Farmers who believe their farm or aviaries are rat and mice free should look again. Research shows that even unseen rat and mice populations can number in the hundreds.
As a rule of thumb, if a producer never sees rodents scurrying around but notices signs of them then the likely population in that area is around 100 rodents. If they are seen occasionally at night then the likelihood is the population ranges from 100 – 500 rodents. If they are occasionally sighted during the daytime and often at night then 400- 1000 rodents is the likely number. If they are sighted quite often during the daytime then there are at least 5000 rodents around.
Where do they all come from? Rodents are prolific breeders. Females average 6 litters with 9 offspring per year. Under really ideal conditions it is possible to get 14 litters per year. That means the babies from just 1 pair of rats can be responsible for 3.5 million more rats over 3 years.
So what is the best way to achieve farm rodent control?
First, understand their habits.
Mice need only a 60 mm opening to enter a building or cage. Rats need not much more than the size of a 20 cents coin.
Mice only roam within a 3-9 metre (10 -30 foot) radius from their nest, rats are more adventurous roaming often 45 metres – 400 metres ( 150 feet up to a quarter of a mile).
All rodents are highly suspicious, have outstanding senses of hearing, smell and touch, but relatively poor eyesight and therefore roam close to walls.
This means rat baits are best placed close to walls
Rats can climb, jump and swim. In fact rats have been known to swim for 3 days without drowning.
Livestock operations located close to farm dams and ponds are a big attraction for rodents. Farmyard puddles should be filled with gravel to eliminate drinking sources.
An integrated rodent control management plan should always be implemented. This includes eliminating food sources by cleaning up spilled feed, keeping feed supplies secured in silos and using attractive baits such as Rat Blitz. If rats have no other food source they will eat their young.
Attractive baits are important. On farms and in aviaries there is usually an abundant food supply so unless the bait is more attractive than the available food rodents will not eat the bait. There is one golden rule to remember “if the bait is in the belly the rodent will die”.
Rats and mice are very wary So a proper baiting programme is very important. One of the big problems with baits that kill instantly is that surviving rats become very suspicious and will not eat the bait. That’s why Rat Blitz is the bait of choice. Rodents are not aware they are being poisoned and the bait is more attractive than the food source. With Rat Blitz the bait will always “be in the belly”
Thursday 23 June 2011