Australian Shed Vermin and How to Stop Them
Australian Wildlife and Sheds: A Love-Hate Relationship
Everybody loves the fascinating creatures we share Australia with - but when they start getting into your shed, it’s a different story. You could be in a rural area on a farm, on acreage or in the suburbs - your shed is a warm and inviting space for all sorts of critters.
A vermin infestation won’t just damage your shed, it will damage things stored in there and create potential health risks. It could all turn into a costly mess.
Common Pests in Australia
Rodents
Rats and mice are the most common shed invaders. They squeeze through tiny gaps, chew through wiring, insulation, and packaging and quickly establish nests. Once they’re in, they’re hard to get rid of. Prevention is key for these furry fiends.
Snakes
Snakes often follow the trail of rodents and seek shelter in warm, dark areas. While most aren’t aggressive, their presence poses a serious risk. You don’t want you, your kids or your pets stepping on one accidentally.
Birds
Birds can sneak in through open doors or gaps near the roofline. They leave corrosive and unhygienic droppings and often build nests that clog gutters or ventilation points.
Mammals ( Like Possums or Bats)
Possums are clever climbers and can make themselves at home in ceiling cavities. Bats also like to roost in quiet, dark sheds. Both can create mess, odour, and noise. What’s more, because they’re protected species removal can be complicated. It’s better to keep them out in the first place.
Insects
Ants, termites, and cockroaches love sheds, especially if there’s stored food, cardboard, or timber around. Termites in particular can cause severe structural damage if undetected.
What Happens if You Don’t Vermin Proof Your Shed?
An unprotected shed is an open invite to vermin. It puts your valuable assets at risk, as well as your health and safety. If you’re on a farm and use your shed for storing produce or vital equipment, your livelihood could be at risk. Here’s how.
1. Damage to Equipment
Rodents love to chew and they don’t care what they chew. Wiring, fuel lines, rubber seals, and insulation in your tractors, harvesters, and other machinery are all at risk. You don’t just have to fork out for repairs, but there’s downtime on the farm as a result too.
2. Contamination of Feed and Crops
Vermin are attracted to food, so stored animal feed, grain and see is going to be an immediate target. They’ll chow their way through it, leave faeces and urine behind and even spread disease amongst your livestock. Throwing out the contaminated food will cost a lot too!
3. Fire Risk
Chewed electrical cables are a major fire hazard. If your shed houses a workshop or any powered equipment, exposed or damaged wiring from rodent activity can quickly lead to an electrical fire. It’s the last thing you want, particularly in a rural area.
4. Repeated Clean-Up Costs
Cleaning up droppings, nests, feathers, and chewed materials takes time and money and is an ongoing battle. Once pests are in, they’re difficult to evict permanently.
5. Biosecurity Risks
Vermin can introduce biosecurity hazards on working farms. They may carry pathogens that contaminate water supplies or spread of parasites. This could have a big impact on your livestock and your farm operations.
Types of Vermin Proofing Products
Luckily, there is a range of effective solutions designed to keep pests out. These include:
Vermin Flashings – Metal barriers that seal off the gap between the wall sheeting and the concrete slab.
Mesh Screens – Cover vents and windows while still allowing airflow.
Sealed Roller and PA Doors – Keep entry points tight and difficult to breach.
Weather Seals – Added to doors to close off small gaps.
Rodent Traps and Bait Stations – As a secondary line of defence.
Ultrasonic Repellents – Electronic deterrents for rodents and insects.
At Stockman Sheds, we offer a premium vermin-proofing solution called NEVER-PEST. We’re firmly of the belief that prevention is better than cure when it comes to vermin in sheds, and NEVER-PEST is one of the most powerful vermin preventatives around.
It’s installed during the construction phase of your shed, removing the the gaps between the shed wall cladding and the concrete slab. Pests just can’t find a way in! What’s more, unlike other vermin seals out there, this one is made of steel. It’ll last as long as your shed does!
Designed to stop even the most determined pests in their tracks, NEVER-PEST is tough, discreet, and compatible with all Stockman Sheds.
Meet NEVER-PEST from Stockman
Let’s Talk Shed Vermin Proofing
Have a question about vermin-proofing your new or existing shed? The Stockman Sheds team is here to help. We build sheds that last for decades and we know how to keep them pest-free!
Give us a call today on 0493 791 972 to find out more about NEVER-PEST and our full range of shed protection options.