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Trophic interactions between threatened species complicate management. Similarly, interactions between threatened species and pest species present management challenges, given that pest control can lead to non-target impacts (e.g. trophic cascades or secondary poisoning). There are records of the critically endangered Norfolk Island Morepork Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata consuming both threatened songbirds and invasive rodents that are subject to management interventions. Nevertheless, the diet of the morepork remains largely unknown. We visually screened regurgitated pellets using a microscope, alongside environmental DNA (eDNA) screening of pellets and scats, to investigate the diet of the Norfolk Island Morepork. A total of 113 pellets and 19 scats were collected between October 2020 and June 2021. All moreporks screened with eDNA metabarcoding had consumed invasive rodents and at least one-third of samples contained rodents. The owls were also found to have consumed four of five endemic songbirds and possibly an endemic parrot, most of which are threatened. Environmental DNA metabarcoding detected more taxa overall, but visual screening identified a greater richness of Orthoptera and Coleoptera in the diet. The frequency with which the Norfolk Island Morepork consumed rodents presents a conundrum for conservation managers. Control of invasive rodents is considered essential to support threatened songbirds, yet this same action places the species at risk of secondary poisoning. Urgent investigations are needed to identify effective control methods for invasive rodents that are safe for non-target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Invasive rodents pose a substantial threat to biodiversity and are a leading cause of species decline and extinction on islands. Population suppression using ground-based methods is common practice, though arboreal behaviour of rodents may render control programs less effective. Aims: We aimed to quantify species-specific invasive rodent activity (Rattus rattus , R. exulans , Mus musculus) across three forest strata to determine the prevalence of arboreal rodent behaviour in a system that has undergone extensive long-term rodent baiting, and therefore assess the suitability of solely ground-based baiting in this system. Methods: We calculated rodent presence at the ground, mid-storey, and canopy using three detection methods (camera traps, chew cards and tracking tunnels) deployed for 30-day periods across three structurally distinct forest types (canopy heights ranged from 3.5 to 16.7 m). We developed continuous rodent activity indices for each method, which we paired with density estimates. Strata-specific species composition was determined using camera trap images. Key results: Rodent presence was recorded equally across all strata, with R. rattus dominating above-ground strata. Rodent densities differed significantly between forest types, which was largely consistent with activity indices. Conclusions: Our findings offer an additional explanation for reduced efficacy of long-term ground-based control programs: arboreal behaviour may exacerbate the reduction in efficacy often associated with long-term control. Implications: Effective management of invasive rodent species on islands is a global conservation challenge. Our findings suggest above-ground control may be required in some long-term suppression programs or eradication campaigns, particularly in the presence of the black rat. Introduced rodents are highly destructive island invaders the world over. Control programs are usually ground-based, however our study found that black rats (Rattus rattus) dominated the forest mid-storey and canopy, casting doubt on the effectiveness of solely ground-based programs. Including above-ground control in the conservationist's rodent control arsenal may improve outcomes for island biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodent infestation on poultry farms incurs heavy economic losses to this industry by causing feed loss and disease introduction. Development and continuous improvement of rodents control techniques are vital to minimize and control the damages caused by rodents. Here, we test the feed preference of rodents for locally available and palatable food grains viz. millet (whole), wheat (cracked) and rice (broken) and taste additives namely whole egg (5%), eggshell (5%), peanut cracked (5%) and yeast (2%) that were offered mixed in millet-wheat (50:50 by wt.) bait. We tested the preferences of different food additives through a process of feed choice mechanism. We applied two different techniques to compare the preference of mixed feed baits, these techniques included no-choice with multiple choice feeding tests and paired choice with multiple choices feeding tests. The results indicated that consumption of bait with added whole egg was significantly higher (p > 0.05). Further test for its effectiveness as a carrier for rodenticides revealed 56%, 82% and 92%, reduction in rodent activities with zinc phosphide (2%), coumatetralyl (0.0375%) and Brodifacoum (0.005%) respectively. Our results point to a need on continuous improvement of feed baits by using different combinations to effectively control the rodent infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa—New Zealand has only four rodent species, all introduced. In order of arrival, they are Pacific rat Rattus exulans, brown rat R. norvegicus, house mouse Mus musculus, and black rat R. rattus. Rodent management in New Zealand aims mainly to conserve indigenous biodiversity rather than to protect crops or manage diseases, as is usual elsewhere. We describe four major "regimes" and one major vision for rodent control in New Zealand to meet ecological restoration objectives. Current challenges for island eradications are for large islands that are remote or populated by people. Aerial 1080 is the only large‐scale (tens of thousands of hectares) option for black rat control, but its application requires adjustment to counter subsequent rapid black rat repopulation. Unfenced "ecosanctuaries" (mean 720 ha) use ground‐based traps and poisons to target mainly black rats and face constant reinvasion. Ecosanctuaries with mammal‐resistant fences (up to 3500 ha) limit reinvasion and target more pest species and have enabled the return of previously extirpated taxa to the main islands. Predator Free 2050 aims to eradicate the rat species (but not mice) plus some other introduced mammals from New Zealand by 2050. This vision is not attainable with current tools, but research and experimental management is exploring techniques and technologies. The large scale (to 100 000 ha) at which black rats are now targeted for control to extremely low abundance seems to be unique to New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertility control is often heralded as a humane and effective technique for management of overabundant wildlife, including rodents. The intention is to reduce the use of lethal and inhumane methods, increase farm productivity and food security as well as reduce disease transmission, particularly of zoonoses. We developed a framework to guide researchers and stakeholders planning to assess the effectiveness of a potential contraceptive agent for a particular species. Our guidelines describe the overarching research questions which must be sequentially addressed to ensure adequate data are collected so that a contraceptive can be registered for use in broad‐scale rodent management. The framework indicates that studies should be undertaken iteratively and, at times, in parallel, with initial research being conducted on (1) laboratory‐based captive assessments of contraceptive effects in individuals; (2) simulation of contraceptive delivery using bait markers and/or surgical sterilization of different proportions of a field‐based or enclosure population to determine how population dynamics are affected; (3) development of mathematical models which predict the outcomes of different fertility control scenarios; and (4) implementation of large‐scale, replicated trials to validate contraceptive efficacy under various management‐scale field situations. In some circumstances, fertility control may be most effective when integrated with other methods (e.g. some culling). Assessment of non‐target effects, direct and indirect, and the environmental fate of the contraceptive must also be determined. Developing fertility control for a species is a resource‐intensive commitment but will