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PESTS:
RODENTS
 Rats
and mice live in drains, under concrete,
in garbage and refuse, kitchen, subfloors,
roof voids, wall cavities, behind
cupboards and any other area where there
is moisture and food.
They
leave their droppings and urine over every
surface over which they pass, as well as
leaving greasy smear marks along surfaces
that they rub against. This poses a great
health risk. Several centuries ago, rats
were responsible for spreading the Bubonic
Plague in Europe, causing the loss of 25
million lives.
Rodents
are generally nocturnal, foraging for food
at night and always using the same route
to travel to and fro. Their diet includes
both plant and animal matter, and water is
essential for all except the mice who can
often obtain enough moisture from
foodstuffs.
Rodents
have very poor vision, but an extremely
well developed sense of smell allows them
to detect food, also identifying minute
quantities of chemicals in that food. For
this reason, they will avoid bait packs
that have been handled by human
hands.
Whiskers
and guard hairs enable them to feel their
way in through dark spaces.
All
rodents possess incisor teeth that
continually grow. It is essential for them
to gnaw at things in order to keep the
length right for eating and also for
fighting. Rats often cause electrical
fires because they gnaw through conduit
and electrical junction boxes, damaging
the wiring and causing
short-circuits.
Rats
and mice often become a serious problem
when their nesting ground is disturbed, or
their food source is removed. Homes near
schools often suffer an infestation during
the holidays when rodents are forced to
look for a replacement for the food found
in bins and around the yard during the
term. The onset of winter also encourages
them to move indoors.
People
who live near rivers or creeks are most
often troubled by rats who make use of the
local water supply while living in a nest
somewhere on their premises.
The
female is capable of giving birth to 4
– 6 litters each year.
Each litter contains between 5 and 15
young, each of which is capable of
reproducing within 3 months. The resulting
population of that one mating pair numbers
between 400 and 700.
It
is essential to have a professional
knowledge of rodents and their habits
before you can hope to eradicate them.
There are various options available for
the control of these pests, including
baits and both sticky and mechanical
traps. A professional pest consultant can
select the most effective method of
eradication for each type of rodent. It is
important to note that over time, pests
become immune to chemicals, but a
qualified pest consultant will have
up-to-date information on any new products
developed to counteract this
problem.
NOTE:
Any baiting should be carried out in such
a way as to keep the bait out of reach of
both children and pets.
The
first and most necessary part of
prevention or treatment is an inspection
by a qualified pest consultant to
determine the type and extent of
infestation.
Which
Is It?: Rats
and Mice
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