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Home & Garden Articles
Rodents and What You Can Do to Reduce Infestation
Fri 04 Jan 2008 - 14:58
Rodents and What You Can Do to Reduce Infestation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Birch]Ken Birch
Rats and mice live in the same areas as people. They eat our scraps and live in our buildings. They can have many litters of babies each year. Their numbers build up because we are often careless about hygiene and sanitation. During winter they try to move indoors and because they can carry disease, controlling them is important to you, your family and members of your staff.
Rats and mice are mostly active at night and you don't often see them during the day. They chew objects to keep their incisor teeth short and this can be dangerous when electrical wiring is involved.
The most common rodent pests in Australia are the House Mouse, Roof Rat and the Norway Rat or Sewer Rat. Rats and mice are covered in fur which is usually a variation of brown, they suckle their young in the early stages of their lives. As stated earlier both types of rodents will gnaw at almost anything in order to keep their teeth short. These particular rodents are responsible for spreading disease onto humans and the contamination of food in a variety of ways.
Groups of rodents live in burrows in warm locations on gathered nesting materials such as cloth, fur, paper and feathers. They often live near their food sources in well sheltered areas, typically at ground level. Both species are most active at night.
Species of rodents are known for their fast reproduction and Mice typically have 5 to 10 litters of 6 young in a single year. They can jump about 30cm vertically, squeeze through a 6mm opening and are good climbers. Maturity is reached in 6 to 10 weeks. Rats typically have 4 to 6 litters of 6 to 10 young, achieving maturity in 3 to 4 months.
Rodents have highly developed senses of taste, hearing and touch, but generally have poor eyesight and will only live for about 12 months.
What you can do to limit infestation:
Since Rodents have a tendency to be able to detect chemicals in food they can also become 'bait shy' and home solutions can fail due to this , however by following these points you can make your home or office less attractive to rats and mice.
Place bird food in feeders.
Clean up food spillages daily.
Clean up fallen fruit and nuts from the ground.
Remove pet dishes and leftovers promptly after feeding.
Clean up animal waste as soon as possible.
Secure bathroom and kitchen vents.
Clean up yard waste that can act as a shelter.
Store firewood well off the ground.
Repair leaks and holes in the sewer system.
Trim dead fronds from palm trees.
Promptly remove dead or trapped rodents.
Place birdcages on concrete floors and clean regularly.
Avoid touching rodent pests.
There are different solutions to control rodent infestation depending on your problem and its extent. Before undertaking any treatments getting advice from a trained specialist is always advised as they will undertake a thorough assessment of your particular rodent problem. However by following the steps listed above you should significantly reduce the risk of rodent activity in your home or office.
Ken Birch has over 10 years of experience in the Termite & Pest Control industry. Ken has been one of the key players in promoting 'Termimesh', a physical termite barrier invented in the late 1980's in response to concerns over the use of organchlroines in termite control. Ken is involved in many aspects of the pest management industry, both at home in Western Australia and worldwide, and continues to promote the use of environmentally safe termite and pest control techniques. For more information visit http://www.termimesh.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Birch http://EzineArticles.com/?Rodents-and-What-You-Can-Do-to-Reduce-Infestation&id=907671
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