An Introduction to Rat and Mouse Control
Rats and mice can be a longstanding problem for farmers and smallholders, destroying millions of pounds worth of animal feed, stored crops and domestic foodstuffs in Britain every year.
Around half of all farm fires are caused wires and electric cables which are chewed by rodents, and in extreme infestations, buildings can begin to subside and drainage systems can collapse.
It is important that all farmers and smallholders understand the risks presented by rats and mice, and understanding how to deal with vermin species is part and parcel of country life for many people across the nation.
Country rats spend the majority of the year in fields and hedgerows, where colonies can expand over large ranges and cause damage to ground nesting birds and wildlife.
During the summer, the damage that rats cause can be controlled where needed with a system of Spring Traps, but when the weather turns cold, these tenacious pests will look for a warm and secure place to spend the winter.
The majority of damage caused by rats and mice will take place during the winter months when they concentrate into close knit colonies, so as autumn comes in, you should begin to look at your property with a view to minimising the damage caused by these problematic invaders.
The first thing that you should consider is the general tidiness of your property. Take the time to clear up scrap metal, sacking and spilt foodstuffs which will draw rats and mice in to your area.
Rats need daily access to water, so it is a good idea to fix any dripping taps or dodgy drains well in advance. This will limit the number of places where rats can drink, making it easier to work out where they are moving.
Even the best prepared farmyard is still vulnerable, and as soon as you see any signs of rat or mouse presence, it is time to start using poisons.
Modern poisons have advanced in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and many of the leading brands of rat and mouse poison are now safer and more efficient than ever before.
Most poisons now use a second generation anti-coagulant, which prevents the blood from clotting.
Consumed in sufficient quantities, these poisons are deadly, and a well established baiting programme will quickly clear out entire colonies of rats and mice.
Poisons take a variety of different forms, and some are more suitable for use in some locations than in others.
Solway Feeders’ own brand of Mamba Whole Wheat Bait is perfect for situations in which rats and mice are already feeding on whole grain foodstuffs, and problem pests will soon switch to the poison if they find it more convenient. The poison is supplied in 100g sachets which should be left in a good number of dry locations throughout the infested area, being replaced and topped up whenever they are removed.
Cut Wheat poisons like Roban Cut Wheat is better for mice which have been feeding on wholegrain cereals, since mice will often nibble off the skins of whole wheat grains and ignore the bulk of the poison. Cut wheat poisons are available loose in containers, and they can be carefully piled into small mounds across a baiting area, or even poured directly into a hole.
Extruded poison blox are great for damp areas where cereal poisons would soon spoil and become useless, and these waxy shapes last for extended periods near water. We sell Roban Blox which contain the active ingredient difenacoum, a second generation anti-coagulant which will even kill rats and mice with an acquired immunity to older poisons such as warfarin.
Pasta Bait Trays are relatively new in Great Britain, and they are made from a mixture of wheat flour, chopped grain, soft lard and synthetic peanut flavouring which rats find very hard to ignore. In fact, rats and mice find these baits so attractive that they can be used to draw rodents away from their main food source, and the fact that they are sold in sachets makes them safe and easy to use.
You should always take care to ensure that your poisons are inaccessible to non-target species, including pets, livestock and children, and baits should either be left in a purpose build Bait Station, or placed in such a spot that nothing but rats and mice would ever be able to access them.
Many baits are dyed blue or red so that you cannot confuse them with anything edible, and most have been treated with a chemical “bittering” agent which makes them taste extremely unpleasant to humans.
The above guide should be treated only as introduction to the various different kinds of rat and mouse poison sold by Solway Feeders. Different circumstances call for different poisons, and you should always follow the printed instructions as they relate to the specific properties of each bait.
Keep a record of where you place all baits, marking where poison was taken most frequently. In time, this information will help you to identify "hot spots".
If you have any questions or would like to know more about rat poisons, why not call us or send us an email?
