Inspection, identification critical for successful rodent control

Dr. Chris Keefer, Technical Services Representative, Syngenta Professional Pest Management

Before treating, it is imperative to distinguish among the three common commensal rodents: the house mouse (Mus musculus), roof rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (R. norvegicus). First, inspection is critical. Identify conducive conditions to help you implement non-chemical controls like sanitation, exclusion and mechanical devices.

Additionally, you must understand behavior and population dynamics of the species you are targeting. Try different lures on mechanical devices like sweets, proteins and starches to determine the target population’s diet. If bait shyness occurs when using rodenticides in bait stations, pre-bait the station with the preferred diet before using the rodenticide.