GREATER Hobart is in the grip of a rodent infestation, with a big rise in the number of residents seeking pest control services.
Pest exterminators say rats and mice have been out in force, and hardware stores have reported a jump in sales of traps and baits.
Scorpion Universal Pest Management owner Jason Eyles has had a 200 per cent increase in calls in the past fortnight from Hobart residents worried about rats and mice in their homes.
Millipedes had been a problem earlier this year, but in the past few weeks the focus was on rodents.
"Call-outs have skyrocketed. People are sighting them everywhere," Mr Eyles said.
"We might be heading for another plague .... all indications tell us we could be facing plague proportions this year."
The rodent season had started earlier than usual and would continue until July or August.
Mr Eyles said an unusually warm spring and summer had created favourable breeding conditions.
With the arrival of cool weather, rats and mice were looking for warmth in homes and sheds.
Mr Eyles said they were appearing in "nearly every suburb" in Hobart, especially those near bushland, such as Cambridge, South Hobart and Rosetta.
Rats are most prevalent in inner city areas, while mice are more common in outer suburbs. Possums are an increasing problem in city fringe areas.
Other pest controllers report a similar rise in demand for rodent extermination.
Mr Eyles said newer homes were as susceptible as older homes, because many were not built to keep pests out.
K&D sales assistant James Gunst said customers had been stocking up on traps and baits recently to rid their homes of pests.
He said mouse traps were becomingly increasingly hi-tech, with traps ranging from a couple of dollars for more traditional varieties up to $45 for electric traps.
He said more humane traps, which enable live mice and rats to be released elsewhere later, were also popular.
linda.smith@news.com.au
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