RODENT MANAGEMENT

ALEX K GEORGE

BSF-10-002

• Most notorious pests of different commodities in the fields

as well as when these commodities are stored.

• Crops like vegetables, oilseeds, cereals etc., At early stage

in field, are eaten and contaminated by rats.

• Transmission of public health diseases

• Responsible for loss of 1/5 of world’s crop production

RODENT PEST

A few types of rodents

Rats

Mice

Squirrels

Chipmunks

Woodchucks

COMMON SPECIES OF RATS

Basis of their shelter, rats can broadly be divided in to two groups.

A. House rats B. Field rats

A. House rats:

1. Rattus rattus (House rat)

2. Mus musculus (House mouse)

B. Field rats:

1. Bandicota bengalensis (Lesser bandicoot)

2. Tetera omdoca (Indian gerbil)

3. Nesokia indica (Short tail mole rat)

4. Rattus meltoda (Soft fur field rat)

5. Mus booduga (Field mouse)

C. Common species of rats found in both field as well as houses

1. Rattus norgegicus (Norvey rat)

2. Rattus rattus rufescens

3. Bandicota indica (Large bandicoots)

The House Rat, Rattus rattus

The House Mouse, Mus musculus

Indian field mouse, Mus booduga The Indian Gerbil, Tatera indica

Soft furred field rat, Millardia meltada

Rodent species

A

COMPARISON

OF

RODENT

SPECIES

COMMON TRAITS OF RODENTS

Nocturnal in habit

Excellent swimmers

Good climbers

Good sense of smell and

hearing

Can gnaw through materials

like lead, sheathing,

aluminium, wood, wiring, etc

Can enter through very small

openings

Rodents are like breeding machines

………..

Biology

Life span : 1-3 years

Age at puberty : 6-16 weeks

Oestrous cycle : 3-7 days

Duration of heat : 9-24 hours

Mating habit : Promiscuous

Gestation period : 18-30 days

Breeding season : Round the year

Litter size : 1-22

Post - partum heat : 4-96 hours

Breeding potential

/pair/year

: 800-1500

Habits

• Mostly nocturnal

• Can not vomit

• Omnivorous and

cannibalistic

• Neophobic / Neophilic

10

January December

One

pregnant

mouseMay September

Stopping one mouse does a lot!

650

401

One mouse, one year…

4,500

DISEASES TRANSMITTED TO MAN

Plague

Murine Typhus

Rickettsial pox

Salmonellosis

Rat bite fever

Weils disease

Hanta virus

Typhoid

Dysentery

Crop Extent of loss (%) Rodent pest species Habitat/distribution of species

Rice 1.1- 44.5 Bandicota bengalensis

Millardia meltada

Mus booduga

Rattus nitidus

Rattus rattus brunneusculus

Irrigated fields

Semi irrigated fields

Irrigated fields

Jhum fields in north east

Jhum fields in Mizoram

Wheat 2.7 - 21.3 Bandicota bengalensis

Millardia meltada

Tatera indica

Meriones hurrianae

Irrigated fields

Irrigated dry fields

Rainfed fields

Desert soils in Indian desert

Groundnut 2.9 - 7.3 Tatera indica

Millardia meltada

Bandicota bengalensis

Irrigated dry fields

Irrigated dry fields

Irrigated fields

Coconut 4.5 - 55 Rattus rattus Throughout India

Cocoa 30-50 Rattus rattus wroughtoni

Funambulus palmarum

Funambulus tristriatus

South India

Andhra Pradesh & Tamilnadu

Kerala and Karnataka

Storage 2.5 Rattus rattus

Mus musculus

Residential premises and farm level

storage

Extent crop loss due to rodent pests, pests species and their distribution in India

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

3. Exclusion (rodent proofing)

a. Trapping programs

b. Baiting programs

1. Rodent inspections

2. Sanitation

4. Population reduction

c. Predation

d. Cultural practices

1. Signs of Rodent Infestation

1. Droppings

2. Tracks

3. Gnawing Damage

4. Burrows

5. Runways

6. Grease Marks

7. Urine Stains

8. Live Or Dead Rodents

9. Sounds Of Rodents

10. Rodent Odors

Rodents nest outdoors in areas hidden by tall grass,

landscaping, “clutter” or down in sewers.

Rodent Gnawing

Found near

grain or bait

stored in walls

Found near

dead animals or

trash

Indicator Pests

Blow Fly Hide Beetle

Grain BeetleIndian Meal Moth

2. SANITATION

Elimination of potential rodent harborages

Proper removal of trash and garbage piles

Removal of grass, weeds and undesirable vegetation

Proper storage practices to allow cleaning inspection

3. EXCLUSION

Use coarse steel wool, sheet metal, hardware

cloth, mortar, etc for sealing openings

Seal all openings greater than 1/4 “ for mice and

1/2 “ for rats

Use 12 inches of a 24 gauge sheet metal

at the bottom of doors

22

Prevention and control:Exclusion

For a hole, crack, or gap…

Stuff it Seal it Check it often

EFFECTIVE RODENT MANGEMENT IN TREES AND PALMS

•Infestation is small and chemical control like poison baiting,

fumigation is impracticable.

• Types of traps viz.,

•Cage traps,

•Wooden traps,

•Wire traps,

•Snap traps

•Bamboo traps.

•Bandicoot trap

•Double mouth sure success trap

•Union trap

•.The traps should be cleaned by water after each installation and

fresh and attractive bait materials like breads, fruits etc. Should be

used.

a. Traps

4. POPULATION REDUCTION

Snap Traps

Multiple Catch

Mechanical Traps

Glue Boards

TRAPS

MULTIPLE-CATCH RODENT TRAPS

PLACEMENT OF TRAPS

This group is generally used to kill the rats with various

rodenticides. The rodenticides can be divided in to two groups

1. Single dose poison: This group comprises acute poison which

kill the rats by single exposure to poison baits. Ex. zinc

phosphide

2. Multiple dose poison: These chemicals are effective only

after the multiple feeding of poison baits by rats, because their

cumulative effects lead the death of animals. Ex. warfarin,

ratanfin, rodafrin, Vacor (RH-782), silmurin and bromadiolone

etc.

b. POISON BAITING AND FUMIGANTS

RODENTICIDES

ANTICOAGULANTS

First generation

-Warfarin

-Chlorophacinone

-Diphacinone

Second Generation

-Brodifacoum eg.Talon

-Bromadiolone eg.Maki

RODENTICIDES

NON-ANTICOAGULANTS

Zinc Phosphide

Bromethalin eg. Assault, Vengeance

Cholecalciferal eg. Quintox (not re-registered)

Keys to ensure effective control by poison baits

• Installation of fresh baits and bait points in rodents

high activity area.

• Placement of enough bait points to ensure better

access of rodents to poison baits.

• Matching the right bait formulation (loose grain baits/

wax blocks/ pellets)

FACTORS AFFECTING BAITING

PROGRAMS

Availability of other food sources

Insufficient number of bait placements

Poor maintenance of bait stations

Avoid moving bait stations once feeding has begun

Maintain steady supply of fresh bait.

c. Biological Control - Predation

1. Rodents are a food base for hawks, owls,

eagles, coyotes, foxes, badgers, etc

2. Help reduce rodent numbers but may not be

enough to adequately reduce damage

d. Cultural Practices

Soil tillage/cultivation

Irrigation

Crop Rotation

Burning / Debris Removal

Grazing Management