If you hear rats in the roof or house, first make sure it is a rat and not a possum, then make the roof space safe before anyone looks, and only then trap, cut off food and close the way in. The Queensland Government says to contact a licensed pest control expert to remove non-native pests such as rats. Possums are a different matter: Redland City Council says they are protected under state law.

The short answer: confirm, stay safe, then act

HealthyWA says rats and mice can be controlled by taking away their food and shelter, and its guide also covers traps and bait. SA Health adds that chemical control is generally short term, and rodents return if food and shelter remain.

1. Confirm it is a rat. Ceiling noises can also be a possum, which changes what you may do.
2. Make the roof space safe. Switch off the power at the main switchboard, and wear gloves and a face mask near droppings.
3. Work out where they are. Roof, walls or floor points to which rat you have.
4. Trap first, bait with care. Place rat-sized traps on their regular paths. Any bait follows the label and current APVMA instructions.
5. Remove food, then close the way in. Clear fallen fruit, pet and poultry feed and open compost, then seal the gaps.

Rat or possum: how to tell from below the ceiling, and why it matters

Judge several signs together, because a rat and a possum can sound alike from below. HealthyWA lists squeaking, gnawing or scratching in walls, ceilings and under floors as signs of rats or mice, and notes these noises may also be a possum. Both are mostly active at night, so timing rarely settles it.

Why the difference matters in Queensland

Redland City Council says possums are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and that it is illegal to trap or relocate them unless you have a permit. So be sure of the animal before you set any trap.

Before you go into the roof space: power and safety

Turn off all the main power switches at the switchboard before you go up. Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office calls this the one simple thing a homeowner or a tradie can do to make a roof space safer. It is mandatory for businesses and workers; homeowners are encouraged to do it, so treat it as safety advice that applies to you too.

• Check the power is off. The regulator suggests trying lights or appliances inside to confirm. Tape or label the switches, and tell someone you are going up.
• Remember some cables stay live. The service line from the street and any solar supply cables stay live with the switchboard off. Avoid touching any cable or equipment.
• Use a torch. Take torches and cordless tools, not anything plugged in.
• Know the other hazards. The regulator lists heat, working at height, dangerous vermin, sharp objects and asbestos-containing materials.
• Protect yourself from droppings. HealthyWA recommends disposable gloves, closed footwear and a face mask, particularly when sweeping droppings.
• Leave chewed cables alone. HealthyWA warns that rodents chewing wiring can start fires. The Electrical Safety Office says damaged cables should be repaired by a licensed electrician, and doing your own electrical work is illegal.

Queensland Health says leptospirosis spreads through the urine of infected animals, including rats and mice, and is more common in warm, tropical places and can spread more easily after heavy rain or floods. HealthyWA advises covering cuts with a waterproof dressing, and washing and drying your hands with soap after any clean-up.

Roof, walls or floor: where rats are and what that tells you

Where you find signs suggests which rat you have. City of Gold Coast says three introduced rodents have become pests in Queensland: the brown rat, the roof rat and the house mouse. SA Health says rats and mice shelter in walls, ceilings and under floors, and behind cupboards and furniture.

Roof rats

The roof rat is a climber. City of Gold Coast describes it as slim, with a pointed nose, large ears and a tail longer than its body, found in roofs, ceilings, trees and dense vegetation. Brisbane City Council says grey or black climbing rats generally nest in homes.

Brown rats

The brown rat, or sewer rat, is thick set and stocky and lives at ground level, where it burrows and swims, according to City of Gold Coast. Going by that description, burrows or activity at ground level point more to this rat than to the climbing roof rat.

HealthyWA says rats and mice can breed about every 20 days, and SA Health says rats seen by day usually mean high numbers or a good food supply nearby. For the full list of signs, see the top five signs of a rodent infestation in Queensland homes.

Traps for rats: size, placement and patience

Use traps made for rats, not mice. SA Health says mouse and rat traps differ in size and strength, so identify the rodent and use the proper trap. HealthyWA calls the spring back-break trap the safest for home use, with a plastic capture box as another option.

• Set several at once, as SA Health advises, and never near food preparation areas.
• Use the runways. Rats wear paths through gardens and along fences, and leave greasy rub marks on walls and skirting boards. Place traps across them.
• Give rats time to get used to traps. SA Health suggests leaving traps across runways for a few days before setting them, so rodents get used to them.
• Bait the trap with bacon, peanut butter, fish, meat, bread or chocolate.
• Check daily, with gloves. Remove dead rodents, refresh the bait, and bury or wrap carcasses for the household bin.

