|
CONTROL. The key to any rat control program is pest identification, sanitation, harborage elimination, and rat-proofing the building. Control is based on the behavioral habits of the roof rat. Some of the more important things to remember are:
1. Rats defecate where they spend most of their time. Use rat droppings as an indication of where to concentrate the control efforts. Nontoxic tracking powder can also be used to determine where they are most numerous.
2. Rats will travel 100-150 ft for food and/or water along established runways. Look for rub/swing marks and clean runways. Place traps or bait stations along runways and against vertical surfaces. Glue boards wired to traveled pipes, rafters, etc. are effective.
3. Rats are gluttons. Place sufficient bait in each bait station for at least 1 meal (stop-feed baits), 2 meals (acute/single-feed baits), or more (chronic/multi-feed baits). Once a preferred bait is found, they utilize this bait until feeding stops.
4. Rats are cautious. Minimal disturbance is desirable when putting out traps and/or bait stations. Pretrapping with unset snap traps or prebaiting with nontoxic bait may be necessary.
5. Roof rats prefer fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Use such high-carbohydrate baits and bait the center of glue boards and snap traps with such foodstuffs.
6. Rats usually have a water source other than their food if their food has a low moisture content. Liquid baits are particularly effective when their normal water source can be reduced or eliminated.
7. Roof rats sometimes nest in ground burrows. Outdoors, gassing (fumigating) rat burrows is extremely effective. Follow label directions and do not gas burrows within 15 ft of, or burrows which may run under or open into an occupied structure.
|
