The benefits of rats in nature. Are mice harmful or beneficial? What are rats for?

Many people love animals, so they are used to helping our smaller brothers, taking care of them and raising them, to the best of their ability. However, there is one exception. These are wild rats, which, unlike their small or decorative relatives, look scary and are capable of destroying or spoiling everything that comes their way. These small sneaky animals can be called ubiquitous. They penetrate and take up permanent residence in private houses, and through unknown paths they make their way into the entrances of apartment buildings, where they present unpleasant surprises, leaving their unpleasant “marks.” Such a neighborhood is depressing, so owners of apartments and houses have to wonder how to permanently get rid of rats, unpleasant, omnivorous creatures that adapt instantly and multiply very quickly. There are several methods of combating these formidable rodents, so close coexistence with them is not a life sentence.

Why are colors dangerous for people?

Those who have hamsters or decorative rats in their home may not consider their wild “incisor brothers” to be serious enemies, since their relatives are peaceful, funny and cute. As a rule, this opinion quickly changes at the first meeting with the “wildlings”.

For some people, the consequence of such close contact is panic attacks, which cause harm to mental health. Potential bites are another type of danger. Rats (alone or in groups) can attack both pets and people. Young children are always at increased risk.

These animals are known carriers of diseases dangerous to humans and their furry-tailed pets. Their “riders” - ticks and rat fleas - also pose a danger. The bite of an insect that has left its owner can cause not only an allergic reaction, but also its severe manifestation - anaphylactic shock. We must not forget about another threat - about 10 types of helminths that can parasitize the organs and tissues of rats.

What diseases do rats carry? A partial list includes:

• leptospirosis;
• Q fever (coxiellosis);
• pseudotuberculosis;
• salmonellosis;
• tetanus;
• typhus;
• toxoplasmosis;
• plague.

The biggest danger lies in the rapid reproduction of rodents. One female can seriously increase an already large family in just a year - “give life” to a hundred pups. The consequence of such productivity may be the complete “occupation” of the desired home by rodents.

What diseases do rodents carry?

This is what a plague doctor looked like in the 1800s.
Rodents can spread more than 20 diseases dangerous to humans. Bubonic plague, murine typhus, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and West African Lassa fever are just a few of the potentially fatal diseases carried by rats. These diseases caused the death of 25 million Europeans from the XIY to the XYII centuries.

It is believed that over the past millennium, diseases carried by rats have claimed more lives than all wars and revolutions combined.

At the end of the 20th century, medical attention was focused on rodent-borne hemorrhagic (mouse) fever viruses. From 1995 to 2000, at least 25 “new” hantaviruses and arenaviruses associated with rodents of the Mouse family were discovered. Approximately 200 thousand new cases of fever with kidney damage are recorded annually in Asia, with a mortality rate of 1-15%. Each virus is usually associated with one specific host species. Humans become infected through contact with rodent urine, feces or saliva.

Doctors first encountered this disease in Russia in the 30s of the last century. Today, mouse fever occurs almost throughout the country. In 2021, more than 8 thousand Russians fell ill with hemorrhagic fever.

Causes and symptoms of rats

While studying the question of how to get rid of rats forever, you need to find out the answers to several others along the way. For example, why uninvited guests appear in a home, how to determine an attack at first, when the enemy has already arrived, but has not yet settled in the territory, but is only getting acquainted with living conditions.

The reasons for the appearance of wild rodents are commonplace. The list includes several factors:

1. Infrequent garbage collection/removal, infrequent or superficial cleaning, crumbs remaining on the floor.
2. Regular purchase and storage of a large supply of products - peas, cereals, pasta, flour, sugar, etc.
3. Proximity to the house of catering establishments. Cafes and restaurants become points of attraction for eternally hungry rodents.

In order for rats to enter the house without the knowledge of the owners, it is necessary that an “inviting” loophole be left somewhere for them. For example, an unprotected ventilation hole, holes, relatively large gaps, etc. The risk of unexpected guests, as a rule, increases with the onset of cold weather.

Signs of the presence of uninvited guests are easy to detect; after all, rats are quite large animals. It is much easier to remove several animals, so it is better to inspect a private home regularly.

Symptoms of the presence of rodents include:

• extraneous sounds that have appeared recently - squeaking, stomping, incomprehensible rustling, scratching;
• traces of the presence of “another form of life” - excrement that looks like small dark “sausages”;
• damage to property: rats are forced to sharpen their ever-growing incisors on furniture; they chew walls, doors, baseboards, wiring; even pipelines made of plastic can be damaged.

