Residential Customers

Bandicoot Rat

Protecting Your Home and Family from Bandicoot Rats

The Bandicoot rat is a giant rat of southern Asia and can be up to 40cms long, including the tail. Bandicoot rats pose a significant health risk to humans, both adults and babies, as well as to our pets.

The spread of many common diseases, such as Salmonella, Weil’s disease, E.coli and TB, is attributed to Bandicoot rats. They also carry fleas, mites and ticks and can cause acute allergic reactions.

Bandicoot Rats in the Home or Garden

Bandicoot rats feed mainly on insects, larvae, grass seeds and fruits in lawn and garden. Construct burrows in garden plants and enter into your building.

It is extremely serious if bandicoot rats are getting into your home even if they are not entering a direct living area. Any bandicoot rat problem inside the home must be treated urgently, not only to prevent the spread of disease but also because they are extremely aggressive if threatened.

Bandicoot rats are a pest in gardens and other external areas particularly those growing cereal crops.

Not only do Bandicoot rats need to be removed from gardens – and prevented from returning – to minimise damage and spread of disease but also as the first line of defence in preventing them from entering your home by immediate knockdown.

Special care is needed for properties with integral garages or with dog or cat flaps as bandicoot rats can use these to get into the home.

Signs of a Bandicoot Rat Problem

Bandicoot rats are nocturnal and usually hide from humans, so the typical signs of a bandicoot rat problem in your home or garden are:

• Disturbed compost heaps and rubbish heaps – bandicoots will forage amongst bins and compost for food
• Nests – bandicoot rats are known to build nests in warm, hidden places and even under houses, in roof spaces, garages etc. They use shredded material such as newspaper and fabrics.
• Burrows - In gardens, bandicoot rats will dig burrows especially in compost heaps or under sheds. They will also build nests under garden decking.
• Damage to plants and crops - especially cereal and grain crops

How to Keep Bandicoot Rats Away

The first defence against a bandicoot rat entering your home or an infestation by them is to proof your home. Ensure there are no gaps around windows or doors that bandicoots can get through and if necessary fill these with bristle strip.

It is important not to attract bandicoot rats with food – store food in plastic or metal containers and regularly clean under cookers and fridges.

Outdoors, ensure household refuse is kept in closed bins, do not put meat into compost heaps and use squirrel-proof bird feeders.

How to Get Rid of Bandicoot Rats

If action is not taken to rid your home and/or garden of Bandicoot rats, they will soon take over! A wide range of DIY products are available in stores for dealing with bandicoot rats in low risk areas, but we recommend treatment by one of our service technicians for bandicoot rat activity in living areas of your home or close proximity to your home.

DIY Bandicoot Rat Control

A wide range of products for amateur use including traps and rodenticidal killers (“poison”) are available from DIY stores, garden centres and grocery stores that can be used for a one off intrusion by a Bandicoot rat.

It is essential to follow the instructions carefully for safe and effective use. Traps are very powerful and should only be used in areas that children, pets and wildlife cannot reach.

Professional Bandicoot Rat Control

While amateur DIY products are a cost effective way to control bandicoot rat problems in low risk areas, professional pest control is required for high risk areas, more established bandicoot colonies or where there is a repeated infestation.

Rentokil service technicians provide highly targeted treatment to deal with any bandicoot rat problem and will advise on how to keep your home free of bandicoot rats in the future.

Rentokil offers a call-out service to deal with bandicoot rats and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit from one of our service technicians, please call us free on 1800 102 9888.