This document discusses rodent management and control. It notes that rodents are pests that damage crops and transmit diseases. The most common rodent pests in India include rats, mice, bandicoots, and gerbils. An integrated pest management approach is recommended, including sanitation, exclusion through sealing entry points, trapping, poisoning baiting, and encouraging natural predators. Proper identification of rodent signs and species is important for effective control.

2. RODENT MANAGEMENT
ALEX K GEORGE
BSF-10-002

3. • Most notorious pests of different commodities in the fields
as well as when these commodities are stored.
• Crops like vegetables, oilseeds, cereals etc., At early stage
in field, are eaten and contaminated by rats.
• Transmission of public health diseases
• Responsible for loss of 1/5 of world’s crop production
RODENT PEST

4. A few types of rodents
Rats
Mice
Squirrels
Chipmunks
Woodchucks

5. COMMON SPECIES OF RATS
Basis of their shelter, rats can broadly be divided in to two groups.
A. House rats B. Field rats
A. House rats:
1. Rattus rattus (House rat)
2. Mus musculus (House mouse)
B. Field rats:
1. Bandicota bengalensis (Lesser bandicoot)
2. Tetera omdoca (Indian gerbil)
3. Nesokia indica (Short tail mole rat)
4. Rattus meltoda (Soft fur field rat)
5. Mus booduga (Field mouse)
C. Common species of rats found in both field as well as houses
1. Rattus norgegicus (Norvey rat)
2. Rattus rattus rufescens
3. Bandicota indica (Large bandicoots)

6. The House Rat, Rattus rattus
The House Mouse, Mus musculus
Indian field mouse, Mus booduga The Indian Gerbil, Tatera indica
Soft furred field rat, Millardia meltada
Rodent species

7. A
COMPARISON
OF
RODENT
SPECIES

8. COMMON TRAITS OF RODENTS
 Nocturnal in habit
 Excellent swimmers
 Good climbers
 Good sense of smell and
hearing
 Can gnaw through materials
like lead, sheathing,
aluminium, wood, wiring, etc
 Can enter through very small
openings

9. Rodents are like breeding machines
………..
Biology
Life span : 1-3 years
Age at puberty : 6-16 weeks
Oestrous cycle : 3-7 days
Duration of heat : 9-24 hours
Mating habit : Promiscuous
Gestation period : 18-30 days
Breeding season : Round the year
Litter size : 1-22
Post - partum heat : 4-96 hours
Breeding potential
/pair/year
: 800-1500
Habits
• Mostly nocturnal
• Can not vomit
• Omnivorous and
cannibalistic
• Neophobic / Neophilic

10. 10
January December
One
pregnant
mouse
May September
Stopping one mouse does a lot!
650
40
1
One mouse, one year…
4,500

11. DISEASES TRANSMITTED TO MAN
 Plague
 Murine Typhus
 Rickettsial pox
 Salmonellosis
 Rat bite fever
 Weils disease
 Hanta virus
 Typhoid
 Dysentery

12. Crop Extent of loss (%) Rodent pest species Habitat/distribution of species
Rice 1.1- 44.5 Bandicota bengalensis
Millardia meltada
Mus booduga
Rattus nitidus
Rattus rattus brunneusculus
Irrigated fields
Semi irrigated fields
Irrigated fields
Jhum fields in north east
Jhum fields in Mizoram
Wheat 2.7 - 21.3 Bandicota bengalensis
Millardia meltada
Tatera indica
Meriones hurrianae
Irrigated fields
Irrigated dry fields
Rainfed fields
Desert soils in Indian desert
Groundnut 2.9 - 7.3 Tatera indica
Millardia meltada
Bandicota bengalensis
Irrigated dry fields
Irrigated dry fields
Irrigated fields
Coconut 4.5 - 55 Rattus rattus Throughout India
Cocoa 30-50 Rattus rattus wroughtoni
Funambulus palmarum
Funambulus tristriatus
South India
Andhra Pradesh & Tamilnadu
Kerala and Karnataka
Storage 2.5 Rattus rattus
Mus musculus
Residential premises and farm level
storage
Extent crop loss due to rodent pests, pests species and their distribution in India

13. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
3. Exclusion (rodent proofing)
a. Trapping programs
b. Baiting programs
1. Rodent inspections
2. Sanitation
4. Population reduction
c. Predation
d. Cultural practices

14. 1. Signs of Rodent Infestation
1. Droppings
2. Tracks
3. Gnawing Damage
4. Burrows

15. 5. Runways
6. Grease Marks
7. Urine Stains

16. 8. Live Or Dead Rodents
9. Sounds Of Rodents
10. Rodent Odors

17. Rodents nest outdoors in areas hidden by tall grass,
landscaping, “clutter” or down in sewers.

18. Rodent Gnawing

19. Found near
grain or bait
stored in walls
Found near
dead animals or
trash
Indicator Pests
Blow Fly Hide Beetle
Grain BeetleIndian Meal Moth

20. 2. SANITATION
 Elimination of potential rodent harborages
 Proper removal of trash and garbage piles
 Removal of grass, weeds and undesirable vegetation
 Proper storage practices to allow cleaning inspection

21. 3. EXCLUSION
Use coarse steel wool, sheet metal, hardware
cloth, mortar, etc for sealing openings
Seal all openings greater than 1/4 “ for mice and
1/2 “ for rats
Use 12 inches of a 24 gauge sheet metal
at the bottom of doors

22. 22
Prevention and control:
Exclusion
For a hole, crack, or gap…
Stuff it Seal it Check it often

23. EFFECTIVE RODENT MANGEMENT IN TREES AND PALMS

24. •Infestation is small and chemical control like poison baiting,
fumigation is impracticable.
• Types of traps viz.,
•Cage traps,
•Wooden traps,
•Wire traps,
•Snap traps
•Bamboo traps.
•Bandicoot trap
•Double mouth sure success trap
•Union trap
•.The traps should be cleaned by water after each installation and
fresh and attractive bait materials like breads, fruits etc. Should be
used.
a. Traps
4. POPULATION REDUCTION

25.  Snap Traps
 Multiple Catch
Mechanical Traps
 Glue Boards
TRAPS

26. MULTIPLE-CATCH RODENT TRAPS

27. PLACEMENT OF TRAPS

28. This group is generally used to kill the rats with various
rodenticides. The rodenticides can be divided in to two groups
1. Single dose poison: This group comprises acute poison which
kill the rats by single exposure to poison baits. Ex. zinc
phosphide
2. Multiple dose poison: These chemicals are effective only
after the multiple feeding of poison baits by rats, because their
cumulative effects lead the death of animals. Ex. warfarin,
ratanfin, rodafrin, Vacor (RH-782), silmurin and bromadiolone
etc.
b. POISON BAITING AND FUMIGANTS

29. RODENTICIDES
ANTICOAGULANTS
First generation
-Warfarin
-Chlorophacinone
-Diphacinone
Second Generation
-Brodifacoum eg.Talon
-Bromadiolone eg.Maki

30. RODENTICIDES
NON-ANTICOAGULANTS
Zinc Phosphide
Bromethalin eg. Assault, Vengeance
Cholecalciferal eg. Quintox (not re-registered)

31. Keys to ensure effective control by poison baits
• Installation of fresh baits and bait points in rodents
high activity area.
• Placement of enough bait points to ensure better
access of rodents to poison baits.
• Matching the right bait formulation (loose grain baits/
wax blocks/ pellets)

32. FACTORS AFFECTING BAITING
PROGRAMS
 Availability of other food sources
 Insufficient number of bait placements
 Poor maintenance of bait stations
 Avoid moving bait stations once feeding has begun
 Maintain steady supply of fresh bait.

33. c. Biological Control - Predation
1. Rodents are a food base for hawks, owls,
eagles, coyotes, foxes, badgers, etc
2. Help reduce rodent numbers but may not be
enough to adequately reduce damage

34. d. Cultural Practices
 Soil tillage/cultivation
 Irrigation
 Crop Rotation
 Burning / Debris Removal
 Grazing Management