likely be less costly than the ongoing environmental and economic impacts by rodents and rodenticides in many contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rodents threaten the one health approach in livestock farming. In the present observational case study, livestock farmers collaborated with a pest controller in a pilot project in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The objective was to evaluate factors influencing rodent-prevention potential on 24 livestock farms after 1.5 years project duration. Farmers' attitudes were surveyed at the project's start in March 2019. Potential for rodent prevention was assessed by an external expert in 2020. About half of the farms showed good potential for rodent prevention. Willingness to change at the project start played a central role for rodent-prevention potential. The study underscores the necessity of better informing farmers about rodent control and prevention, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures for long-term rodent control. It also highlights the need for improved advisory services for farmers. Rodents in livestock farming constitute a threat to the one health approach. In the present observational case study, livestock farmers worked together with a pest controller within a pilot project. The aim of the study was to assess determinants associated with rodent-prevention potential. The study started in March 2019 on 24 livestock farms in a municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany. At the beginning of the project a survey on the determinants expected to be related to prevention potential was conducted. To determine the potential for rodent prevention, an expert person, who was not involved in the project before, assessed the on-site conditions of the farms after 1.5 years of project duration in 2020. The potential for rodent prevention was good for about half of the farms. There were significant differences in the willingness to make changes at the project's start between farms with a high and a low potential for rodent prevention after 1.5 years. There is a general need for action to provide farmers with more practical information on rodent control. This is aggravated by the insufficient advisory services offered to farmers. This study confirms the importance of implementing preventive measures in the control of rodents to ensure that anticoagulant rodenticides are handled responsibly to reduce the impact on non-target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Orientia tsutsugamushi is a zoonotic intracellular pathogen that requires parasitism in eukaryotic cells to reproduce. In recent years, tsutsugamushi disease reported in many places nationwide has crossed the Yangtze River, continuously, spreading to the North China. Now this phenomenon has aroused people's attention. Materials and Methods: In this study, meta-analysis was used to analyze the infection of rodents (vectors) in China, to clarify the transmission rule of O. tsutsugamushi. Results: This study included literature from six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Wanfang, CNKI, and VIP). A total of 55 articles were included in the study from 610 retrieved articles. The total infection rate of O. tsutsugamushi in rodents was 5.5% (1206/20,620, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0553–0.0617). The prevalence of O. tsutsugamushi in rodents before 2013 (7.73%, 95% CI: 4.11–12.37) was higher than after 2013 (2.11%, 95% CI: 0.64–4.41). O. tsutsugamushi spread among a variety of rodents, among which Rattus losea (13.3%, 95% CI: 4.33–26.26), Rattus tanezumi (5.69%, 95% CI: 1.37–12.72), and Apodemus agrarius (5.32%, 95% CI: 2.26–9.58) infection rate was higher. Kawasaki (8.32%, 95% CI: 1.42–20.17), Karp (7.36%, 95% CI: 2.62–14.22), Kato (2.54%, 95% CI: 0.08–8.28), and Gilliam (2.13%, 95% CI: 0.42–5.09) were the main prevalent genotypes in China. The prevalence of O. tsutsugamushi in rodents was seasonal, increasing gradually in summer (2.39%, 95% CI: 0.46–5.77), peaking in autumn (4.59%, 95% CI: 1.15–10.16), and then declining. The positive rate of immunofluorescence assay (25.07%, 95% CI: 8.44–46.88) was the highest among the detection methods, and it was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Based on the subgroup of geographical factors and climatic factors, the probability of O. tsutsugamushi infection in rodents was the highest when the temperature >19℃ (8.20%, 95% CI: 1.22–20.52), the altitude <100 millimeters (7.23%, 95% CI: 3.45–12.26), the precipitation >700 millimeters (12.22%, 95% CI: 6.45–19.50), and the humidity 60–70% (7.80%, 95% CI: 4.17–12.44). Conclusions: Studies have shown that rodents carrying O. tsutsugamushi are common. People should prevent and control rodents in life and monitor rodents carrying O. tsutsugamushi for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local perceptions about rodents and the damage they cause and management practices are the first step to design and implement rodent control programs. A study was conducted to obtain information about the perceptions and practices of farmers in Wenchi highlands on rodent damage and their management practices in the late-2020 and early 2021. Farmers (n = 383) from four highland villages of Wenchi district were randomly selected and interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Rodents were identified as major pests and perceived negatively among farmers. Arvicanthis abyssinicus (Rüppell), Mastomys natalensis (Smith), Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko, Likhnova & Baskevich), Hystrix cristata L., and Tachyoryctes splendens (Rüppell) were the potential rodent pest species in the study area. There were significant variations in the type of damage (χ2 = 112.698, df = 3, P < 0.05) and crop type susceptibility to rodent pest attack (χ2 = 143.26, df = 3, P < 0.05). Crop damage (38.7%) and damage to human properties (27.9%) were the two dominant rodent-related problems in the area. Barley was the most susceptible crop to rodent attack (57.5%). The occurrence frequency of rodent pests and crop damage between the cropping stages also varied significantly. Most damage to barley crops (42.5%) occurred during the maturation stage. Farmers assessed rodent damage by observing damaged seeds, damaged stores, and rodent droppings in the storage and stem cuts of standing crops in the crop fields. The farmers stated that managing rodents in barley crop fields is practically impossible. In storage, farmers mainly use cats (53.73%) and trapping (22.64%) to control rodents. Detailed on-field rodent damage assessment and community education for rodent management are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat manipulation is an important technique that can be used for controlling rodent damage in agricultural ecosystems. It involves intentional manipulation of vegetation cover in habitats adjacent to active burrows of rodents to reduce shelter and food availability and to increase predation pressure. The current study was conducted in the Pothwar Plateau region of Pakistan during respective non-crop periods of wheat-groundnut (post-harvested and un-plowed/non-crop fallow lands). The pur­pose was to assess the impact of reduction in vegetation height of adjacent habitats (field borders) on rodent richness and abun­dance. The study area was divided into two sites: treated and non-treated. At the treated sites, habitat manipulation was carried out by removing crop cache and non-crop vegetation over 10 cm in height to a distance of approximately 20 m from the fields. The trapping sessions carried out at both treated and non-treated sites adjacent to wheat-groundnut fields were significantly different (F2,6 = 13.2, P = 0.001) from each other, with the maximum number of rodents captured from non-treated sites. There was a significant difference in the overall abundance of rodents (P < 0.05) between crop stages and between treatments in both crops. The manipulation effect was observed with respect to damage to crops and yield production, significantly reducing damage within the associated croplands (P < 0.05). The outcomes of this study indicated a significant reduction of rodent population at treated sites due to changes in vegetation height and cover, which directly affect habitat and behavior attributes (e.g., food, shelter, movements, increased risk sensitivity, and feeding behavior) for rat. Rodents apparently were unable to reach levels where they could cause significant crop damage. This method is recommended as a cost-effective and easy application.

