The presence of rats and mice in buildings and dwellings is usually regarded as undesirable as they are responsible for food spoilage and contamination, physical damage as well as the transmission of disease.
The transmission of disease alone is reason enough to justify sound management procedures. Among the many diseases transmitted to humans the most insidious and widespread is that of food poisoning organisms such as Salmonella bacteria. The constant gnawing of rodents can cause damage to such things as doors, skirting boards, furniture, upholstery, books and other materials. The gnawing of wiring can be the cause of telecommunication breakdowns as well as costly and sometimes deadly fires. Rats and mice are also responsible for huge losses of food in store either by directly eating the food or through contamination with urine, droppings and hair.
When it comes to management of rodents the most permanent is to make alterations to the building so as to impede their entry. Such measures as blocking weep holes and gaps around external penetrations, fitting metal plates to the bottoms of doors, installing vermin wire or mortar to gaps in roof and the removing of tree branches from close proximity to the dwelling.
When rodent infestations occur there are a number of treatment options available for their management. The use of physical traps like the original snap trap mechanism is still available, as are glue boards and specially designed boxes which allow the rodents to enter but don't let them out. Chemical bait formulations are also available and come in the form of edible grains, pellets, blocks, gels and liquids. The use of tracking powders may also be employed. These are placed where rodents are known to be tracking and are subsequently consumed by the rodent whilst grooming.
