Characteristics of Rodents:
● Behavior - rodents have a home range they spend most of their time in. Mice live in smaller territories ranging 10-25 feet. Rats range around 100 feet and live in colonies.
● Eating Habits - Rats usually eat their entire meal for the day at one time, usually at night while mice eat small amounts of food several times during the day. Rats are more wary of new objects, so it may take longer for success with bait stations and traps to be effective. It may take at least 5 days for the rat to accept the new object while a mouse may accept it overnight. Rats are also pickier eaters and like fresh food while mice are more curious and more willing to try new foods.
● Reproduction rates - rats can produce 10-12 litters per year with an average size of 6-8 babies. A single rat pair can produce 15,000 descendants in only one year! The reproduction rate for mice is similar with 5-10 litters per year with 5-6 babies.
● Front incisor teeth on rats - grow on average 5 inches per year, so rodents gnaw constantly to keep them worn down.
● Rats can climb both horizontally and vertically. They jump vertically as much as 36” from a flat surface and 48” horizontally from a flat surface. They can swim as far as ½ mile in open water and travel against sewer lines in substantial water currents. And this surprised me - they can drop 50 feet without being killed or seriously injured!!
Sanitation practices: minimize and clean up feed spills, mow around buildings/houses to decrease cover, throw away garbage frequently, and not stack lumber and other construction debris near buildings. Exclusion is a lot harder in the barn area themselves, but focus exclusion practices in offices, storage buildings and feed rooms. Exclusion includes sealing cracks or openings in the building. Leave no holes larger than ¼ inch. Doors, windows and screens should fit tightly.
Population control: trapping can be an effective way to control rodents. Trapping rats may require more skill and labor. The advantages to trapping is that it doesn’t rely on potentially hazardous rodenticides, success is visible, it allows disposal of carcasses, and can eliminate odors. There are several available traps which can be single trap or multiple-capture live traps.
Rodenticides (toxic baits): baits are formulated with an attractant and a rodenticide in them. Some baits may be restricted use pesticides (RUP) and require a pesticide license. Different types of rodenticides work in different ways to kill the rodents. There are situations where each type may be a better choice.
Bait stations with rodenticides and placement is critical. Using a bait station targets the rodents and allows them to feel secure while eating the bait. It also can help keep out other animals on the farm. Proper placement and maintenance is critical - keep in mind the home range of the rodents so you’ll ensure you have plenty of bait stations. Always wear gloves when putting out bait for your protection as well, as rodents will avoid the bait stations if they smell human scent on them. Bait stations can be purchased or made on your own.
Rodenticide formulations come as bar baits, concentrates, tracking powders, or pellets. The bar baits contain a rodenticide, a grain product, as well as a binder. The binder allows the bait to hold up during moisture events. These products are typically found as chunks or bars. It’s extremely important to read and follow the label instructions because all types of rodenticides are poisonous and can put other animals at risk that are not the target animal of the rodenticide. Be sure to read the manufacturer information and warnings.
To be effective in implementing a rodent control program, you must be monitoring and evaluating the program constantly. There are several reasons rodent programs may not be successful: not enough bait stations, the control area is too small, not enough exposure time to the bait, easy access to other food supplies, not stocking bait stations on a regular basis, choosing the wrong bait, moldy or old baits, and not rotating baits. It’s very important to properly handle rodenticides.
Predators: cats and even dogs can be a method of control, but in reality rodents may be attracted by the food left for the cats or dogs. They can catch some mice, but may not be able to keep up with them as they multiply quickly.
Prevention and good sanitation practices are critical to keep rodents out because it is hard to eradicate them if you have a problem. Knowing rodent behavior can help you determine what control methods may work best for you. If you have any questions about rodent control on your farm, contact your local Cooperative Extension office.
Resources:
University of California - IPM - Rats
Rodent control in the poultry house - Oklahoma State University
Texas A & M IPM action plan for rodents
Controlling Rodents on the Poultry Farm - Mississippi State
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