Rodent infestations are a common problem that can result in several issues, including diseases, damage to property, and crop loss. Conventional methods of controlling rodent infestations often involve using mousetraps and applying rodenticides manually, leading to high manpower expenses and environmental pollution. To address this issue, we introduce a system for remotely monitoring rodent infestations using Internet of Things (IoT) nodes equipped with Long Range (LoRa) modules. The sensing nodes wirelessly transmit data related to rodent activity to a cloud server, enabling the server to provide real-time information. Additionally, this approach involves using images to auxiliary detect rodent activity in various buildings. By capturing images of rodents and analyzing their behavior, we can gain insight into their movement patterns and activity levels. By visualizing the recorded information from multiple nodes, rodent control personnel can analyze and address infestations more efficiently. Through the digital and quantitative sensing technology proposed at this stage, it can serve as a new objective indicator before and after the implementation of medication or other prevention and control methods. The hardware cost for the proposed system is approximately USD 43 for one sensor module and USD 17 for one data collection gateway (DCG). We also evaluated the power consumption of the sensor module and found that the 3.7 V 18,650 Li-ion batteries in series can provide a battery life of two weeks. The proposed system can be combined with rodent control strategies and applied in real-world scenarios such as restaurants and factories to evaluate its performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of rodent pests with novel rodenticides is an important strategy subsequently they are cost-effective in reduction of agriculture damage in the urban environment. The current field study was conducted to test the efficiency of newly formulated baits of zinc phosphide (2%) and brodifacoum (0.005%) in combination and alone mixed with additives for the control of field rats prevailing wheat-groundnut cropping system of the Pothwar region, Pakistan. Burrow baiting and bait stations were employed at the early flowering stages of the respective crops, and continued through three growth stages (germination, peg formation/flowering and maturity). Treatment efficacy of the trials was assessed through counts of active rodent burrows before and after treatments at the three growth stages of these crops. The results indicated variable degrees of reduction in burrow activities following the three bait applications. The reductions in rodent activity in wheat were 88.8% at germination, 92.0% at flowering/grain formation and 95.5% at maturity stage. In groundnut, the rodent activities were reduced by 91.8%, 93.5% and 95.8% at germination, peg formation, and maturity stages, respectively. The estimated mortality at all three growth stages of both wheat and groundnut ranged between 60 and 85%. A significant impact of three rodenticides treatments on the reduction of rodent burrow density in both wheat and groundnut crops (P < 0.05) was observed. Nonetheless, comparison of the mean values reveals that the number of burrows reduced at the maturity stages (P > 0.05). The results revealed that this combination of rodenticides have more potential in enhancing bait acceptance and could be benefit to the agricultural ecosystem and may reduce the impact of secondary poisoning and environmental risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the 1920s, Tanganyika Territory experienced several serious rodent outbreaks that threatened cotton and other grain production. At the same time, regular reports of pneumonic and bubonic plague occurred in the northern areas of Tanganyika. These events led the British colonial administration to dispatch several studies into rodent taxonomy and ecology in 1931 to determine the causes of rodent outbreaks and plague disease, and to control future outbreaks. The application of ecological frameworks to the control of rodent outbreaks and plague disease transmission in colonial Tanganyika Territory gradually moved from a view that prioritised 'ecological interrelations' among rodents, fleas and people to one where those interrelations required studies into population dynamics, endemicity and social organisation in order to mitigate pests and pestilence. This shift in Tanganyika anticipated later population ecology approaches on the African continent. Drawing on sources from the Tanzania National Archives, this article offers an important case study of the application of ecological frameworks in a colonial setting that anticipated later global scientific interest in studies of rodent populations and rodent-borne disease ecologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This review provides an insight into the nanotechnology principles for plant-based rodenticides formulation and how they can be developed and superior to the conventional rodent control program. Development of Phyto or green nano rodenticides involves the selection of plant material, extraction of rodenticidal metabolites, formulation of plant extracts as Nanoparticles (Polymeric, Nanocapsules, Nanospheres, Solid, Lipid), Nanoemulsion, Nanocomposite, Nanoliposomes via green science or green technology principles, characterisation of nanoformulation like morphology, surface topology, functional group determination using electron microscopy, spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The effectiveness of the nanosystem can be proved by the determination of loading, entrapment efficacy and release profile. Bioassays studies with the respective nanoformulation under laboratory and field trials tests reveal Nanorodenticides. The stability of the respective nanoparticulate formulation can be assessed by zeta potential measurement. After the successful validation, it is necessary to study biocompatibility or biosafety using a suitable in vitro and in vivo screening model system that can be assessed through cell lines and zebrafish models. Any sign of toxic effect that can be measured in the respective model system reveals outstanding biocompatibility. This review demonstrates that the Nano Phyto rodenticides formulated by green nanotechnology can be potentially used to control rodents in an eco-friendly manner with high efficacy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the use of owls as a rodent control method aims at reducing rodent pests, we present our results emphasising the contribution of commensal rodents to the Barn Owl diet. The level of diversity of rodents and shrews was the same in pellets and live traps (H = 1.6), although the traps had a better evenness of rodent species (0.89) than the pellets (0.71). Such methods maintain rodent populations below levels that could cause significant economic loss and are best for managing overabundant rodent populations on agricultural land (Chr et al., [10]). [Extracted from the article]

