STRATEGIES TO CONTROL RODENT POPULATIONS IN

YOURCOMMUNITY

Travis QuirkPCAB Pest Control Coordinator

Integrated Pest Management

"Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a decision-making process that anticipates and prevents pest activity and infestation by combining several strategies to achieve long-term solutions. Components of an IPM program may include education, proper waste management, structural repair, maintenance, biological and mechanical control techniques, and pesticide application."

IPM Steps InspectionIdentify Pests and Conducive ConditionsPreventionConsultationSanitation, Exclusion and, if necessary, Pesticide ApplicationEvaluationMonitoring

IPM - InspectionRoutinely inspect property for signs of infestation and damage

Inspection should be carried out by a knowledgable, experience individual.

Concentrate inspection efforts in areas of greatest concern.

IPM - Identification

Rats - Norway rat (wild & domestic)

Mice – House mouse- Deer Mouse

Ground Squirrels (AKA gophers)- Richardson Ground Squirrels- Franklin’s Ground Squirrel- Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel

Pocket Gophers (AKA moles)- Northern Pocket Gopher

Voles-Meadow Vole-Redback Vole

Beavers & Muskrats

IPM - PreventionIdentify the rodents in the area that could cause a problemRemove or limit sources of attraction

- place to live / home

- food- water

General tidiness and sanitation will go a long way to keep the most destructive rodents from becoming established

IPM - ConsultationConsult with stakeholders - Is the level of infestation severe enough to warrant further action? (threshold)

Consult with experts and professionals - What options are available to proceed?

IPM – Sanitation, Exclusion or Pesticide ApplicationRemove infestation Level of action should be appropriate for level of infestation.

General sanitation will improve outcome.

- keep grasses trimmed

- remove excess litter/garbage

- remove abandoned buildings/vehicles

IPM – Evaluation & MonitoringAre we getting the results we expected? If not why?

Did our plan work?

Was it economically justifiable?

What could we do better?

Are steps in place to prevent this in the future?

Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

- Physical characteristics:Weighs approximately one poundBody is 7 – 10 inches longSnout is bluntEars - short and thick with fine hairsFur colour - reddish brown/black with white underbellyTail - 6-9 inches long with ridges of short hairs

Senses

Poor sightKeen smellExcellent taste perceptionAcute hearingExceptional touch sensitivity

Rats are pests!Economic Concerns

- structural damage to buildings (walls, insulation, foundations, plumbing, electrical systems

- consumes 10% of body weight per day and contaminates food with urine & feces

Health concerns- Salmonella- Rat-Bite Fever- Leptospirosis- Toxoplasmosis

Do you have rats? – Property InspectionsThoroughly inspect property (house, garage, gardens sheds, etc) for signs of rats (burrows, runs, smudge marks, droppings) and identify areas where rats may be attracted.

How can I discourage rats?Remove or limit access to sources of attraction (water, food & harbourage) Food – garbage, compost, pet food, bird seed Water – low lying areas, bird baths, fish ponds Harbourage – wood piles, junk

piles, old cars, dilapidated buildings,

Preventative Measures

Rodent proof your house – block all entries (doors, windows, drains, conduits, vents, ducts)

Yard maintenance – keep grass trimmed, remove bushes along edge of buildings.

Elevate buildings

Garbage – tamper proof containers (with lids!)

Preventative baiting to quickly deal with rats that travel into the area.

You’ve got rats – now what?

Control Methods

Baits – different formulations; anticoagulantsTraps – effective for household useGlue Boards – more popular for miceFumigants – sulfur dioxide or carbon monoxidePredators – not an effective means of control

Proper use of Bait StationsPermanent stationsStrategically placed

along runsUse 2 -3 different

types of baitKeep bait well stocked

and freshWell marked and

secure from non target animals and children

Community effort – everyone needs to do their part!

Everyone must make an effort to eradicate the problem.

Provincial LegislationDestruction of pests

– every person shall take measures to destroy, control and prevent the spread of all pests on any land or other premises owned, occupied or controlled by them

Deer Mouse

Nuisance in homes – feces and urine

House Mouse

Known carriers of Hanta Virus

Beavers & MuskratsBeavers can cause considerable damage to trees adjacent to waterways.Bank dens of beavers can cause some instability of stream banks.Muskrats can cause some damage due to their burrowing but relatively harmless

Ground SquirrelsRichardson ground squirrels (commonly called “gophers”) dig burrows and create mounds of dirt in grassed areas.May attract predators

Raccoons

Skunks produce an unpleasant odour as a defensive tactic

Major rabies reservoir

Skunks

Relative newcomer to prairies

Destructive to structures

Host to parasites

BatsBeneficial as they consume large numbers of insects.Have a bad reputation Feces can cause damage Exclusion is best option in getting rid of bats.

DeerCan become habituated to humansDamage / consume vegetationVehicular hazard

PigeonsLarge numbers of Pigeons make a mess

Nuisance – accumulation of feces

Sound disturbance in large numbers.

Waterfowl

Community Strategies

Create an integrated pest management plan

Have experts identified to help deal with potential problems. - Commercial Pest Control Companies - Sask. Environment - Health Region - Pest Control Officers

Larger communities should have licensed and qualified pest control individuals on staff