The APVMA’s review of anticoagulant rodenticides says rats and mice typically die 5 to 10 days after eating a lethal dose of bait, so bait does not act straight away. For smaller traps, see how to get rid of mice.

Bait in a roof: risks, current rules and dead rats in the cavity

Second-generation rat baits now come with tighter rules. The APVMA suspended the registration of all second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide products, those containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone or flocoumafen, for one year from 24 March 2026. They may only be supplied or used under APVMA Gazette No 5 of 10 March 2026, or the notice issued to the product holder, and these instructions apply nationally. For products with domestic use instructions, it says:

• do not use the product outdoors
• do not use it unless secured in a tamper-resistant bait station, fixed in place where possible
• do not use it for longer than 35 days; if rodents are still active, seek advice from the supplier or call a pest control service
• wear disposable gloves, and wrap dead rodents and uneaten bait in paper, then a plastic bag, for the garbage.

Where a label conflicts with the notice, the notice applies. This is the position as checked on 7 November 2026; the APVMA’s wider review of all anticoagulant baits, including first-generation products, still listed its final decision as forecasted. On 10 March 2026 the APVMA also certified that second-generation baits should be declared restricted chemical products, which would restrict access to people who meet specific training and licensing requirements. Bait also brings a cavity problem: SA Health and HealthyWA warn that rodents dying in hard-to-reach places can cause an offensive odour.

Pets, children and wildlife

The APVMA counts native wildlife such as birds and marsupials, pets and livestock among the animals at risk from anticoagulant bait, and its domestic instructions say to search for and remove dead rodents at each visit. SA Health notes that pets and children may eat toxic baits or poisoned rodent bodies. Keep bait inside a tamper-resistant station, and contact your vet if a pet eats bait or a poisoned rodent, as HealthyWA advises.

What is feeding them: fruit, pet and poultry feed, compost and clutter

Rats stay where food and shelter are easy. SA Health says rats and mice eat rubbish, pet food, food scraps, compost, fallen fruit and nuts, bird seed and dog faeces, and rats travel up to several house blocks for food and water.

• Fruit trees. Pick fruit regularly and throw out fruit that has dropped or is rotting on the tree.
• Pet food. Leave out only what pets will eat soon, and store bulk pet food where rodents cannot get in.
• Poultry and bird feed. Use vermin-proof containers with close-fitting lids, and consider rodent-proof feeders for backyard hens.
• Compost. Do not use open compost, and keep meat scraps out.
• Rubbish and clutter. Use bins with tight-fitting lids, clear unused materials, and keep stacked wood off the ground.

Logan City Council asks everyone to help control rodents on their properties, and HealthyWA suggests talking to neighbours, who may have the same problem. For more ideas, read practical ways to prevent rodent infestation.

Closing the way in: gaps, vents and branches

Block the routes rats use to get inside. City of Gold Coast advises sealing gaps and holes to keep rodents out of buildings.

• Gaps and holes. SA Health names concrete, hard-setting filler, steel wool or heavy-gauge sheet metal.
• Floor vents and rainwater tank openings. Cover them with wire mesh no coarser than 1 mm, and check it regularly.
• Branches and creepers. Cut back trees, bushes and creepers that give access to the roof.
• Food cupboards. Block access points into cupboards that hold food.

When to get a professional in

Get help when your own steps have not stopped the activity. The Queensland Government says to contact a licensed pest control expert to remove rats and mice, and the APVMA’s domestic bait instructions say to seek advice from the supplier or call a pest control service if rodents are still active after 35 days.

• Activity in several parts of the house.
• Trapping that has not stopped the noise or fresh droppings.
• Rodents still active after 35 days of bait.

Bob Gunn Termite Solutions works across south-east Queensland, including Brisbane and the Scenic Rim, and quotes are free. See rodent control for the service.

Next steps

Tonight, confirm it is a rat, clear food away and place rat-sized traps across the runways, ready to set once rats are used to them. If you are weighing up doing it yourself, read why DIY rodent control fails and what actually works in Brisbane. When you want help, see Bob Gunn’s rodent control service or call (07) 3286 9877 for a free quote.