Five blocks of farmer's sugarcane fields were selected in district Jalandhar, Punjab during December 2016 to February 2017. These blocks were treated with 2% zinc phosphide (ZnP), 2% ZnP+ 0.005% bromadiolone (Br), 2% ZnP+ 0.25% triptolide (Tr) and 2% ZnP+ 0.005% Br+ 0.25% Tr at cane maturation stage; and 5th block was kept as untreated control. The post census and % re-buildup of rodents after 30 and 45 days of Tr treatment and cut canes (%) were significantly less in rodenticides+ Tr treated blocks (ZnP+ Tr and ZnP+ Br+ Tr) as compared to blocks treated only with rodenticides (ZnP alone and ZnP + Br). However, burrows and yield loss were found to be significantly less with ZnP+ Br+ Tr treatment. Thus, antifertilty agent, triptolide can be used along with rodenticides for better control of rodents in sugarcane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refuse storage and collection systems are potential sources of food and harbourage areas for rodents which transmit pathogens. We examined the factors associated with rodent activity in public housing municipal waste collection premises in a highly urbanized city-state. We analysed data from April 2019 to March 2020 in mixed-effects logistic regression models to examine the independent factors associated with rodent activity in central refuse chute rooms (CRCs), individual refuse chute (IRC) bin chambers and bin centres. We accounted for within-year patterns, repeated measures and nested effects. We observed a heterogeneous spatial distribution of rodent activity. Rodent droppings were strongly associated with rodent activity in CRCs (aOR: 6.20, 95% CI: 4.20–9.15), bin centres (aOR: 3.61, 95% CI: 1.70–7.64) and IRC bin chambers (aOR: 90.84, 95% CI: 70.13–117.67). Gnaw marks were positively associated with rodent activity in CRCs (aOR: 5.61, 95% CI: 3.55–8.97) and IRC bin chambers (aOR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.43–2.95), as were rub marks in CRCs (aOR: 5.04, 95% CI: 3.44–7.37) and IRC bin chambers (aOR: 3.07, 95% CI: 1.74–5.42). Each burrow increased the odds of rodent sightings in bin centres (aOR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.06). The odds of rodent sightings in an IRC bin chamber increased with every additional bin chute chamber within the same block (aOR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07). We identified several factors that well predicted rodent activity in waste collection premises. Municipal estate managers with limited resources can adopt a risk-based approach in tailoring the focus of their rodent control interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cats, Felis catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), were domesticated because of their role in rodent control around human settlements. Free‐roaming cats (henceforth, referred to as "cats") can predate on a wide variety of small‐ to medium‐sized animals and affect biodiversity. The impact of cats on biodiversity varies from country to country, region to region, and habitat to habitat. Depending on the location and context, the overall impact of cats on biodiversity can be negative, neutral, or positive. Management of cats should take into account the complex interactions that occur between cats, rodents, and the species they prey upon. The impacts of cats on biodiversity cannot be generalized as they vary from country to country, region to region, and habitat to habitat. The role of cats on rodent control should not be overlooked. Complex interactions, often difficult to predict, occur between cats, rodents, and the species they prey upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest to discover the neural bases of cognition, rigorous behavioral tools are equally as important as sophisticated tools for neural intervention. This paper evaluates several episodes in the development of a novel behavioral tool for rodent cognitive testing, the rodent touchscreen operant chamber. Using conceptual tools on offer in the philosophical literature on exploratory experimentation and control, I illuminate how optimization of this behavioral tool and an understanding of the causal knowledge it may be used to generate historically has involved dynamic interplay between community-driven exploratory practices operating in parallel with causal hypothesis-driven research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodent population control is an important measure in reducing the risk of rodent-borne disease transmission. In this study, we examined rodent activity in the sanitary waste network around the household waste-collection bin chamber of an urban residential apartment block. We utilised infra-red camera traps to determine the pattern of rodent activity in a rodent-infested bin chamber and its associated sanitary waste network. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the risk factors that were independently associated with rodent activity in the bin chambers. The camera trap surveillance showed that the rodents were active in the bin chamber and sanitary network both in the day and at night. In the cross-sectional study, rodent activity in the bin chambers was independently associated with broken floor traps [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 36.7, CI: 21.3–66.3], calendar month [Log-likelihood ratio test (LRT) p = 0.002] and Town Council [LRT p = 0.004] variables. In restricted analysis, rodent activity in bin chambers was independently associated with defects in the wastewater pipe under the chamber [AOR: 12.3, CI: 4.3–51.7]. Our study suggests that urban municipal management councils should prioritize rodent control resources in areas according to the factors that increase the risk of rodent infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents belong to the group of occasionally economically significant to very significant pests. Some species, especially synanthropic species, cause material damage in various ways. Successful and sustainable management of rodent control strategies requires different procedures such as prevention and rodent control measures. The present study gives an overview of the most common rodent species and methods for estimating the rodent population to assess the risk of economic damage that may occur due to rodents feeding in field crops, gardens, orchards, and young forest plantations, as well as contamination of stored food. As a prerequisite for effective integrated control of mice and voles, it is necessary to implement an adequate long-term monitoring system of these species, as they are primary pests. The integrated approach improves the treatment efficacy and reduces the treatment costs but also is considered ecologically friendlier compared to conventional measures. An integrated approach should provide an effective strategy for rodent management and control in all types of rodent habitats, from agricultural and forestry production fields to residential and public areas. By combining different preventive measures, it is possible to prevent the presence of pests, which will therefore result in a reduction of pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synanthropic rodents are ubiquitous in low-income communities and pose risks for human health, as they are generally resistant to control programs. However, few or no studies have evaluated the long-term effect of chemical and infrastructural interventions on rodent population dynamics, especially in urban low-income communities, or evaluated the potential recovery of their population following interventions. We conducted a longitudinal study in a low-income community in the city of Salvador (BA, Brazil) to characterize the effect of interventions (chemical and infrastructural) on the dynamics of rodent population, and documented the post-intervention recovery of their population. We evaluated the degree of rodent infestation in 117 households/sampling points over three years (2014–2017), using tracking plates, a proxy for rodent abundance/activity. We reported a significant lower rodent activity/abundance after the chemical and infrastructural interventions (Z = −4.691 (p < 0.001)), with track plate positivity decreasing to 28% from 70% after and before interventions respectively. Therefore, the combination of chemical and infrastructural interventions significantly decreased the degree of rodent infestation in the study area. In addition, no rodent population rebound was recorded until almost a year post-intervention, and the post-intervention infestation level did not attain the pre-intervention level all through the study. Moreover, among pre-treatment conditions, access to sewer rather than the availability of food was the variable most closely associated with household rodent infestation. Our study indicates that Integrated Pest Management (IPM)-approaches are more effective in reducing rodent infestation than the use of a single method. Our findings will be useful in providing guidance for long-term rodent control programs, especially in urban low-income communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents threaten agricultural industries and food security on a global scale. Rodent management practices routinely involve