pest_rodents

Signs of Infestations:

1. Gnaw marks. New gnawings or holes tend to be rough whereas, old gnawings are smooth from wear.

2. Droppings. Fresh droppings are soft and moist whereas, old droppings are dried and hard; house mouse’s about '1/8-1/4" (3-6 mm) long, rod shaped, and with pointed ends vs cockroach about 1/8" (3 mm) long and with ridges.

3. Tracks/footprints. Front foot 4-toed and print is in front of hind print with 5-toes. Fresh tracks are clear and sharp whereas, old tracks are at least partially obscured by dust.

4. Rub marks are usually less noticeable and smaller in size than those of rats.

5. Indoors they often nest in various materials such as insulation. If active, free of dust and cobwebs. Entrance usually with material packed/compressed, rub marks sometimes visible.

6. Runways. Frequently use the same paths, usually along walls, stacked merchandise, etc., and to interior objects. Active runways free of dust and cobwebs, with fresh droppings. Tracks may or may not be visible.

7. Damaged goods. Mice prefer seeds or cereals.

Rodent activity is seldom observed during daylight hours, so it is important to recognise signs of their presence. They deposit their droppings on all surfaces over which they travel, and this, together with stains caused by almost continual urination, provides obvious indications of a rodent presence. Greasy smear marks also become evident along their main routes of movement where they make contact with obstacles. Rodents are equipped with incisor teeth that continually grow, and it is essential they gnaw at frequent intervals to ensure these teeth are sufficiently short to enable them to feed and fight. Fire can result from the short circuiting caused when rodents gnaw electrical conduiting.

Biology

The three major pest species are the Norway Rat, the Roof Rat and the House Mouse. They are common in the major population centres in Australia and most countries of the world. As climatic conditions become less favourable during the onset of winter, rodents move indoors for both shelter and food. In commercial premises, rodents can be a year-round problem and mice can attain plague proportions in rural areas. Nests are made of soft materials such as shredded paper or fabrics, close to areas where they scavenge for food and water. The female is capable of giving birth to 4-6 litters a year, each litter containing 5-10 young, which themselves are capable of reproduction three months after birth. Within a year, the progeny of a single pair of rodents can number 400-700. Rodents actively forage for food at night using the same routes to and from the food sources. Their diet includes food material of both plant and animal origin, and, for rats, water is necessary. Mice can obtain enough water from food, provided it is moist enough. Although the vision of rodents is poor, their senses of smell and taste are so highly developed they can detect minute quantities of chemicals in foodstuff; this can lead to "bait shyness". Their whiskers and guard hairs enable them to feel their way in their preferred darkness with little difficulty.

RODENTS

	Rats and mice are commercial pests; they successfully co-habit with humans, eating whatever food they can find and sharing the shelter of our buildings. Rodents contaminate more food than they eat and in so doing, many diseases are transmitted. In conjunction with the rat flea, rats were responsible for the deaths of 25 million Europeans from Bubonic Plague.
Signs of Infestations: 1. Gnaw marks. New gnawings or holes tend to be rough whereas, old gnawings are smooth from wear. 2. Droppings. Fresh droppings are soft and moist whereas, old droppings are dried and hard; house mouse’s about '1/8-1/4" (3-6 mm) long, rod shaped, and with pointed ends vs cockroach about 1/8" (3 mm) long and with ridges. 3. Tracks/footprints. Front foot 4-toed and print is in front of hind print with 5-toes. Fresh tracks are clear and sharp whereas, old tracks are at least partially obscured by dust. 4. Rub marks are usually less noticeable and smaller in size than those of rats. 5. Indoors they often nest in various materials such as insulation. If active, free of dust and cobwebs. Entrance usually with material packed/compressed, rub marks sometimes visible. 6. Runways. Frequently use the same paths, usually along walls, stacked merchandise, etc., and to interior objects. Active runways free of dust and cobwebs, with fresh droppings. Tracks may or may not be visible. 7. Damaged goods. Mice prefer seeds or cereals. Rodent activity is seldom observed during daylight hours, so it is important to recognise signs of their presence. They deposit their droppings on all surfaces over which they travel, and this, together with stains caused by almost continual urination, provides obvious indications of a rodent presence. Greasy smear marks also become evident along their main routes of movement where they make contact with obstacles. Rodents are equipped with incisor teeth that continually grow, and it is essential they gnaw at frequent intervals to ensure these teeth are sufficiently short to enable them to feed and fight. Fire can result from the short circuiting caused when rodents gnaw electrical conduiting. Biology The three major pest species are the Norway Rat, the Roof Rat and the House Mouse. They are common in the major population centres in Australia and most countries of the world. As climatic conditions become less favourable during the onset of winter, rodents move indoors for both shelter and food. In commercial premises, rodents can be a year-round problem and mice can attain plague proportions in rural areas. Nests are made of soft materials such as shredded paper or fabrics, close to areas where they scavenge for food and water. The female is capable of giving birth to 4-6 litters a year, each litter containing 5-10 young, which themselves are capable of reproduction three months after birth. Within a year, the progeny of a single pair of rodents can number 400-700. Rodents actively forage for food at night using the same routes to and from the food sources. Their diet includes food material of both plant and animal origin, and, for rats, water is necessary. Mice can obtain enough water from food, provided it is moist enough. Although the vision of rodents is poor, their senses of smell and taste are so highly developed they can detect minute quantities of chemicals in foodstuff; this can lead to "bait shyness". Their whiskers and guard hairs enable them to feel their way in their preferred darkness with little difficulty.
Management As with all pest management programs, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is an integral part of successful rodent control. IPM involves consideration of all control procedures including attention to sanitation and hygiene, trapping, proofing of entry points and use of baiting procedures. All control procedures are preceded by a thorough inspection of the entire premises to identify the rodent and to define the extent of the infestation.