Rodents have been responsible for, or implicated in, the spread of various diseases to people and domestic animals especially in the years past.
Today however, because of sanitation, effective drugs, and rodent and insect control programs, the disease threat from rodents is not as significant as it once was. In fact the spread of disease by rodents is often not the primary reason for their control. But because of the habits of rodents (traveling and dwelling in sewers, garbage, etc.), there are still cases of human and animal diseases being transmitted by rodents, and there is also the constant potential of disease outbreaks which can be intensified and accelerated by rodents in cities where rats and mice live in close proximity to people. Thus, no matter how minor the actual threat may be, it is this potential that must always be kept in mind.
Characteristics of
Rodents
House Mouse
Norway Rat
Roof Rat
A thorough understanding of the physical abilities of Vermin is very useful when
designing a control program. For instance, rats are excellent swimmers. They can swim up to one-half mile in open water, travel through sewer lines against substantial currents and tread water for up to three days. Climbing is also easy for them. Roof rats and house mice are excellent climbers. Norway rats, although somewhat less agile, can climb effectively. if they can't climb, they just jump. From a standing position rats can jump vertically up to three feet. And getting down is easy. If necessary, rodents can drop from heights of 50 feet without injury.
If rodents can't get around an object, they go through it. Mice and Rats are capable of gnawing through a variety of materials including lead sheathing, cinderblock, aluminum siding, glass and improperly cured concrete. Rodents can also squeeze through very small openings, 1/2 inch for rats and 1/4 inch for mice.
All of these physical ablilities have allowed rats and mice to survive hundreds of years in man's environment. the following are some of the other sensory abilities that make rodents remarkably adaptable.
Taste:
Vision:
Smell:
Hearing:
Rodents use hearing to locate objects to within a few inches.
Rats and mice have a frequency range of 50 kilohertz or more, which is much higher than humans who have a rang of about 20 kilohertz.
Rodents have a highly developed sense of taste which allows them to detect some chemicals at parts-per-million concentrations. This taste sensitivity may lead to bait rejection if the baits are contaminated with insecticide odors or other chemicals.
Odor is one of the rodent's most important senses. Rodents mark objects and pathways with urine or glandular secretions. Rodents use their sense of smell to recognize the odors of the pathways to and from food sources, members of the opposite sex who are ready to mate, to differentiate between members of their own colonies and strangers, and to tell if a stranger is a strong or weak individual.
Rats and mice have poor vision beyond three or four feet, but they are very sensitive to motion up to 30-50 feet away. For the most part, rodents are colorblind, but very light-colored or reflective objects may stand out in their environment.
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The house mouse is thought to have originated in the grassy plains of central Asia somewhere near the Iran and Russia border. it was transported west on ships of early trade merchants and immigrants. Because of its small size, adaptability, and the fact that it needs extremely small amounts of food and space, the mouse is capable of surviving in nearly any environment. With the exception of man, the house mouse is the most numerous and widespread mammal on earth. The house mouse is, by far, our number one rodent pest.
Indentification:
The house mouse is identified by a small slender body weighing between 1/2 to 1 ounce as an adult. The ears are large, the tail is seminaked and is as long as the head and body together. The fur is usually dark gray on the back and light gray on the belly, but many color variations are possible. Albino, black, and mixtures of black and white have been bred in the laboratory. Mice can be identified from young rats by the size of the head and the hind feet.
General Biology:
The potential reproductive capabilities of rodents are impressive. When living conditions for rodents are very good (plenty of food, water and shelter) rodents can multiply rapidly. however, when living conditions are stressful, overall rodent reproduction and population growth are slowed considerably.
A female produces between four and seven pups per litter following a gestation period of about 19 days. The pups are born blind. Within 7-10 days they are covered with fur; the eyes and ears are open. by the third or fourth week the pups are weaned and begin to take short trips outside of the nest, feeding on solid food and exploring and learning their surroundings.
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The Norway rat is also known as the house rat, brown rat, wharf rat, sewer rat, water rat, and gray rat. It was first introduced into the United States by European settlers and trading ships about 1775. it is now the most widely distributed rat species in the United States, being found in all the states (in parts of some states, however, the roof rat is more prevalent). The Norway rat is larger, stronger, more aggressive, and better adapted for producing young and surviving in colder climates than the roof rat and other rat species.
The Norway rat has a stocky body, weighing between 12 and 16 ounces as an adult. Rats slightly heavier than this do occur (people often claim to see -- and boast of -- "rats as big as ally cats") but are rare. The body fur is coarse and ranges from reddish to grayish brown with buff - white underparts, but there are many color variations including all black Norway rats. The nose is blunt, the ears are small, close set, and the ears don't reach the eyes when pulled down. The tail is scaly, semi-naked and shorter than the head and body combined.
Breeding peaks for the Norway rat are normally in the spring and fall of the year, decreasing during the hot summer and the cold winter. After mating and a gestation period of about 22 days, the mother rat gives birth to a litter of 8-12 pups. The young are blind at birth. Their eyes open in about 9-14 days, and they are weaned 10-15 days later. By this time the pups begin to take short exploratory trips out of the nest, learning by imitating their mother as to their surroundings, pathways to food, hiding spots, and burrow entrances. The young reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 months, although under good conditions, it may be as early as 8 weeks.
The average female Norway Rat has 4 to 7 litters per year and may successfully wean 20 or more pups annually.
Indentification:
General Biology:
The Roof rat is also known as the black rat, ship rat, gray-bellied rat, Alexandrine rat, and white-bellied rat. Roof rats are smaller and sleeker in appearance than the Norway rat.
Adults weigh between 5 and 9 ounces. The color of the fur is usually grayish black to a solid black, the belly varies from buff-white to all gray. The snout is pointed; the ears are large and reach the eyes when pulled down. The tail is long, and reaches the snout when pulled over the body.
The reproductive biology of the roof rat is generally similar to the Norway rat, although there are some specific differences.
The roof rat primarily occupies the coastal areas of Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as a larger area along the Gulf and Atlantic coast states from Texas to Maryland. they are common in Gulf seaports, and they frequently board ships in ports.
Roof rats can be thought of as the "vegetarians" of the commensal rats as they prefer to eat seeds and plant foods such as fresh vegetable or fruits, but like the Norway rat, they will eat almost anything that is available when necessary.
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Indentification:
General Biology:
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