the use of chemical products, mainly anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs). An understanding of farmer rodent control behaviors is crucial in order to implement management changes to more environmentally friendly practices. In this study, we surveyed farmers in an agricultural area of northwestern Taiwan on their knowledge, attitudes, and control practices for rodent pests. From our survey sample of 126 farmers, rodents were perceived to be the most problematic for vegetable crops, followed by rice, and then fruit. Farmers in the oldest age group and those that perceived rodents to cause extensive damage to their crops were found to have the most negative attitudes toward the pests. One-third of the farmers in our survey stated they currently use rodenticides, with crop type, perceived problems caused by rodents, and attitudes toward rodents found to be important explanatory variables. Our results indicate that the use of rodenticides is reactive; farmers are more likely to apply the chemical products if they perceive rodents to cause damage. Additionally, cost–benefit assessments are likely important in governing rodent control behaviors; farmers may be more inclined to use control products that are subsidized by the government, which include ARs, when they observe damage to their crops inflicted by rodents. We also describe how ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) practices could be feasible and sustainable alternatives to rodenticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Arvicolinae rodents are known pests causing damage to both agricultural and forest crops. Today, rodenticides for rodent control are widely discouraged owing to their negative effects on the environment. Rodents are the main prey for several predators, and their complex olfactory system allows them to identify risks of predation. Therefore, the potential use of predators' scents as repellents has gained interest as an ecologically based rodent control method. In a two‐choice experiment, we investigated the potential repellent effects of five synthetic predator compounds: 2‐phenylethylamine (2‐PEA), 2‐propylthietane (2‐PT), indole, heptanal and 2,5‐dihydro‐2,4,5‐trimethylthiazoline (TMT), at 1% and 5% doses, using the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) as a rodent model. RESULTS: The compound 2‐PEA reduced both the food contacts and the time spent by voles in the treatment arm compared to the control arm. Likewise, 2‐PT‐treated arms reduced the food contacts, and the voles spent less time there, although this latter difference was not significant. Indole also showed a tendency to reduce the time spent at the treatment arm; however, this result was not significant. Unexpectedly, TMT had the reverse effect in showing attractive properties, possibly due to odor cues from differently sized predators and intraguild predation in nature. We found no dose‐related effects for any compounds tested. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the 2‐PEA and 2‐PT are both effective odor stimuli for triggering reduced food contacts and area avoidance, and they may be good repellent candidates. We suggest further testing of 2‐PEA and 2‐PT in field experiments to further determine their dose‐efficiency as repellents against rodents in more natural environments. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents use whisking to probe actively their environment and to locate objects in space, hence providing a paradigmatic biological example of active sensing. Numerous studies show that the control of whisking has anticipatory aspects. For example, rodents target their whisker protraction to the distance at which they expect objects, rather than just reacting fast to contacts with unexpected objects. Here we characterize the anticipatory control of whisking in rodents as an active inference process. In this perspective, the rodent is endowed with a prior belief that it will touch something at the end of the whisker protraction, and it continuously modulates its whisking amplitude to minimize (proprioceptive and somatosensory) prediction errors arising from an unexpected whisker–object contact, or from a lack of an expected contact. We will use the model to qualitatively reproduce key empirical findings about the ways rodents modulate their whisker amplitude during exploration and the scanning of (expected or unexpected) objects. Furthermore, we will discuss how the components of active inference model can in principle map to the neurobiological circuits of rodent whisking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodenticide baits are commonly used to control rodent populations, but their unintended effects on non-target species have raised concerns. One such concern is the potential consumption of rodenticide-contaminated invertebrates by insectivores, leading to secondary poisoning. This article explores the evidence and implications of this phenomenon, highlighting the ecological and conservation implications of rodenticide use in pest management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents represent a serious threat to food security and public health. The extent to which rodent control can mitigate the risk from rodent‐borne disease depends on both the effectiveness of control in reducing rodent abundance and the impact on disease epidemiology. Focusing on a plague‐endemic region of Madagascar, this study compared the effectiveness of 3 methods: live‐traps, snap‐traps, and rodenticides. Control interventions were implemented inside houses between May and October 2019. Tracking tiles monitored rodent abundance. Rodent fleas, the vector involved in plague transmission, were collected. Rodent populations consisted of Rattus rattus and Mus musculus. In terms of trap success, we found that our live‐trap regime was more effective than snap‐traps. While all 3 control strategies appeared to reduce in‐house rodent activity in the short term, we found no evidence of a longer‐term effect, with in‐house rodent abundance in treated sites comparable to non‐treatment sites by the following month. Endemic flea, Synopsyllus fonquerniei, is a key plague vector usually found on rats living outdoors. Although we found no evidence that its abundance inside houses increased following control, this may have been due to a lack of power caused by significant variation in S. fonquerniei abundance. The presence of S. fonquerniei in houses was more likely when S. fonquerniei abundance on outdoor rats was higher, which in turn correlated with high rat abundance. Our results emphasize that control strategies need to consider this connectivity between in‐house rat–flea populations and the outdoor populations, and any potential consequences for plague transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational models of motor learning have been examined experimentally with human participants using a robotic manipulandum that produces force perturbations on their reach trajectories. Here, we developed a small-scale robotic manipulandum for rodent studies. This device enabled us to conduct the same motor control experiments typically used for human study on rodents in order to examine the neural basis of the computational process of motor control and learning. We present the design of the manipulandum and controller system in addition to kinematic analysis of the link structures. We also confirmed the feasibility of the developed system for rodent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a neurological disease resulting from liver failure, is difficult to manage and its causes are unclear. Bile acids have been postulated to be involved in the provenance and progression of various diseases including HE. Hence, the characterization of bile acid profiles in the brains of subjects with and without liver failure can provide important clues for the potential treatment of HE. Nanoflow ultra‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry (UPLC‐ESI‐IM‐MS) is a highly sensitive method for detection of specific molecules, such as bile acids in brain samples, at biologically