Vertebrates

Question 1

Objectives of a rodent survey

Answer 1

Identify Species
Extent of infestation
Size of infestation
Areas of activity
Food source
Harbourage
Water source
History of infestation
Source of infestation
Immigration
Non-target species
Proofing defects
Hygiene defects

Question 2

Define a rodent survey

Answer 2

A measure of the magnitude of the problem and it’s environmental causes

Question 3

What are the physical features of the norway / sewer / brown rat?

Answer 3

Blunt muzzle
Small eyes and ears
Heavy body
Tail shorter than head and body

Question 4

What are the physical features of a black rat / ship rat?

Answer 4

Large eyes and ears
Slender body
Tail longer than head and body
(They are actually not usually black)

Question 5

What is the habitat of the Norway rat?

Answer 5

Underground burrow
Sewers
Outdoors

Question 6

What is the habitat of the ship rat?

Answer 6

Houses
Trees
Livestock units
Food stores and shops
Orchards
Any areas they can use their climbing ability
Rarely burrows but will live on ground in cracks, under rocks or in walls in the absence of predators

Question 7

What are the physical features of a house mouse?

Answer 7

Grey-brown fur
Tail is 80% length of head and body
Only slightly lighter underside
Small size
Notch in upper incisors

Question 8

What are the physical features of a water vole?

Answer 8

Very short ears
Furred tail
Rounded muzzle
Tail about one half length of head and body

Question 9

What is the habitat of a house mouse?

Answer 9

Dry indoor environments

Question 10

Norway rats are very neophobic. What implications does this have?

Answer 10

It may take 10-14 days or longer for them to investigate new objects. Therefore baiting with traps will take longer. Changes to their environment may also affect their behaviour.

Question 11

Norway rats are sexually mature at 8-12 weeks. How long is their gestation period and how big are their litters?

Answer 11

21-24 days
6-11

Question 12

Out of the Norway rat, ship rat and house mouse, which can’t survive without a free water source?

Answer 12

Norway rat.

House mice and ship rats can survive if their food has a high enough water content.

Question 13

What conditions support rapid growth of a rodent colony?

Answer 13

Even temperatures
Surplus food
Adequate water
Undisturbed cover
Summer and autumn seasons

Question 14

What are signs and traces of a rat infestation?

Answer 14

Sightings
Smell
Droppings
Urine and urination pillars
Hairs
Runs
Footprints and tail swipes
Smears
Harbourage, burrows and nests
Damage

Question 15

What are the differences in droppings between Norway rat, ship rat and house mouse?

Answer 15

Norway rat - 12mm / half inch long, spindle shaped

Ship rat - 9mm, thinner than Norway rat, slightly curved, rounded ends

House mouse - 3-7mm, slightly curved, spindle shaped

Question 16

How can you find out if rat activity is connected to a drain?

Answer 16

Camera can be inserted into drain

Add flourescent dye to water and pour it into a rat hole. If dye appears in drain there is a connection

Smoke bombs inserted into drain, if smoke appears through rat hole, there is a connection

Question 17

How can rodent-borne diseases be transmitted to humans?

Answer 17

Ectoparasites

Faeces

Urine

Air and dust contamination

Physical transmission through bodies fur and feet.

Question 18

How it leptospirosis transmitted to humans?

Answer 18

Urine contaminated:
Water
Soil
Or by direct contact

Enters body through mucous membranes or cuts and abrasions

Question 19

What are the main diseases associated with rodents?

Answer 19

Leptospirosis
Salmonellosis
Plague
Lymes disease

Question 20

How is salmonellosis spread from rodents?

Answer 20

Food and drink contaminated by excreta or through direct rodent contact.

Question 21

What is the most common tick borne infection in the UK

Answer 21

Lyme disease

Question 22

How can you prevent ticks when in potentially infested areas?

Answer 22

Wear long sleeve shirts
Tuck trousers into socks
Use insect repellant
Check yourself

Question 23

What are the impacts of rodents on human populations?

Answer 23

Disease
Food losses
Structural Damage
Physical damage to humans and animals (attacks)

Question 24

What 2 types of records should you keep for a control operation?

Answer 24

Records associated with the site
Records associated with the treatment

Question 25

What forms can rodenticides come in?

Answer 25

Edible baits Liquids Dusts Gels Wicks

Question 26

What are the 3 groups of rodenticides?

Answer 26

Acute Chronic Sub-acute

Question 27

What elements make up an integrated pest management plan?

Answer 27

Survey Chemical control Physical control Environmental management Proofing Monitoring Communication Data recording

Question 28

What is the aim of pre-baiting?

Answer 28

To get the pest comfortable taking the bait before rodenticide bait is added, to reduce neophobic response

Question 29

What is the name of the acute rodenticide approved for use in the UK?

