Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District

1. Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District

2. Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District Rodent Prevention and Control Fred Walls Vector Control Technician

3. Rodent Prevention and Control • Commensal Rodents • Biology • Prevention and Control Program • Safety Precautions

4. Commensal Rodents Rodents that live with or near people, and which may depend on humans for at least part of their food or shelter… • Norway Rat • Roof Rat • House Mouse

5. Norway Rat Rattus novegicus • AKA: Common, water, or sewer rat • Small eyes, hairy ears, thick tail • Up to 18 inches with tail • Long blunt head • Brown to black on back and sides; gray to yellow-white on sides

6. Norway Rat Burrow

7. Roof Rat Rattus rattus • AKA: Alex, black, fruit, or ship rat • Long slender body • Slender tail longer than body • Smooth, non-hairy ears • Up to 15 inches with tail

8. House Mouse Mus Musculus • AKA: Common, • Small and agile with a slender body • Large ears for its body size • Semi-hairless tail as long as head and body combined

9. Biology – Commensal Rodents • Nocturnal – Most rodents are are active at night, from dusk to dawn.

10. Biology – cont. • Vision – Rodents have poor vision that is most suited for low-light conditions.

11. Biology – cont. • Touch - Rodents have an excellent sense of touch. They are a Thigmophilic animal(touch loving) and use there vibrissae and guard hairs to navigate.

12. Biology – cont. • Smell – They have an excellent sense of smell. • Olfactory - to locate food, pathways, territories, etc. • Pheromones - biochemicals in urine, feces, and body secretions.

13. Biology – cont. • Taste – Rodents have a highly developed sense of taste. They can respond to sweet, bitter, salt, and sour foods. They can also detect contaminants within food.

14. Biology – cont. • Hearing – Their well developed sense of hearing is important for their survival.

15. Biology – cont. • Reproduction – Rodents reach sexual reproductive maturity rapidly. They have a short gestation period, have large litter sizes, produce many offspring, and have a year-round breeding potential.

16. Biology – cont. • Neophilic – Some rodents such as mice exhibit an attractive, curious, and investigative response towards new objects in their environment. • Neophobic – Some rodents such as Norway Rats and Roof Rats exhibit a fear and shyness towards new objects in their environments.

17. Biology – cont. • Feeding Behavior – Rodents are omnivorous(consume both animal and plant material) and are opportunistic feeders.

19. Rodent Prevention and Control Program

20. Inspection • Inside • Outside • Food Sources • Harborage • Rodent Signs

21. Inspection - Inside • Look for openings ¼ inch or larger. • Inspect under sinks, around pipes, in heater closets, in attic, around hot water heater, in garage, etc.

22. Inspection - Outside • Inspect for entry points that may include: Holes or breaks in vent screens, chimneys, patio covers, roof tops, windows, and doors (include pet doors). Inspect under decks and foundations, and around unfinished construction.

23. Courtesy: Orange County MVCD

24. Inspection – Food Sources • Rodent food sources include: Bird seed and feeders, fruit trees, pet food, ivy, snails, compost, etc.

25. Inspection – Harborage Rodents utilize many different types of sources for harborage. These sources provide protection from environmental stress that may include: cold, heat, wetness. • Rodents may harbor in: trash piles, trees, shrubs, vines, ivy, and in stacks of firewood and lumber, etc.

26. Inspection - Rodent Signs Some rodent signs may include: • Droppings • Gnawing • Nesting • Live/Dead Rodents • Rub Marks • Burrows • Urine Stains/Odor • Sounds

27. Sanitation • Water – Repair leaky faucets, dump containers that hold water. • Food – Eliminate all available food (bird seed, fruit, nuts, pet food, etc.) • Harborage – Remove debris. Thin or cut back trees, shrubs vines, ground cover. Elevate wood and lumber piles.

28. Exclusion Note: If rodents are dwelling inside, establish an on-going trapping program prior to excluding rodents. • Close and seal off all openings ¼ inch or larger. • Repair or replace all damaged vent screens. Use ¼ inch or less mesh hardware cloth. • Use sheet metal collars around pipe inlets on wood type walls and flashing along door thresholds. • Use cement fill around pipe inlets through brick, stone, or stucco walls.

29. Exclusion - cont. • Seal all opening where roof lines overlap. • Repair or replace “crawlspace” hatches and doors so that a tight seal is created.

30. Suppression There are two types of methods used for Rodent Suppression: • Physical (Inside) • Chemical (Outside)

31. Suppression - Physical Physical (Inside) – Physical suppression consists of trapping and removing rodents. There are several types of traps used: • Snap Traps • Live Cage Traps • Glue Boards • Multiple Catch Traps Note:We do not recommend the use of poison baits inside homes.

32. Snap Traps • Snap traps can be used for both rats and mice. • Must be checked daily. • Must pre-bait for rats.

33. Live Cage Traps • Live Cage Traps can be used for rats.

34. Glue Boards • Glue boards can be used for both rats and mice. • Should be checked daily. • Areas should not be dusty or wet.

35. Multiple Catch Traps • Multiple catch traps are for mice only. • Should be checked daily. • No bait required. • May catch up to 20 mice or more at one time.

36. Suppression - Chemical Chemical (Outside) – Chemical suppression consists of using bait stations and rodenticides: • Use only “Tamper-Resistant” bait stations. • Always secure solid rodenticide bait blocks within bait stations. • Place in ground cover, under decks, in shrubs, etc. - out of sight, out of mind. • Use bait stations beginning in March and ending in November. Note:Read and follow rodenticide label directions and precautions.

37. Bait Stations Example of bait stations:

38. Monitoring After rodents have been eradicated inside of buildings and home, it is recommended that a follow-up monitoring program be implemented within 6 months: • Place pre-baited snaptraps (un-set) in the same areas where rodent activity was previously found. • Check snap traps daily. • No bait consumed = No rodents present. • Bait consumed = Rodents have returned. Repeat rodent prevention and control program.

39. Safety Precautions Droppings: • Do not sweep or vacuum droppings. • Wear rubber or latex gloves. • Wear disposable dust or surgical mask. • Spray droppings with disinfectant. • Use wet disposable paper towels to mop droppings into plastic bag. Seal bag and place in the trash.

40. Safety Precautions – cont. Dead Rodents: • Wear rubber gloves. • Remove dead rodents from trap. Do not use hands. • Spray dead rodent with disinfectant. • Pick rodent up with an inverted plastic bag, newspaper, or a shovel. Using double plastic bag is recommended. Seal bag and place in trash.

41. Ectoparasites

42. Rodent Diseases Indicates vector is known to carry disease Rodents are not known carriers of Rabies

43. Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District We: • Pulse baiting: Baiting sewers 2 or more time a year. • Conduct monitoring and surveillance. • Free inspection (advice on prevention and control) for CCC residences and businesses. • Place bait stations in city parks, public creeks, canals, public waterfront/marinas, and in public grounds.

44. Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District

45. Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District Protecting Public Health Since 1927 It’s as simple as that.