Regular Control

Immigration of rodents re-populating territories cleared of rats and mice by treatment programmes makes control a continuous challenge. All the more so because under-estimation of populations generally makes fire-brigade treatment insufficient to achieve the levels of control required today.

Long-term preventative baiting is not a realistic option either, both for the risk it poses to other wildlife and the danger of encouraging physiological resistance through the repeated uptake of sub-lethal doses of rodenticide.

Instead, the best modern strategy involves an annual cycle of treatments at key times of the year when rodents are most vulnerable and the system permits the safest control. The best time to use rodenticides is when there is the least amount of alternative food available. This also minimises the danger of contaminating stored produce.

Because rats thrive best in stable environments and become especially wary with change, control will generally be better when undertaken ahead of rather than during or immediately after major changes.

Rodent control is best carried out as part of an established seasonal routine. It should always be linked to continual monitoring of activity, good hygiene to remove alternative food sources and effective rodent proofing to make the environment less hospitable to subsequent re-infestation.

Sufficient Baiting Control >><< Better Planned Control