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Rats & Mice? Contact: Pestsafe
Pest Control & Elimination
Manager: Melissa Wearne
Free call: 1800 047 700
Address: Unit 6 12-18 Victoria Street East, LIDCOMBE N.S.W. 2141
Phone No: 02 9646 1590 | Fax: 02 9646 1768
Email: melissa@pestsafe.com.au
or melissa@enviropest.com.au
Rats, Mice & Rodent control
Rats and mice are, next to man, the most successful animals on earth in terms of
abundance and diversity. Man has unwittingly help their spread throughout the
word by exploration and his own success. However, they have in some
circumstances become his worst enemy. So how do you build a better mouse
trap?
Billions of dollars each year is lost by contamination of food by rodent
droppings, urine and hair. Rodents destroy much more food than they could
possibly eat, and their chewing habits have been responsible for causing fires.
They are so prodigious that within a year a rat can have between thirty and
eighty offspring, depending on the species -one pair could generate fifteen
thousand rats in their life span. Rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a
20 cent piece, fall 20 metres with no injury, tread water for 3 days, eat all
sorts of food and survive an atomic bomb test.
SPECIES
THE ROOF RAT
(Rattus rattus) or black rat/ship rat is the rat responsible for the Black
Plague and the death of millions of people from its flea. Its abilty to climb
spread it throughout the world by climbing ships hawsers. It likes to live in
trees and roofs of buildings.
THE NORWAY RAT
(Rattus norvegicus) or brown/sewer rat likes to burrow (unlike the roof rat)
and prefers to live near water and damp places. It has a thicker body, shorter
tail and smaller ears than the roof rat.
THE HOUSE MOUSE
(Mus domesticus) Mice are a much bigger economic problem than rats in
Australia, with population densities reaching 32,500 per hectare in plagues.
They need much less free water than rats, with a shorter gestation period and at
forty-two days, are at nearly half the breeding maturity of the Roof rat.
Mice are distinguished from young rats by smaller heads and feet, larger ears in
proportion, and much longer tail.
CONTROL: Baits -Since the 1940's warfarin, a chronic anti-coagulant has
replaced thallium, strychnine and arsenic as a poisonous bait. Since the last
ten or so years, rodents have become largely resistant to warfarin. Strains of
rats can survive a dose that is many times stronger only ten years ago. Some
strains of mice seem largely unaffected by it at all.
A major advance took place in the 70's with the discovery of brodifacoum and
bromadiolone, though resistance is starting to take place. It is worth noting
that the roof rat prefers moist foods (use liquid baits) and norway rats prefer
dry foods (use cereal baits)
Rat Traps - snap boards and sticky traps should be used as a back-up for
baits, or for safety reasons. They should be placed just out from skirting
boards, with the bait facing inwards. My favourite is some cocoa sprinkled on
some fresh bread. Tie the bread onto the metal with some cotton thread. Tugging
will set of the trap.
Gassing - Is used in outdoor burrows, in ships and grain silos by the use of
fumigants.
Proofing - In pest control this means the blocking of entry points by
physical means such as bird wire, metal sheeting, steel wool or door seals.
Contact Dusts and Gels -Such as Bromatrol dust or Fentrol gel may be used once
it is established where the acitvity is situated. You can determine this by the
use of talc as a tracking dust.
Prevention -Good hygiene and limiting supply of food and water is the
best for preventing rodent infestations.
Rodents are repelled by the smell of mint, camphor and pint tar. Cats and dogs
(especially terrriers) are helpful for hunting small numbers of rodents in the
early breeding stages.
RODENT PROOFING
Doors, windows, screens and cracked concrete are easy access for rodents.
Look for openings near the top of buildings such as roof vents, eaves, overhangs
and roof top air conditioning units. Drainpipes need a screen on the bottom as
well as the top.
Rodent Proofing Materials:
Hardware cloth - 19 gauge or heavier
Perforated Metal - 24 gauge
Sheet Metal (galvanised) -26 gauge or heavier
Cement Mortar - 1:3 mixture or richer
Are YOU concerned about Rodents? Why not call Pestsafe Pest Elimination on Free
call: 1800 047 700, or email us for more help.
Emergency Treatment - Contact Pestsafe Pest Elimination
Manager: Melissa Wearne
Free call: 1800 047 700
Address: Unit 6 12-18 Victoria Street East, LIDCOMBE N.S.W. 2141
Phone No: 02 9646 1590 | Fax: 02 9646 1768
Website: www.pestsafe.com.au
or
www.termite-inspection.net
Email: melissa@pestsafe.com.au
or melissa@enviropest.com.au
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