Sanitation, baiting are keys
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Although
most farmers don’t figure the cost
of rats and mice into their annual
budgets, two loading researchers
suggest rodents may be stealing
hundreds of dollars worth of grain
or feed from a farm’s profits.
“Quite simply, rodents are a
fixed cost on any farm, and the
more you have the greater your
loss,” notes Jack Shugart, rodent
control researcher for Ralston
Purina Company, who estimates
that for every rat seen in daylight,
there are likely many more in
hiding.
According to Shugart, a single
rat may consume 10-15 pounds of
grain or feedstuffs per year.
“Combined with the grain that’s
contaminated or made unpalatable
by rat feces and urine, just one rat
may cost a producer an estimated
$25 in damage,” he contends.
In addition to feed damage,
rodents algo cause costly struc
tural problems. “Particularly
serious is the damage caused by
rodents gndw the coverings on
electrical wiring, and leading to
electrical fires,” says Glenn
Duddedar, wildlife extension
specialist at Michigan State
University. “And the destruction
of wall and ceiling insulation can
result in increased fuel con
sumption, more condensation on
walls and ceilings which shortens
material life, and cooler wall and
ceiling temperatures which may
stress livestock,” he continues
Highly Prolific
The rat’s reproductive
capability adds to the danger of
even a small rodent infestation,
Shugart points out. “A single
female rat can give birth to seven
or more litters of five to eight baby
rats per year,” he notes, making
even a minor infestation a major
cause of concern.
Experts agree, however, that
sanitation is the first basic step to
controlling rats and mice on the
farm Primary control measures,
they say, should focus on reducing
both food and shelter for the
rodents.
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“Easy access to grain or feed
stuffs, whether in a grain bin or
feed bunk, as well as dark, warm
places in which to burron, are an
open invitation to rodents,”
Duddedar notes. “Rodent in
festations are most prevelant
where humans make abundant
food and shelter readily available.
Eliminating that food and shelter,
as well as the initial infestation,
will help eradicate the problem,”
he suggests.
Thorough sanitation starts with
cleaning up piles of junk and
spilled grain or feed, researchers
say. “Whatever can’t be removed
should be stored off the ground in
tightly covered containers,” ad
vises Shugart. “Trimming grass
and weeds growing around
buildings and cleaning yards of
excess building material leaves
rats with no place to hide,” he
reasons.
Sealing Off Entry
Shugart adds that a rodent’s
ability to enter facilities through
openings no bigger than the cir
cumference of their heads makes
rodent proofing, or sealing off of
possible rodent entrances, an
important sanitation step. “Entry
into facilities, like places where
pipes come through walls or where
rodents have already gnawed their
own openings, should be sealed
with concrete or metal sheeting,”
he recommends.
Shugart is quick to point out,
however, that simply cleaning up
junk piles and sealing off rodent
entrances will not eliminate a
rodent infestation. “The rodent’s
ability to burron under buildings
or even right through building
materials makes rodent in
festation a constant danger. Cold,
hungry rodents may find their way
into even the cleanest of
facilities,” he notes.
Because of this, Shugart
recommends baiting rodents year
round with an effective rodenticide
to make certain any rats gaining
entrance are not allowed to
reproduce. To ensure proper
baiting, the researcher first
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suggests paying careful attention
to bait placement. “The most
effective bait sites are those areas
showing fresh signs of rodent
activity, such as burrows, drop
pings, gnawins or greasy oily
smears caused by rat’s fur,” he
points out.
Choice of bait is also important,
the researcher notes. “Since rat
bait must compete with food the
rat has been eating, the roden
ticide must taste better than any
other grain or feed available,
otherwise rats will ignore it,” he
explains. “One rodenticide that
has proven more palatable than
most grain or livestock feed is
Purina Rat Control Pellets, a
warfarin, multiple feeding
rodenticide.”
In addition to a “taste test,”
Shugart advises farmers to con
sider the relative safety of the
rodenticide. “Warfarin based
products like Rat Control Pellets
are toxic to rats and mice, yet
acceptable to use around livestock
and domestic pets. Because of the
low warfarin concentration, these
anticoagulent rodenticide require
multiple feedings before a rat can
consume enough of it to be ef
fective. On the other hand, the low
concentration makes it acceptable
to use around farm animals who
might accidentally consume some
of the pellets,” he reasons.
“Disposable gloves also should
be worn when handling the bait,”
he continues, “since rodents will
naturally shy from human scent.”
Pellets should be placed in con
tainers, or bait stations, along
walls or near a rat’s burrows.
Multiple bait stations should be
placed in a zig-zag pattern in feed
storage buihdngs, and wherever
rat gnawing is spotted, he advises.
Each bait station should be
checked frequently and
replenished when empty. Stations
which do not shwo rat activity
should be moved to new locations
until all stations are being used, he
suggests.
But it’s not enough to just kill off
the rodents in and around
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 14,1984—D7
to rodent control
facilities, the researcher main
tains. To keep rodents away year
round, producers follow a main
tenance program, and keep Rat
Control Pellets in areas most likely
to be reinfested, especially around
grain buildings and feed storage
areas. “These bait stations should
be checked and replenished
whenever necessary,” he advises,
RODENT CONTROL CHECKLIST
Identify primary areas of infestation by checking for
rodent signs: gnawing marks, greasy smears along
walls and rafters, rat droppings, borrows, etc.
Measure extent of infestation by placing “control
bait” (regular feed the rats have been eating in
facilities) throughout building, and check frequently for
rat consumption. The speed at which control bait is
consumed should show extent of infestation.
Remove rubbish, brush and weeds from around
facilities.
Seal off areas where trash and feed bags are stored, or
store feed in tightly-covered containers.
Close up access routes into buildings. Cement should
be used to seal gaps around drains, pipes and foun
dations.
Place small amounts of Purina Rat Control Pellets (in
bait stations) in most likely rodent dwellings. Pellets
should be placed 6-10 feet apart along runways where
rats travel, near burrows, and at entry points to
buildings.
Place water dishes near bait stations.
Check bait stations frequently, and refill immediately
when empty.
After 3-5 days of baiting, dead rats will start to ap
pear. These should be discarded immediately.
Once rodent problem seems under control, continue to
re-fill bait stations and keep water available for year
round control.
“and facilities should be observed
regularly for any new signs of
infestation.”
A keen eye toward keeping
facilities as neat and clean as
possible safe-guarded regularly
with a fresh supply of rodenticide
should keep dairy facilities
rodent free year-round,” Shugart
concludes.