Rodents, especially mice are the main pests found on the university compound. This memo is designed to provide a guide that will offer solutions to the rodent menace and totally eradicate mice from the university compound. The solution begins with carrying out thorough hygienic practices within the compound. This among others includes slashing bushy areas, sealing any holes and openings on the walls, destroying rodent nests as well as collecting any accumulated litter from garbage collection bins and within the compound. This will ensure that any mice available within the compound recede in their hiding places inside buildings. There are also chances that those trapped in sealed holes will die there due to suffocation. Thereafter, poisoned baits and standard kill traps will be set in places thought to be rodent hiding places outside buildings while live capture traps and cages will be placed inside buildings. It’s advisable to have kill traps outside buildings since it might take time to identify and dispose of dead rodents. This could be a source of foul smell if placed inside buildings.
The traps are left in set positions and constantly checked for a period of two weeks. This is because rodents are generally neophobic. They thus take longer to interact with traps, cages, or even intoxicants. The workers then are required to check each set trap and collect any captured rodents for disposal. This step should be exhaustively carried out since rotting rodents are so stinky. This should also go on for three consecutive days. It is recommended that bleach solution be used to disinfect and clean spots where rodent urine and feces were present. This helps prevent the contraction of plaque, a disease commonly associated with rodents.
The final step of this solution is purely preventive to avoid future rodent infestation. It involves sealing any holes that might serve as entry points for rodents. Another important preventive strategy is by having rodent-proof structures to totally eliminate the entry of rodents into the same structures. Kitchen chimneys and grain stores are the most vulnerable areas hence should be fitted with rodent guards to ward off rodents. Lastly, cleanliness is very vital in controlling pests. The maintenance staff is required to maintain high standards of cleanliness as a measure to control rodents. Proper drainage and sewerage systems should be maintained alongside fixing any leaking faucets.
This method of rodent control won’t require extensive resource expenditure for implementation. It seeks to use school maintenance staff as exterminators. The maintenance staff will require traps, both live capture, and standard capture, cages, and rodenticides. The most effective to be used in this case is Difenacoum. Difenacoum is most preferred since it effective against rodents and it is less against non-target species as compared to other rodenticide formulations. Besides these, all other activities will be routine cleanliness and maintenance procedures.
Successive implementation of this rodent control method carries some environmental as well as legal implications. For instance, the maintenance staff is legally not allowed to disperse poison. This means they will need to officially seek permission from the relevant university authority before embarking on this method of rodent control. Though traps are effective in rodent control, they carry a major disadvantage as the individual involved must devise a proper disposal method for trapped rodents. The situation is no different here and the maintenance staff is faced with the same disposal challenge. It is recommended to bury dead rodents or put them in sealed plastic bags and disposes of them with any other litter.