relevant concentrations. We used UPLC‐ESI‐IM‐MS to characterize bile acid profiles in brain samples from seven "healthy" control rodents and 22 "diseased" rodents with liver failure (i.e., induced HE). An isomer of trihydroxycholanoyl‐taurine was detected in brain tissue samples from both rats and mice with induced HE; however, this isomer was not detected in the brains of healthy rats and mice. Our findings were confirmed by comparing IM arrival times (AT), exact mass measurements (m/z), and mass spectral fragmentation patterns of the experimentally observed suspected species to standards of trihydroxycholanoyl‐taurine isomers. Moreover, In Silico Fractionation was employed to provide an additional analytical dimension to verify bile acid identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many invasive rodent species have become established in the United States and its territories, both on the mainland and on islands. While most were introduced accidently, some were introduced for food or fur. These rodents have caused serious impacts to native flora and fauna, agriculture, and other resources. They have caused the extinction of many species of birds in insular ecosystems. Although many methods are used to control or eradicate introduced rodents, rodenticides and traps are the main tools. Since the early 1990s, agencies have been eradicating rodents from various islands, primarily for conservation purposes. There have been numerous eradication attempts in the United States and most have been successful. We review introduced rodent impacts and eradications, both successful and unsuccessful, which have occurred, with an emphasis on the United States. Finally, we consider some research needs and some remaining challenges in invasive rodent management and eradication in the United States, including the use of toxicants, land access, public attitudes, resource availability, and monitoring difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Ectoparasites may transfer zoonotic pathogens from rodents to humans or livestock when rodents are managed with rodenticides. This could be minimized using a product combining a rodenticide with a delayed action and a systemic insecticide/acaricide that rapidly kills ectoparasites. Such a combination was tested in commensal pest rodent species to assess efficacy and timing of responses in rodents, and fleas and ticks feeding on them. Ticks or fleas attached to rats (Rattus norvegicus) and house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) were exposed to a product containing brodifacoum (50 ppm) and fipronil (40 ppm) for three days. RESULTS: 98–100% of fleas on treated rodents died within one to two days after first exposure, whereas >90% fleas survived on control rodents. The effect persisted for four or more days after bait uptake. Ticks started to succumb to the effect of the combination product within one day (mice) and within four days (rats) of first exposure, with all ticks dying by Day (D)8. Tick survival in control rodents was 90–100%. Rodent mortality began at D3 (rats) and D4 (mice) after first consumption of product and all were dead by D9 (rats) and D7 (mice). CONCLUSION: This product effectively killed ectoparasites and rodents. Flea mortality was swift and complete, generally within one day of exposure, whereas it took ticks up to four days to die, but before the rats and house mice died. The combination product might help to prevent ectoparasites migrating from dying rodents to another host. Field trials are warranted. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigation of non-target species impacts is a key challenge of the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP). The project aims to eradicate rodents and European rabbits from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island through the aerial application of cereal-based brodifacoum bait, followed by a hunting program targeting surviving rabbits. Aerial baiting was attempted in winter 2010 but postponed due to sustained adverse weather that suspended helicopter operations. Following limited baiting in 2010 (10% of the island), non-target mortality of 960 individuals across 6 (of 27) seabird and duck species was recorded. In response, the Australian and Tasmanian governments conducted a review of the project. The review established that some species would be adversely affected by the project in the short-term, but that the island’s ecosystem and most other island species would substantially benefit from pest eradication, confirming the assessments in the Environmental Impact Statement prepared prior to the operation. Enhanced mitigation measures were recommended to minimise non-target species impacts. Of several potential mitigation measures assessed, two principal measures were adopted: releasing Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus to reduce the rabbit population prior to baiting, thus minimising the number of rabbit carcasses containing poison residues available for consumption by scavengers; and increasing the effort of field teams during and after baiting to remove carcasses (the primary 2010 strategy), in an attempt to minimise the exposure of scavengers to toxic residues. Baiting resumed in May 2011 and two island-wide drops were completed by July 2011. Seabird mortality was monitored, with over 1,460 dead birds of the same species found that were affected in 2010, primarily scavenging seabirds such as kelp gulls, giant petrels, and skua. No species was considered to have sustained impacts that threatened the viability of the local population. King penguin colonies were closely monitored during helicopter over-flights and only minor and transitory impacts were observed. Wandering albatross nests were cleared of bait and chicks were not affected. No marine mammal impacts were recorded. If successful, the MIPEP will be the largest and most complex sub-Antarctic island rabbit and rodent eradication yet undertaken.

The removal of introduced rodents from islands can be a highly successful, and thus, important conservation tool for land managers. Non-native rodents have adverse impacts to island ecosystems. Rats alone have been implicated in approximately 40-60% of all bird and reptile extinctions globally. Introduced rodents have been removed from more than 330 islands worldwide using techniques adapted over a ~30-year time period – the use of a bait containing a rodenticide delivered by hand into bait stations or broadcast by hand or helicopter, or a combination of these techniques. Island Conservation has applied this basic approach to remove rodents from islands spanning from the deep tropics to north temperate/sub-Arctic latitudes. Across these regions, the same principle has been applied but the details customized to the local biological and sociopolitical environment. The fundamental considerations during rodent eradication planning have included: 1) delivery of a bait containing a rodenticide into every potential rat territory; 2) delivery at a time of year when the rodent population is food stressed and more likely to eat the bait; 3) minimizing or eliminating, wherever possible, risk to non-target species prone to disturbance and/or toxicant exposure; and 4) ensuring appropriate legal or regulatory compliance and acceptance by local communities. In most cases, the balance between the probability of eradication success and these considerations, particularly risk to non-target species and safe workplace seasonal time periods, are not compatible and may conflict. Thus, adjustments to the eradication plans are sometimes necessary, and are done with careful evaluation of counter-risks to eradication efficacy, non-target species, logistics, or workplace safety. We will use our projects as case studies to demonstrate the approach we take to balance the risks and mitigation, with decisions made in conjunction with our project partners. Comprehensive and transparent planning, with the involvement of experts in the eradication field, land managers, local biologists, regulators, and local community are imperative to overall project success.

