Integrated Pest Management
Several species of rodents are frequent pests in the home and yard environments in Arizona. They include the common House Mouse, the Norway Rat (not actually from Norway ), the Roof Rat and the yard gopher.
The Trouble With Rodents
Most people would agree that rodents have limited value. Commensal rodents ( Norway rats, Roof rats and common House mice) live off humans without returning anything of worth. Commensal means "sharing one's table." Learning about rodent biology and behavior is essential to eliminating unwanted rats and mice. Through an effective IPM program, rodent infestations - and the serious problems they cause - can be controlled.
Rodents cause numerous problems
- Spread serious diseases, including salmonellosis (food poisoning), plague, leptospirosis, rickettsial pox and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM).
- Consume or contaminate about 20 percent of the world's food supply.
- Carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, which potentially spread diseases, into buildings.
- Gnaw, causing expensive structural damage. They also can start fires if they gnaw on electrical wires.
- Cause a great deal of anxiety for occupants of infested buildings.
