The Impact of Insect Rodent Control on Animal Health

Rodents spread a wide range of diseases that impact people, pets and livestock through bite wounds, contaminated food or water or by breathing in germs. They also cause costly damage to barns and other structures on farms.

Rodent management strategies can include sanitation procedures, blocking access points, and removing food sources and shelter that attract rats and mice.

Damage to Food and Feeding Equipment

Insect rodent control damage feed and food storage equipment when seeking food, shelter, or nesting areas. They chew holes in bins, crates, and other storage containers, creating a mess, and leaving fecal residues and gnawing marks. Damaged containers need to be replaced or cleaned regularly to prevent contamination.

Rats are omnivores and will eat seeds, grain-based foods, fruits, meat and garbage. Mice are scavengers that will eat anything, but also like to nibble on grains and grain-based products, discarded pet food, cereals, paper, cardboard, etc.

The damage caused by rodents can lead to loss of livestock and produce and to higher production costs. Indirect costs can include the cost of additional feeding supplies, loss of animal life, loss of revenue due to a reduction in the number of livestock that can be sold and/or the time taken to clean damaged facilities and equipment.

Several methods can be used to eliminate or significantly reduce rodent populations, including traps, poisons and repellents. An IPM approach is the best method to manage rodents and should involve prevention, sanitation and exclusion. Keep food, water and shelter sources away from structures and enclose all trash containers with tight-fitting lids. Remove weeds and tall grasses to reduce hiding and nesting sites. Clean feeders and waterers on a regular basis. Maintain sound housekeeping by eliminating piled materials that rodents can hide under and in, such as wood, lumber and miscellaneous equipment.

Disease Transmission

Rodents are known to be reservoir hosts for more than 80 zoonotic diseases, some of which pose a threat to public health. These pathogens include Salmonella, plague, Leptospirosis, rat-bite fever and other typhus diseases, hepatitis E virus (HEV), and arenaviruses such as hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

Rodents that are exposed to human food, water, or shelter will transmit disease-causing organisms directly to humans by biting, contaminating food and drink, or through urine and saliva. These pathogens will also be transmitted to people by intermediate hosts like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes or by consuming contaminated feed. Peridomestic rodents such as mice and rats that live around houses play an important role in transferring pathogens to human populations.

These pests are very persistent in areas where humans have a presence, and they are most likely to survive in situations where there is adequate shelter and food. To help prevent rodents from getting into homes, remove sources of food and water in the area and clean up garbage on a regular basis inside and outside the house. Also, seal holes in the walls of a home and keep compost piles covered and turned regularly.

Insect Rodent Control can protect livestock and their owners from costly gnawing damage, as well as help prevent zoonotic disease transmission. However, every zoonotic system is unique, and specific control measures must be tailored to the environmental conditions and nuances of each disease system.

Infestations

Rodents invade millions of homes each winter seeking shelter when outdoor temperatures drop. They can cause many problems in these facilities putting people at risk of disease and contamination of food and surfaces. They can also exacerbate asthma and allergies in people. They can damage the integrity of the building structure by gnawing wood, drywall, insulation and electrical wiring.

Rats and mice are omnivores and will feed on both seeds, fruits and grain-based foods as well as meat products and other animal matter. They can also spread disease pathogens to pets and other animals by contaminating their food sources and spreading them through rodent feces and saliva.

When rats and mice enter a home they will seek warm, dark, quiet places to build nests and find food. These include attics and crawl spaces where items are stored or stacked. These areas are often overlooked in the pest-proofing process and are a common source of infestations.

Rodents have keen senses and will gnaw on almost anything to access their food source including metal, plastic and electrical wires. Their gnawing habits are a good indicator that they are present and can alert homeowners to the presence of an infestation. Other signs of rodent infestations are faecal pellets, urine stains, greasy rub marks and gnawed materials. Maintaining a clean environment deprives rodents of their food and shelter and may prevent an infestation.

Nuisance

When safe rodent control invade our homes, they aren’t only a nuisance but a danger to health. Rodents carry and spread dozens of diseases that can be transmitted through bite wounds, contaminated water and food, or by breathing in their germs. They also damage property by chewing on wood, wire and other inedible materials. And, they can cause stale smells by gnawing on food packaging, garbage containers, or other items stored around the home.

In general, all occupants are responsible for maintaining their own property and keeping it free of rodents. A common way to keep rodents away from homes is by sealing holes inside and outside walls. It is also helpful to remove food, water and shelter sources for rodents by keeping all garbage securely stored in containers with tight lids; reducing the amount of grass or other potential hiding spots near structures; and turning compost piles frequently. Lastly, the use of ivy on buildings and walls can create “rat ladders” that allow rodents to enter attics or other rooms of houses.

In the past, pesticides were often used as a last resort for rodent control but with the COVID-19 pandemic, land development and warmer winters, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is now a must. This approach combines prevention, sanitation and exclusion to reduce the need for pesticides.