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Although British Columbia is home to more than twenty types of rodents, only three cause common domestic or farmyard problems. The three species most likely to invade your home or farm outbuildings are the house mouse, the Norway rat, and the black rat. All three originated in Europe before the 20th century.
Rats and mice can pose a serious threat to property and health. They cause building damage by chewing on insulation, sidings, and wallboard. They will eat a wide variety of stored food. These rodents will often contaminate food that they don't eat, which could lead to food poisoning, as well as leaving a mess in your cupboards.
All three types of rodents can also transmit diseases, which are carried on their feet and spread through their urine, droppings or bite. The ticks and fleas carried by rodents can also spread diseases. See BC HealthFile #01 Tick Bites and Disease for more information.
Rats and mice are easier to detect and leave plenty of evidence. They will chew cereal boxes or dried foods in plastic bags, leaving quite a mess behind. Chewing marks on woodwork and plumbing pipes are other signs of a rodent infestation. Dark brown rodent droppings are commonly found at eating sites and other areas. Rats and mice often burrow in the ground under sheds, garages, and foundations, and in between walls.
It is possible to hear them moving around or even chewing when your house is quiet.
Rats and mice breed rapidly, so it is important not to let them get established on your property. Even if you don't spot an actual rodent, the size of the droppings will tell you whether you are dealing with mice or rats (mouse droppings are approximately 1/4 inch long, and rat droppings measure up to 3/4 inch).
The best way to get rid of rats or mice is by using traps. Buy several of the appropriate snap traps from a hardware store and bait them with dried fruit or peanut butter mixed with oats or cheese. Be sure that the bait is securely attached to the trip pedal, otherwise the trap may not spring when the food is removed.
Set the traps at right angles to the walls where the rodents are known to travel, with the bait side of the trap toward the wall. Wear gloves or use a plastic bag when disposing of the trapped animal. They should be wrapped in plastic and placed in the garbage.
Rats will only stay on your property if food, water and a place to live are available.
There are a number of steps you can take to make your property less attractive to rodents.
1. Eliminate food and water sources:
2. Eliminate hiding and living places:
3. Protect buildings
It is not a good idea to use poison or baits to control rodents unless all other control measures have failed. Poisoned animals crawl away to die; their decomposing bodies not only smell bad, but are often hard to retrieve and can be breeding grounds for disease. Poisons can also accidentally harm pets, wild animals, or even children. Ultrasound repellers, although initially effective, are expensive and don't seem to have long-term success at eliminating unwanted rodent populations.
After trying preventive measures, if a pest problem still exists on your property, and you want to try rat poison, there are certain things you should consider:
If your pest control measures have not been successful then you should hire a licensed company with certified staff to help you.
For more information, please visit the BC Ministry of Environment Web site, or contact the Environmental Health Officer at your local public health unit.
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