Non Chemical Rodent Management

1. Vigilance:

The most important factor in control is to be aware of the problem. We call this vigilance which means a person must inspect his field, houses and storehouse often and regularly. In fact one should inspect neighboring fields, dikes and buildings as well. As soon as the sign of the rats appears, the animal should be killed by any method available.

2. Hygiene:

House and Buildings:

Rats living with human mainly for two things: food and shelter. If no food is available or kept inside ratproof containers or cleared away, the rats will not visit the house very often. In addition if there is no shelter rats will not feel easy and leave the place. Therefore, the stores and goods should be kept tidy, sweep stores, houses everyday and close every holes.

Fields:
It is often referred to as habit management. It simply means that the habit, the living area of rats on this case, is managed or altered, so that it is less acceptable to rats. The main principle of habitat management is to reduce the shelter for for rats as much as possible. the following steps should be taken:

• Unnecessary vegetation should be cut or burnt.
• Fences particularly near houses should be kept clean.
• Crop residues and rubbish pile should be burnt.
• Dikes should be kept small between paddy fields.
• If possible, fields should be flooded.