Tips for effective autumn rat control on DVD and youtube.com

To help farmers and gamekeepers mount successful rat control initiatives this autumn, an eight-minute video has been release by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU).

According to CRRU chairman Dr Alan Buckle, effective rat control involves three steps: (i) Baiting and killing; (ii) rodent-proofing sensitive areas; and (iii) cleaning and tidying to deny food and shelter and make the site as unsuitable as possible for a new colony.

For effective and responsible practice, the video produced by Farming Sunday TV explains the background to the seven point CRRU code:

[1] Make a planned approach. Study the location of the infestation carefully and identify the colony’s home range. However, don’t tidy up or move things yet because disturbance may deter rats from taking bait or even displace them to another location. Draw a plan of the target area.

[2] Use enough baiting points at locations all over the target area. Mark each location on the site plan. Half measures are pointless. Using enough baiting points from the outset will minimise the time taken for control to be achieved and also reduce exposure time for non-target species.

[3] Record quantity of bait at each location, then note signs of rat activity at each point as the treatment period progresses. Follow the rodenticide label instructions accurately.

[4] Collect and dispose of rodent bodies regularly both during and after the treatment period. This is one of the most important points on the CRRU code. Rat carcases may contain rodenticide and, if eaten by predators or scavengers, could be a source of wildlife exposure. Dead rats may be found for several days after eating bait and they may die 100 metres or more away from the baited site. Dispose of rodent bodies as recommended on the product label.

[5] Never allow bait to be exposed to non-target species. Where possible, use materials already in the target area (e.g. concrete blocks, slates, bricks, corrugated sheets, etc) to protect bait from rain, dust and access by non-target species. Tamper-resistant bait stations are available and offer the highest level of protection of bait from non-target animals and human contact.

[6] Inspect every bait location regularly, as recommended on the product label, and replenish accordingly. Keep a record of each inspection, what you found and any action taken. Be alert for signs of disturbance by non-target animals.

[7] Remove all bait from every location at the end of the treatment period and make a record on the site plan that you have done so.

As soon as the treatment period is over, Dr Buckle says it is essential to make sensitive areas rodent-proof, and generally clean and tidy the entire target area to minimise its suitability to re-colonisation. "If this isn’t done, a new colony will be established and you’ll be back to square one," he adds.

A detailed version of the CRRU code can be found at www.thinkwildlife.co.uk. The video, which also features interviews with Paul Butt of Natural England and estate manager John Walsha, can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/farmingsunday.