RODENTS!!

what is rodent?
>Characterized by single pair of incisor teeth on each jaw and by absence of canine teeth.
>Have tail with fine scales and few hairs.

problems?
>Spread serious diseases, including salmonellosis (food poisoning), leptospirosis, rickettsialpoxand lymphocytic choriomeningitis.
>Carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, potentially spread diseases, such as bubonic plague.
>Consume or contaminate about 20 percent of the world’s food supply
>Gnaw, expensive structural damage, start fires if they gnaw on electrical wires.
>Cause a great deal of anxiety for occupants (people and pets) of infested buildings.
>Pose serious risks for food facilities. Single rodent can cause fines, poor inspection scores, disgruntled employees and lost business.

types of rodents?
>Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus):
-Sometimes called brown or sewer rats
-Burrows found along building foundations, beneath rubbish or woodpiles, and in moist areas in and around gardens and fields.
-Nests may be lined with shredded paper, cloth, or other fibrous material.
-When Norway rats invade buildings, they usually remain in the basement or ground floor.
-Appearance
•Up to 40 cm in length, tail shorter than the head and body.
•350 –500g in weight.
•Blunt nose, small ears and a thicker body when compared to the Roof Rat.
-Life cycle
•7 –8 young per litter; 3 –6 litters a year.
•Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
•10 –12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.
-Habits
•Usually ground living and burrowing, but sometimes climbs.
•The only species to occur in sewers in Malaysia.
•Preferred food is cereals.
•Will eat around 30g of food a day and drink 60ml.
>Roof Rats (Rattusrattus)
-Sometimes called black rats.
-Slightly smaller than Norway rats.
-Tails are longer than their heads and bodies combined.
-Very agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs, trees, and dense vegetation such as ivy.
-In buildings, most often found in enclosed or elevated spaces in attics, walls, false ceilings, and cabinets.
-Preferring ocean-influenced, warmer climates.
-Appearance
•16 –24 cm in length, with a tail longer than the head and body.
•150 –200g in weight.
•Pointed nose, large ears, slender body when compared to the Norway Rat .
-Life cycle
•5 –10 young per litter; 3 –6 litters a year.
•Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
•12 –16 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.
-Habits
•Rare in Malaysia. Appearance confined mainly to ports.
•Often climbs, agile, rarely burrowing and rarely outdoors in Malaysia.
•Preferred food is moist fruits.
•Will eat around 15g of food a day and drink 15ml
>House mice (Musmusculus)
-Domestic house mouse
-Live and thrive under a variety of conditions in and around homes/farms.
-Contaminate food-preparation surfaces with their feces, which can contain the bacterium that causes food poisoning (salmonellosis).
-Constant gnawing causes damage to structures and property.
-Appearance
•7 –9.5cm in length, with a tail around the same length.
•12 –30g in weight.
•Small feet & head and large eyes & ears.
-Life cycle
•4 –16 young per litter; 7 –8 litters a year.
•Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
•8 –12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.
-Habits
•Usually ground living and burrowing, but often climbs.
•Preferred food is cereals.
•Will eat around 3g of food a day and can survive without any additional water.
•They will drink up to 3ml a day if their diet is particularly dry.

Signs of rat’s presence?
-Faeces
-Footprints
-Runway
-Smears
-Bite marks
-Burrows
-Smell
-Urine
-Live rat
-Carcass
-Nest

diseases related to rodents?
-Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
-Haemorrhagic Fever
-Leptospirosis
-Human Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)
-Plague
-Rat-Bite Fever
-Salmonellosis
-Murine Typhus

how to conrol?
-eliminating sources of food.
-eliminating breeding and nesting place.
-rat proofing building and other structures.
-killing them.