One population has been thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic – rats! One of our specialised SMART technicians, Elizabeth Stanton, and Region Manager Shaun Azhar, spoke to the Daily Telegraph about how the events of 2020 have driven up rodent numbers and caused an unexpected spike in suburbs all over Sydney.
The pandemic has triggered a rise in rodent numbers
Shaun Azhar said captures were up 35%. “We’ve never had a huge spike in captures like this. The trend is definitely strange and not like other years,” he said.
“Coronavirus has caused an issue because with everything shutting down. we almost eliminated the rats’ food and water supplies and they’re moving to different areas,” Elizabeth said. “There has been an increase in the rat population now because there’s more food and water supply.”
Rats are a tough species which prove particularly challenging in cities at the best of times. As carriers of disease, it is crucial that businesses are proactive about pest control.
Rodent numbers swelled during the earlier lockdown across Australia, as rats looked for new sources of food in abandoned businesses. Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne mean that pubs, hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, retail shops and offices are all prime for an infestation.
Flick’s SMART Pest Control is an intelligent system that uses remote digital monitoring and interconnected multi-catch bait stations. By combining automation and expertise for commercial enterprises, we can quickly get a wide-scale rodent problem under control.
The non-toxic multi-catch stations trap rodents, while the innovative sensor system detects any new infestations, communicating the information back to the SMART Hub. Monitoring 24/7, the Flick team can build a picture of the situation and take further preventative action to avoid a larger problem from occurring, saving time and money.
Used by leading commercial groups, our SMART Pest Control is a transparent solution with results you can measure.
Rodents are not just a danger to businesses, though. Our new “Peace of Mind” home protection plan covers rodent control and year round protection should you have a rodent infestation in your home. Click here to learn more about how our subscription-based pest control packages can safeguard your home.