Rodents: Their Types, Control Measures & Extermination

Rodents are homeothermic mammals and are very notorious. They can damage our property and carry deadly diseases. There are different ways of controlling rodent infestation. However, if your house is already infested, then there are several ways to exterminate them as well.

Rodents are homeothermic mammals and are found in almost all parts of the world except Antarctica. They have large incisors for gnawing which keep growing throughout their lifetime and cheek teeth that are suitable for chewing on different kinds of items including crops, paper, wood, rubber, vegetables, etc. They cause considerable amount of damage to the human habitations. Rodents are capable of breeding quickly, with some species giving birth to young ones all throughout the year. The population keeps increasing strikingly through frequent reproduction. Owing to their small size, rodents can access virtually any place and can even squeeze through comparatively smaller spaces because of their resilient body structure. Rodents also inflict a considerable degree of destruction on agricultural crops. Seeds, grains, fruits, etc are a part of the usual diet of numerous species of rats and mice. Besides that, the excretory wastes of rodents may contaminate food materials and cause a number of diseases when consumed by humans.

The most notorious rodents are - deer mice, house mice, Norway rats and roof rats. Deer mice are prevalent in rural areas and do not enter residential houses. But they are common carriers of the Hantavirus and therefore, can transmit the fatal Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome disease to humans. House mice are the frequent home invaders in most parts of the world. They are more of a nuisance because of their abilities of quick reproduction and adaptation. Norway rats can grow up to a length of 16 inches and can inflict great damage to properties through their gnawing. Roof rats, although smaller in size than Norway rats, can cause similar problems. They are also carriers of deadly diseases like bubonic plague, typhus, trichinosis, Weil's disease, etc.

One of the most effective ways of rodent control in Melbourne is to maintain cleanliness in and the around household and industrial premises. Rodents are mostly scavengers and consumes any food item that may be available. When they find a safe source of food, they build up nests in close proximity of the source, start breeding immediately to grow their population. To prevent rodent infestations garbage and wastes should be stored in secured garbage bins.

If your house is already infested with rodents and if the population is small, trapping can yield effective results. A variety of rodent repellents are readily available in the market which can be administered to curb down an existing rodent infestation. Then there are rodenticides as well, which are poison baits that require to be used with caution, and should be kept out of reach of pets and children. Sound-based repellents are also a smart way to stop rodents as they emit ultrasonic sound waves which rodents find very discomforting and therefore, keep them at bay.