The last olfactory sign of the invasion of active neighbors is the appearance of a foreign, unpleasant odor that was not there before.

Harm from rodents

Among the more than 2 thousand species of rodents, the most common pests worldwide are the gray rat, the black rat and the house mouse. Squirrel-like pests include common and gray squirrels, but the damage they cause is minor. In Russia, as well as in North America, voles cause significant damage: they gnaw the bark from trees, which often destroys them, and eat seedlings, grain, root crops, and nuts.

During a rise in the number of voles, there can be up to 2 thousand of them per 1 hectare.

In Africa, the main problem species are gerbils, polymammed rats and grass rats that devastate fields. Other economically important pests include the cottonmouth and webfooted hamsters from Latin America, the small rat from the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia, the bandicota from the Indian subcontinent and the Malay Peninsula, the small rice rat and the Philippine rice rat from Southeast Asia, and prairie dogs , marmots, Chinese zokor and ground squirrels from the steppes of Mongolia and California.

Competition for food is the main cause of conflict between rodents and humans. In Asia, small pests regularly eat 5-30% of the rice crop, sometimes devastating an area of ​​10 thousand hectares or more. They are also responsible for the annual destruction of 5-10% of China's grain reserves - an amount sufficient to feed 100 million people.

Other tropical crops that suffer even more than rice from rodents include coconuts, corn, coffee, beans, oil palms, citrus fruits, melons, dates and cocoa.

Many rodents of the arctic tundra and taiga experience sharp increases in numbers every 3-4 years (for example, the Norwegian lemming in Europe and the brown and hoofed lemmings in North America). The population increases to a very high level and then declines rapidly.

In Britain, gray rats can live in fields during the warm summer months when food is plentiful, but their numbers are rarely high. But after harvesting, when cold weather sets in, rats move into houses.

But the harm caused by rodents is not associated only with eating food. Three hundred rats living in a granary can eat 3 tons of grain per year. But every 24 hours they also contaminate the grain with 15,000 pieces of droppings, 3.5 liters of urine and an untold amount of hair and skin secretions.

Mechanical damage caused by rodents occurs, for example, as a result of their digging activities. Chewing electrical cables can cause fires, causing huge economic losses. Small pests also chew through electrical wires in the walls of closed poultry and pig farms, disrupting the ventilation system of the premises, which also causes losses.

Solutions to the problem

The first answer to the question of how to get rid of rats forever is to find the most suitable, effective method. There are several methods to combat this large rodent. These include:

• biological: other animals take part in the war with them;
• mechanical: in this case, traps with bait are used;
• folk: folk recipes are used;
• chemical: resort to poisons.

The last method is to use ultrasonic repellers. Is there a remedy that guarantees a 100% result for any scale of “disaster”? No, there is no panacea yet. The method of dealing with rats depends on several factors: the choice of option can be influenced by allergy sufferers living in the house, small children, and pets. In these cases, owners will have to act more carefully. Since we have to take into account the enemy’s cunning and adaptability, it is better to immediately use a set of measures. In this case, you can count on a relatively quick result.

If all efforts are in vain, then the owners of the “rat estate” still have a chance to get rid of the rodents. When the battle with them did not end in victory, but, on the contrary, turned into a protracted war, it is better to contact a company engaged in disinfection, disinfestation and deratization.

Folk remedies

They are traditionally the first thing that owners try when any serious problem arises. The same option is used to combat tailed invaders. It is recommended to choose it for families with small children and allergy sufferers. There is a chance that the mission will be feasible. Otherwise, the owners will have to use “heavy artillery.”

Several folk anti-rat methods are well known.

Help of scents

It is believed that rats do not like certain smells. Therefore, they willingly take advantage of their weakness. All possible areas of penetration into the premises are lubricated with a solution prepared from water and one of the products - clove etherol, camphor, Vishnevsky ointment, mint essence, naphthalene or fish oil.

Using traffic jams

Grind corks from champagne or wine. Then they are fried in lard and placed in the rats’ favorite places. Rodents, sensing the smell, find the treat and eat it. Pieces of cork swell in the stomach, causing organ injury.

Other methods

The “people's list” does not end there.

