Rats and mice successfully co-habit with humans, eating whatever food they can find and sharing the shelter of our buildings. Rodents contaminate more food than they eat and in so doing, they can transmit many diseases some of which can be life threatening.
As with all pest management programs, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is an integral part of successful rodent management. IPM involves consideration of all management procedures, including attention to sanitation and hygiene, trapping, blocking entry points and use of baiting procedures. All management procedures are preceded by a thorough inspection of the entire premises to identify the rodent and to define the extent of the infestation.
Rodent activity is seldom observed during daylight hours so it is important to recognise signs of their presence. They deposit their droppings on all surfaces over which they travel and this together with stains caused by almost continual urination, provides obvious indications of a rodent presence.
Make sure that any possible food source is removed daily and check food storage areas for damage to packaging and signs of food being eaten.
Look for these signs during the day and search outside your home for ‘rodent runs’ which are tracks that the animals use regularly to travel from your home to theirs. You will notice greasy smear marks along their main routes of movement where they make through frequent contact with obstacles.