Answer 29

Alphachloralose

Question 30

The acute rodenticide Alphachloralose is only effective against what species?

Answer 30

House mouse (Mus domesticus)

Question 31

What is the effect of an anticoagulant?

Answer 31

Reduction in vitamin k resulting in inability for blood to clot causing animals to bleed to death

Question 32

What type of baiting is required with chronic rodenticides?

Answer 32

Saturation / surplus baiting

Question 33

What are the 2nd generation anticoagulant rodenticides available in the UK?

Answer 33

Difenacoum Bromadiolone Flocoumafen Brodifacoum

Question 34

Which anticoagulant rodenticides would you use for pulse baiting?

Answer 34

Flocoumafen Brodifacoum

Question 35

Flocoumafen and brodifacoum rodenticides are used for what type of baiting?

Answer 35

Pulse baiting

Question 36

Where is the best place to put baits for rats?

Answer 36

Near the burrow, rats will be less neophobic and more comfortable to feed.

Question 37

How does contact rodenticides work?

Answer 37

The rodent walks over the rodenticide / gets it on their fur and licks it off during grooming

Question 38

What advantage does contact gel have over contact dust?

Answer 38

The gel is less easily blown around, can be placed vertically on surfaces and are easy to remove after treatment

Question 39

Which act states a risk assesment it needed before the use of rodenticides?

Answer 39

Health and safety at work act 1974

Question 40

How should a breakback trap be placed?

Answer 40

On a rodent run at a right angle Against a vertical surface Protected from non-target access

Question 41

What 2 phosphine gas tablets are available for use in the UK?

Answer 41

Talunex Phostoxin

Question 42

What pest species may gassing be a more effective technique?

Answer 42

Rabbits Mole

Question 43

What restriction in gassing makes it largely useless for rat population control?

Answer 43

Can only be used over 10m from a building

Question 44

What are potential routes of entry for a rodent into a property?

Answer 44

Overhanging tree branches and bushes Open windows Air bricks Under doors Drains and sewers Up walls/guttering Cracks and holes in walls Sliding doors Along cables/wires

Question 45

Under which act are local authorities obliged to deal with a pest problem?

Answer 45

Prevention of damage by pests act 1949

Question 46

What are the differences between a rabbit and a hare?

Answer 46

Hare is larger, has black tips to the ears, longer hind legs and does not have a white underside to it's tail

Question 47

Why are rabbits pests?

Answer 47

Eat crops, can damage foundations through burrowing and cause subsidence, damage golf courses, destroy land

Question 48

What are signs of rabbit presence?

Answer 48

Burrows Scrapes Runs Fur Droppings Latrines Signs of grazing and barking if trees Sighting

Question 49

When is the best time to undertake rabbit control

Answer 49

November to march as most rabbit populations are already at their lowest at this point

Question 50

What act makes it an offence to intentionally inflict unnecessary suffering on a wild animal?

Answer 50

Wild mammals (protection) act 1996

Question 51

Which act makes it illegal to intentionally spread mixamatosis between rabbits?

Answer 51

Pests act 1954

Question 52

What methods can you use to control a rabbit problem?

Answer 52

Gassing Shooting Ferreting Snaring Spring traps Baited cage traps Drop traps Long netting

Question 53

What methods can be used to prevent damage by rabbits?

Answer 53

Fencing Electric fencing Tree guards Repellents

Question 54

What are control methods for moles?

Answer 54

Trapping Phosphine gas

Question 55

Why are gey squirrels considered pests?

Answer 55

They raid the nests of small birds Cause damage in lofts and could be a fire hazard Damage trees by stripping them of bark

Question 56

What are control methods for grey squirrels?

Answer 56

Proofing Drey poking and shooting Spring traps Live capture traps Poison baiting

Question 57

What are signs of a foxes presence?

Answer 57

Hair Droppings Footprints Tracks Scent Dens

Question 58

What is the difference between fox and badger footprints?

Answer 58

Foxes are dog-like and have 4 tows that are tight together. Badgers have 5 toes and are set in an almost straight line

Question 59

What can you not use to control fox populations?

Answer 59

Poison baits Gassing Due to risk to non target species

Question 60

How do we control foxes?

Answer 60

Prevention methods such as: Fencing Repellents Snaring Shooting

Question 61

What is a sign of the presence of a mink?

Answer 61

Decrease in waterfowl population Bite mark on back of head or neck Droppings sausage shaped and twisted, smell unpleasant

Question 62

How do you control a mink population?

Answer 62

Fencing Live cage trapping Spring traps Mink rafts Shooting

Question 63

How do we control badgers?

Answer 63

Badgers are protected and must be controlled by prevention methods such as fencing

Question 64

How are badgers a pest?

Answer 64

Their foraging activities can cause damage to roads, railway lines, buildings, fields and gardens as well as damage crops, lawns and golf courses