Integrated strategy is best against rodents

It’s easy to reach straight for a chemical solution when a rodent infestation is identified – but this is not a sustainable approach, nor an effective long-term fix.

Before any pest control product is considered, it is important to rodent-proof the environment and undertake what we call a thorough integrated pest management programme (IPM).

An IPM plan is a strategy to prevent, detect and control pests. It focuses on reducing the reliance on chemicals – instead looking at ways to prevent infestations from occurring in the first place and detecting them before they get out of hand.

A good IPM plan will prevent other problematic pests too. It should be followed throughout the year to safeguard the farm. Further preventative measures can then be implemented for ongoing protection.

Maintain a clean site

While it may seem straightforward, regularly tidying up your land is the first essential step and should be a consistent part of your maintenance routine. Eliminate access to potential food sources by ensuring animal feed stores are secure.

Minimise the use of pallets and sacks, as these provide ideal shelter for rodents – and promptly dispose of any rubbish or unwanted straw and hay to reduce the time available for rodents to settle in.

Keep outside clear

Rats tend to avoid open spaces, so cutting back shrubs and vegetation by at least one meter around all buildings will make them less likely to cross an open yard to enter.

This also makes it easier to see any rat burrows and gives predators such as cats or birds of prey more chance of spotting them too.

Pest-proof buildings

Rodents can squeeze through surprisingly small openings — mice can pass through gaps as small as 6 mm, and rats can get through gaps of 10 mm.

Thoroughly inspect buildings, storage areas and outhouses for wear and tear in walls, pipes, doors, and windows. Rats can chew through everything from wooden posts to drywall so use materials like metal sheeting to block any compromised areas.

Check for existing infestations

Look for visible footprints at ground level or on ledges, smear marks along ledges, walls, or cables, structural and equipment damage from gnawing, and droppings—all clear indicators of a problem.

Remember to check electrical wires and cables, as many farm fires have been caused by rodents chewing through them. If you’re uncertain, sprinkle a patch of sand along a suspected rat path overnight and check for paw prints the next day.

Alternatively, BASF’s Monitoring Paste is a great way to detect early signs of infestation. If activity is confirmed, switching to its sister bait Selontra, will be smoother due to the neophobic behaviour towards the fresh bait being reduced thanks to its same high-palatability formula.

Securely store any animal feed

Protecting animal feed from contamination and consumption is a crucial step.

Rats can carry up to 45 dangerous diseases, posing significant health and safety risks. Make sure storage areas are thoroughly cleaned and inspect them closely for any entry points or damage where rodents could get in.

Clean up any grain or feed spills
immediately

Despite best efforts, preventative measures can fail and due to the attractiveness of farms to pests, and the use of non-chemical methods such as traps fail, then you may have to opt for chemical control.

If all preventive and non-chemical control methods fail, it’s crucial to choose the right rodenticide for your situation.

In areas known for rodenticide resistance, avoid baits containing Difenacoum and Bromadiolone, a common active ingredient in many anticoagulant baits.

Over time, many rodents have developed resistance to these substances, making treatments ineffective and potentially worsening your rodent problem as resistant rats and mice breed and spread resistance.

Instead, opt for a bait with cholecalciferol as the active ingredient, such as Selontra, which can achieve control in as few as seven days.

Its stop-feed effect halts both rats and mice within 24 hours of consuming a lethal dose, eventually leading to death through hypercalcemia – excessive calcium in the blood.

Laurence Barnard is business manager for BASF Pest Control Solutions. For details, visit www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk