Rodents (6622)

The house mouse and Norway rat are two of the most destructive pests in the United States. Both rodents can be a problem in the home, but the rat is the more serious problem in warehouses, urban areas, and agricultural buildings. They both eat a wide range of foods, and do considerable gnawing to wear down their continuously growing incisors. The reproductive potential of a single pair of rats or mice is staggering; thus, you should control an infestation quickly.

To control a rodent infestation, your primary goal is to reduce the population. You can do this by trapping or through the use of rodenticides (poisons). Trapping with the right size of common wooden-base snap traps for rats or mice can be very effective, but requires some effort and skill.

Some helpful tips are:

- Use plenty of traps; one every ten feet or so is enough.

- Use a bait the rodents are already eating, if at all possible. Otherwise, rolled oats in peanut butter makes a good bait.

- Put the baited traps out but do not set them for a few days to let the rodents get use to them.

- Place the traps in conjunction with poisoning to catch some of the animals for disposal. This eliminates part of the odor problem of unretrieved poisoned animals. Glueboards and other devices may help in some situations.

Rodenticides fall into two categories, multiple-dose anticoagulants and all other compounds (non-anticoagulants). The anticoagulants are much less dangerous to humans and are available in ready-to-use bait formulations. The rodents need to eat them for several days to get a lethal dose. Several new anticoagulants do not require multiple feedings.

Some tips on the safe use of rodenticides include keeping them away from children and pets, keeping the bait fresh, and using covered or protected bait stations in places rodents frequent. After you reduce the population, clean up and sanitize the infested area. (See 6608 Cleaning Up after Rodents on this web site for important health considerations.) Remove all potential food. As a last step, rodent-proof the home or building by sealing all access points such as cracks, utility openings, or broken windows. Clean up and rodent-proofing are done last to avoid disturbing the rodent's environment, which can make them very wary and more difficult to remove.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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