Rodent eradication on islands has transitioned over 30 years in New Zealand through stages of initial scepticism, to early accidental and experimental successes, and now to the current bold large-scale aerial applications over increasingly large and complex island ecosystems. Starting in the 1970s and 1980s, gaining momentum in the 1990s, and continuing to the present day, islands once occupied by rodents are now being reclaimed. Until the mid 1980s, very few islands were entirely free of animal pests. Rodent eradication on islands, using bait in stations and baits applied from the air, has been spectacularly successful. To date, more than 90 islands around New Zealand have been cleared of rodents, and brodifacoum use has had an obvious benefit on valuable island ecosystems. The tactical use of toxic bait to protect island populations of indigenous birds, reptiles, and invertebrates endangered by rats and mice continues to be refined to enable larger and more complex islands to be cleared of rodents. New bait types that are especially attractive to mice as well as rats, long-life baits, new toxins, and tunnel delivery systems will augment existing bait types to aid future eradication programmes and help prevent re-invasions. New developments will need to be ethically and socially acceptable and demonstrate clear advantages in non-target impact as well as efficacy in achieving eradication. These endeavours are part of global efforts to eradicate invasives and manage islands to protect native birds and other important fauna and flora.

Rodents generate negative consequences for smallholder farmers in Africa that directly impact household and livestock damage, food security, and public health. Ecologically Based Rodent Management (EBRM) seeks sustainable solutions for the mitigation of rodent damage through assessments of rodent population dynamics, agro‐ecosystems, and socio‐cultural contexts. We adopt a comparative approach across 3 rural Afro‐Malagasy smallholder farming regions in South Africa, Tanzania, and Madagascar to assess the household impacts of rodent pests and current perceptions and preferences associated with several rodent control measures. We conducted focus group questionnaires and interviews in different study site locations. Rodents assert multiple impacts on Afro‐Malagasy farmers demonstrating recurrent and emerging agricultural and household costs, and public health impacts. We identify a significant knowledge gap in educating communities about the application of different EBRM approaches in favor of acute poisons that are perceived to be more effective. Cultural issues and taboos also have a significant impact on the social acceptance of rodent hunting as well as biological control using indigenous predators. We advocate for an enhanced investigation of the socio‐cultural beliefs associated with different rodent practices to understand the factors underlying social acceptance. A collaborative approach that integrates the perspectives of target communities to inform the design of EBRM initiatives according to the specific agro‐ecosystem and socio‐cultural context is necessary to ensure programmatic success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to assess adoption of rodent pest management strategies by farmers in District Ludhiana, Punjab during the year 2017-18. Farmers belonging to three villages, namely Barewaal Dogra (maintenance area), Kutbewaal Gujran (neglected area) and Ladiyan Kalan (survey area) having land holding ranging from 2.0-32.0 acres were selected. The pre-dominant rodent pest species in area under study was Bandicota bengalensis followed by Tatera indica, Millardia meltada and Mus boodguga. Education and training was provided to farmers belonging to maintenance and neglected villages whereas free rodenticide baits were distributed among farmers of maintenance village only. In survey village, no such activity was performed and kept as reference area. KAP survey (Knowledge Aptitude and Practice) of farmers before imparting education during paddy crop period revealed similar rodent control practices being used by farmers in all the three selected villages. Subsequent KAP survey during wheat crop period for impact assessment revealed the sustainability of education and training already imparted during paddy crop period. About 41-92% increase in farmers observing recommended rodent control practices during crop production was noticed. So timely education and free rodenticide bait distribution are important factors responsible for adoption and sustainability of rodent control strategies by the farmers. Farmer can save food grains (33.09 kg paddy/acre and 36.39 kg wheat/acre) with an economic benefit (Rs. 500.09-575.66/acre) and cost: benefit ratio of 1: 36 to 1: 39 by using education, training and free rodenticides which will help in food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cruel treatment of pest rodents is a neglected area of study. This paper uses a representative survey from Khayelitsha (Cape Town) to show that a minority of residents preferred rodent control to be humane but that most did not care how rats are killed and almost a fifth said they would be 'happy' if the rats suffered. Agreeing that animal welfare is important and having become used to the presence of rats raised the probability of support for humane rodent control and decreased support for cruel rodent control. Being concerned that rats might be linked to witchcraft increased the probability of a pro-cruel stance. These results were robust to the inclusion of measures of rodent presence in the household and socio-economic status. This highlights the importance of values (notably concern about animal welfare) and cultural beliefs – in this case concerns that rodents might be linked to witchcraft – in predicting whether respondents are likely to have a pro-cruel stance on rodent control or not. Promoting the humane treatment of pest animals in this context thus requires engaging with local culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Anthropologica is the property of CASCA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Norbormide (NRB) is a Rattus-specific toxicant that has low palatability and produces sub-lethal dosing in the field, thereby limiting its effectiveness as a rodent control tool. In this study, we assessed the species-specific effect and time to death of a lethal dose of a fatty acid derived pro-toxicant of NRB, named DR8, in six rodent species from China; three species of Rattus and three non-Rattus species. Our results showed three species/subspecies of Rattus were sensitive to DR8, with LD50 values being less than 50 mg/kg, while non-Rattus rodent species were totally insensitive to this drug. As expected, the time to death in the three species of Rattus was longer in those rats dosed with DR8 compared to those dosed with NRB. This indicated that DR8 possesses a slower activity profile to NRB, and therefore supports its potential to increase palatability and be a promising species-specific tool for rodent pest management. LSID [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents cause substantial damage and losses of foodstuffs around the world. They also transmit many diseases to humans and livestock. While various methods are used to reduce damage caused by rodents, rodenticides remain an important tool in the toolbox. However, like all tools, rodenticides have advantages and disadvantages. Several considerations are shaping the future of rodenticide use, including manufacturing and registration costs, concern about toxicity levels and nontarget animal hazards, potential hazards to children, reduced effectiveness of some formulations, and humaneness to the targeted rodents. Many of these disadvantages apply to anticoagulant rodenticides, and their use is being more restricted in numerous settings. This paper discusses rodenticide use but also alternative control methods such as traps, exclusion, habitat management, repellents, and fertility control. While there have been relatively few new developments in rodenticides and other rodent control methods in the last several decades, new formulations and active ingredients are being investigated so that these concerns can be addressed. Some of these new developments and research results are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodenticides are an essential tool in the integrated pest management of infestations of