a nest forms, a good trap or bait box is often enough. No need to call us for that.
Rat Control for Shops and Cafes
Cafes, shops, and other food businesses often need proof of pest control. This is part of their food safety plan. We offer:
- Set visits, with a written report each time
- Hidden, locked bait boxes made for food areas
- Papers ready for a council inspection or audit
Setting up a pest plan for your business for the first time? Give us a bell — we quote based on your site size and risk.
How to Stop Rats Before They Start
Prevention costs far less than a fix. A few habits make a real difference.
- Block gaps around pipes, vents, and the roofline with steel wool or wire mesh.
- Fit seals on outside doors, garages, and sheds.
- Keep pantry and pet food in sealed boxes, not open bags.
- Don’t leave pet food out overnight.
- Keep bins shut and set back from the house.
- Trim back any gum tree branches hanging over the roof. Black rats use them as a bridge onto your roof.
- Live near a park or creek? Check your fence line each autumn.
Why Adelaide Picks Kethas Pest Control
SA Health Licensed Pest Control – Pest Control Licence No. 88525, issued by SA Health.Â
Six-Month Service Guarantee – If rats return within six months after treatment, we’ll come back and treat the problem again at no extra cost.
Qualified & Licensed Technicians – Our team has completed TAFE pest management training and works under a current South Australian pest control licence.
5+ Years of Local Experience – We have helped homeowners and businesses across Adelaide with safe, effective rodent control.
Honest, Upfront Pricing – Every quote includes a free inspection, with no hidden fees or surprise charges.
Book professional rat control service in Adelaide today.
We offer reasonable rat management Services in Adelaide. Our team operates fast to save your space and make it secure. Call now for same-day rat management and make your property rat-free with Kethas Pest Control.