The 3 main rodent species considered pests in Australia
The Norway Rat or Sewer Rat (Ratus Norvegicus)
A larger rat that lives at ground level.
The Roof Rat (Rattus Ratus)
A slender rat with a pointed nose, large ears, a tail longer than its head and body, and a very skilled climber.
The House Mouse (Mus Musculus)
Will colonise a variety of habitats. Because of its size and ability to move about quietly, infestations will go unnoticed until numbers are large.
DIY Prevention
You may be able to block entry holes and pay close attention to sanitation and hygiene. Pruning back bushes to discourage easy access for climbing rats to your roof may help. Aviaries, rabbit hutches, compost bins will all attract rats and mice. So placing these away from the house is important.
Life Cycle & Habitat
Rats and mice are mammals, warm blooded animals, which belong to the group known as rodents. They live in most countries sharing food and shelter with humans.
These pests are responsible for large amounts of food loss and contamination from the crop stage through to the storage of processed foods. They are incontinent which means they continually urinate along their trails and on food. We feel fear at their ability to transmit disease. Bubonic Plague or black death (which is transmitted to humans via the Oriental rat flea) killed 25 million people in 14th Century Europe. Although not a problem in present day Australia, other diseases - eg. salmonellosis, do exist.