commensal rodents (Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, and Mus musculus). With the introduction of Assembly Bill 1788, the California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2019, California is potentially facing a future with new restrictions on the use of anticoagulant rodenticides to manage commensal rodents in urban areas. Assembly Bill 1788 has been proposed specifically to protect predators from anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning and seeks to restrict the application of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) for use in many urban and non-urban areas of California, USA. Exclusion and cultural practices, such as landscape management and sanitation (i.e., cleaning of property including but not limited to trash containment and removal, and drain sanitation), remain important and successful tools for managing rodent populations. However, increased exposure of wildlife to anticoagulant rodenticides has been detected California. Several animal species have been documented as having succumbed to rodenticide toxicosis. When rodents are killed by SGARs and consumed by predators, SGAR residues have been detected in the livers of predatory species. However, the effects of chronic, sublethal exposure to predators are not well understood. We discuss the current and proposed changes to rodenticide legislation in California, impacts of rodenticide to wildlife, and the potential effects of restrictions on wildlife. We discuss limitations to rodent management programs that have historically replied on the use of SGARs and the potential impacts of the proposed legislation on communities across California. We also identify research gaps that are impeding the adoption of evidence-based best management strategies for rodent control. To improve the success of commensal rodent control programs in California, more research is needed to develop effective strategies for rodent management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The use of immature rodents to study physiologic aspects of cortical development requires high‐quality recordings electroencephalography (EEG) with simultaneous video recording (vEEG) of behavior. Normative developmental vEEG data in control animals are fundamental for the study of abnormal background activity in animal models of seizures or other neurologic disorders. Electrical recordings from immature, freely behaving rodents can be particularly difficult because of the small size of immature rodents, their thin and soft skull, interference with the recording apparatus by the dam, and other technical challenges. In this report of the TASK1 Working Group 2 (WG2) of the International League Against Epilepsy/American Epilepsy Society (ILAE/AES) Joint Translational Task Force, we provide suggestions that aim to optimize future vEEG recordings from immature rodents, as well as their interpretation. We focus on recordings from immature rodents younger than 30 days old used as experimental controls, because the quality and correct interpretation of such recordings is important when interpreting the vEEG results of animals serving as models of neurologic disorders. We discuss the technical aspects of such recordings and compare tethered versus wireless approaches. We also summarize the appearance of common artifacts and various patterns of electrical activity seen in young rodents used as controls as a function of behavioral state, age, and (where known) sex and strain. The information herein will hopefully help improve the methodology of vEEG recordings from immature rodents and may lead to results and interpretations that are more consistent across studies from different laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly half a century ago anticoagulant rodenticides changed the nature of rodent control. Warfarin, and succeeding first-generation compounds, provided effective and increasingly safe baits for reducing commensal rodent populations. Environmental deficiencies were overridden by these "miracle" chemicals, but excessive and irresponsible use selected for resistant populations. Second-generation compounds with a single-feeding characteristic have controlled such resistant populations, at least initially. But use extensions to crop and field areas have been held back by registration requirements, costs, and concerns over local effects on predators. New compounds, formulations, and applications in the near future are likely to be quite limited.

The anticoagulant rodenticides were discovered in the 1940s and their advantages of efficacy and safety quickly resulted in their use dominating the practice of rodent control in temperate countries. However, the development of resistance to the early compounds within a decade stimulated research culminating in the invention of a new class of anticoagulant, the second generation compounds, active against resistant strains but also overall far more potent than those previously available. A novel baiting strategy, pulsed baiting, was developed to make full use of this valuable characteristic. Pulsed baiting has enabled the use of second generation anticoagulants in situations where early products were of limited value, particularly in tropical agriculture. The future of this highly-successful group of compounds is reviewed in relation to resistance and the difficulty and cost of developing further rodenticides.

Rodents pose a significant threat to human health, particularly in rural subsistence farming communities in Africa, where rodents threaten food security and serve as reservoirs of human pathogens, including the agents of plague, leptospirosis, murine typhus, rat-bite fever, Lassa fever, salmonellosis, and campylobacteriosis. Our study focused on the plague-endemic West Nile region of Uganda, where a majority of residents live in Uganda government-defined poverty, rely on subsistence farming for a living, and frequently experience incursions of rodents into their homes. In this study, we show that rodent removal was achieved in a median of 6 days of intensive lethal trapping with multiple trap types (range: 0–16 days). However, rodent abundance in 68.9% of homesteads returned to pretreatment levels within a median of 8 weeks (range 1–24 weeks), and at least a single rodent was captured in all homesteads by a median of 2 weeks (range 1–16 weeks) after removal efforts were terminated. Results were similar between homesteads that practiced rodent control whether or not their neighbors implemented similar strategies. Overall, intensive lethal trapping inside homes appears to be effective at reducing rodent abundance, but control was short lived after trapping ceased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The barrier effect is a pervasive impact of road networks. For many small mammals individual avoidance responses can be the mechanism behind the barrier effect. However, little attention has been paid to which species and road characteristics modulate road avoidance and mortality risk. We measured the strength of the barrier effect imposed by the road on three rodent species with different body sizes and habitat specializations: Southern water vole ( Arvicola sapidus ), Mediterranean pine vole ( Microtus duodecimcostatus ) and Algerian mouse ( Mus spretus ). We analysed the effect of traffic intensity on use of space and direction of movement and the effect of road type (4-lane highway, 2-lane paved road and 1-lane unpaved road) on crossing rates with simulations of roads bisecting each home range. Finally, we estimated annual mortality risk from collision based on individual speed, crossing rates, body length, traffic volume and road width. Individual mobility and ecological preferences were assumed as two hypotheses to explain species’ responses towards roads. The effects were species-specific, with traffic intensity having a negative influence on the use of space and movement directionality only for water voles and with avoidance of paved roads being evident for the Algerian mouse. Road-kill mortality risk was high in pine voles. Habitat specialization, individual mobility and home-range location were identified as important factors of species’ responses towards roads. This study draws attention to the role of behaviour and ecological requirements as well as road characteristics on the strength of the barrier effect imposed by roads for different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]