integrated pest management for rats and mice

Eric StormerVirginia Cooperative ExtensionNorfolk, Virginia

Integrated Pest Management - is an ecological approach to pest control.

IPM is based on the habitat and life cycle of the pest

IPM may include both nonchemical and chemical management methods

IPM manages causes, rather than treating symptoms

IPM balances control level needed, with associated risks

A habitat is an animal’s home, where it finds shelter, food and a place to raise young Habitats are formed by the interaction of

biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors Habitats may be terrestrial (land), aquatic

(water) or a combination (wetland). Change in a portion of a habitat affects all

organisms present A Life Cycle is the series of stages in an

organisms development during its lifetime

Carry infectious diseases May cause asthma attacksBiteDamage food and propertyCan attract other pestsAre repulsive

Bubonic Plague, Yersinia pestis

Algeria, 2003

Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)

Leptospirosis (Leptospira spp.)

Name: Remmy

Where do you live? Paris

What's your age?  8 months

Hair color? Gray

Eye color? Brown

Height? 16” (standing on hind legs)

Date of Birth? 23rd of May

What's your sign? Gemini

How many pets? 37 – (fleas)

Obsessions? Good food, and lots of it!

Bad habits?  Overstaying my welcome.

Phobias?  Cats!

Rat taxonomy

Kingdom:      Animalia Phylum:         ChordataClass:            MammaliaOrder:           Rodentia (the rodents)Family:          MuridaeGenus: RattusSpecies: norvegicus (Norway Rat, Brown Rat)

rattus (Black Rat, Roof Rat) and its three sub-species

Gnaw to wear down their teeth and get where they want to go (can cut anything softer than steel)

Are most active at night Make lots of babies fast Travel the same paths

nightly, staying close to walls

Norway Rat, R. norvegicus

Roof Rat, R. rattus

Norway Rats

Roof Rats

Pointed nose Large eyes Large ears Light, slender build Tail longer than

head and body

Blunt nose Small eyes Small ears Heavy, thick build Tail shorter than

head and body

Excellent swimmers..

Norway Rat, AKA, Sewer Rat

Adaptable…

Fashionable dressers!

Adept at climbing, when necessary…

Will travel 450 feet from their burrow, but prefer to live close to food and water sources

Usually live outside and come inside for food and water

Norway rat burrow

Normally live underground in burrows…

Rats: Live outside, but will come in if the place is hospitableMice: Nest in walls, stored fabric, cars, boxes, or the ceiling

Mouse nest in a hatRat burrow by a wall

Fresh fruit, nuts, vegetative tissue of plants.

Need a hole the size of a quarter to enter

Are very smart, cautious, and afraid of new things

Need water every day

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Inches

House Mouse, Mus musculus

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Breed rapidly A single pair can

become an infestation quickly!

Take action when evidence of ONE mouse is seen or heard

Don’t travel far—just 30 feet from their nest

One day old mouse pups

January December

One One pregnanpregnan

t t mousemouse May September

Stopping one mouse does a lot!

650

401

4,500

SightingsNoiseGnaw marksNestsBurrowsDroppingsHoles & rub marks Indicator pests

Rodent urine stain in drop ceiling

Mouse droppings by a power strip

Found near grain or bait stored in walls

Found near dead animals or trash

Blow Fly Hide Beetle

Grain BeetleIndian Meal Moth

NONCHEMICAL CONTROL

Sanitation Exclusion Trapping Cage Traps Glue Boards Noise & Electrical

Devices

CHEMICAL CONTROL

Rodenticides Anticoagulant Baits Tracking Powders Fumigants

“Before all else, be armed.”Niccolo Machiavelli

Eliminate harborage, food, and water (habitat)

Clutter in a corner

Dumpsters should be – free of holes– covered – placed on cementScreen drain holesEmpty dumpsters regularly; they should never overflow

For a hole, crack, or gap…

Stuff it Seal it Check it often

RATS

1. Place many traps2. Bait and leave UNSET

until rats are readily feeding

3. Bait and set all traps

MICE

1. Bait & set many traps

2. Place 6 traps for each mouse

3. At least three feet apart

4. Set immediately

“All warfare is based on deception.” Sun Tzu

Bait with what they’re eating or using to nest.

Place the trap against the wall where rodents travel. (The edge of the trap must touch the wall.)

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Trap set correctly so it snaps towards the wall

Effective and reusable More ARE better Check often Placement is key

Trap jumped from the wall when it snapped

Capture but don’t kill May be more

effective for ground dwelling animals

Leave trap for at least 5 days before moving to another location

Place in areas where they won’t attract children, pets.

Good for monitoring populations

Most effective when placed along runs

Lost effectiveness in dusty areas

Temperature extremes may affect adhesiveness

Locate safely

May be effective, though animals often become accustomed to regularly repeated sounds

Limited use in rodent control, as they are directional, and do not penetrate behind objects, walls

The label is the law All rodenticide labels require tamper-

resistant stations Read the label on both the station and the

bait The bait station should be secured,

locked, and labeled If the rodents are

inside, considerusing traps

An opened bait station

TYPES OF RODENTICIDES

Anticoagulants 1st Gen.

Anticoagulants 2nd Gen.

Tracking Powders

Fumigants

Available in grain or pellet form

Often packaged in packets easy to handle, place

Also available in paraffin blocks – useful in sewers or other moist areas

Use with bait stations (boxes)

Pre-bait, especially when using single-dose types

“He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War

TOXICANTS MIXED WITH DUST

Adhere to rodents feet Consumed during

grooming Especially useful in

controlling mice, but will kill rats also

Most are anticoagulants

Work on even bait-shy animals

“No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.” Niccolò Machiavelli

Find out:− Rat or mouse?− How many?− Where?Record:− Date− Detailed

observations− Action taken