1. Chlorine-based cleaning products are used, as rats really do not like this smell. However, in this case you cannot overdo it, because the substance in large quantities is dangerous for all household members.
2. Gypsum or alabaster is mixed with flour 1:1, then the “treat” is laid out in all rooms, carefully placing containers with water nearby, which will accelerate the formation of “fossils” in the stomach of the victims.
3. They use a similar composition, but with a different binder. Mix 7 tablespoons of flour with a spoon of granulated sugar, then add the same amount of cement.
4. They buy birch tar at the pharmacy, moisten pieces of sponge with it, and put them in all “problem” places. The frequency of updating the product is once every 2-3 months.
5. Near the minks, as well as in places where vigorous activity of invaders has been noticed, “sweets” made from granulated sugar and quicklime are laid out.
6. Linen bags filled with dry herbs - tansy, wormwood, burdock, chamomile - are also placed there. They say that blackroot seeds help.
7. Ash is scattered near the holes, causing irritation to the paws of enemies.
8. They build homemade traps.

What's the best thing to trap? Flour, grain, cereal or sweets are not the best baits, but rats will not refuse if there is no more tasty alternative. Large rodents are also “gourmets”: they are attracted by the delicious smell of fried lard, smoked salmon, meat, cheese, seeds and chips.

Any home could use some preventive maintenance. For this purpose, to prevent intrusion when cold weather sets in, glass wool is laid out around the perimeter of the building. It is not recommended to use crushed glass, because anyone can accidentally get hurt: adults, children and pets.

"Biological weapons"

These are not deadly strains, but common pets - cats and dogs. First, about the first candidates. Many owners are sure that their pets will like this kind of work, so they will quickly free their home from a living threat. However, they are mistaken: small predators are good at catching small mice or rat pups. Some creatures simply ignore adult rodents. Larger specimens may even frighten a cat. But everything depends on the character, temperament, and “fighting spirit” of the animal.

Other candidates—dogs—are better suited for this role. The success of the operation is almost guaranteed if a born hunter lives in the house - a miniature pinscher, dachshund or terrier-rutter. The third option, the most exotic, is snakes, which rats are terrified of. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to organize walks for the scaly reptile. Rodents will sense such a threat located in the terrarium, so they will leave the unsafe haven.

Many owners don't take this idea very well. The reason is potential injuries to pets. Since rats are carriers of many diseases, a pet can “catch” leptospirosis, trichinosis, etc. The most severe consequence of close contact with rats is rabies. In this case, the viral disease often ends badly - with death. Therefore, vaccination of animals is mandatory.

Use of rat traps

There are devices that are gentle. In this case, the prisoners are released. You can purchase a trap that kills rodents. This is a radical method, since the physical destruction of living beings is an unattractive operation for most normal people. If children live in the house, then they need to be protected from such a spectacle. Disposal of corpses is another stage that will not bring joy to the owners.

Since rats are smart creatures, they are able to learn from the mistakes of others. After a couple of their fellow tribesmen fall into the trap, they will draw the right conclusions and ignore the free treat. Some argue that animals must first be trained to show that the rat trap is not a danger. In this case, the rats are allowed free entry and exit for several days. After the rodents get used to its “peacefulness”, the spring mechanism is activated.

Help chemicals

This category includes aerosols, solutions, powders and granules that are placed near burrows and where rat “paths” are laid. Granules are considered the safest, as they do not emit toxic fumes. There are several types of chemicals.

1. Instant rat poisons. In this case, the operation gives results within 1 day. An example is Rat, after consuming which animals die within a few minutes. The downside is that rats quickly understand the dangers of the product. After several deaths, they will realize that it is impossible to eat the remedy. Therefore, this drug is recommended for use if the family of “settlers” is small.
2. Long acting poisons. Such “treats” are the only option when the rats are divorced, apparently or invisibly, because the period of time from the meal to the death of the “criminals” is about 5-10 days. In this case, the cunning creatures do not have any suspicions, which means that almost all members of the “gang” can take the poison. Effective drugs include Goliath, Zookoumarin, Krysid, Ratomor, Mortorat, Rakusid, Raptor, Ratindan, Storm.

Any of the products necessarily requires preliminary and careful reading of the instructions, as well as reliable protection for humans - a mask (respirator) and seals.

Does it make sense to resort to such cruel methods when considering how to get rid of rats permanently? Some are against it, and not only for humanitarian reasons. Many owners are worried about the very possible prospect of being next to a decaying corpse, which cannot be reached without dismantling the structures.

There is another answer to the question of how to get rid of rats forever. The third type is products that do not destroy, but repel rodents. They are added to finishing materials: for example, paint or plaster. One of the drugs is Tsimat, which protects the house from rat invasion for 5 years. The product is unsafe, so a respirator, sealed goggles and special clothing are required to work with it.

Ultrasonic, electromagnetic repellers

If home owners prefer humane methods, then there is no better or simpler way. Electronic devices emit waves - electromagnetic, ultrasonic. The former require mains power, the latter can be powered by batteries. There are combined devices.

The devices have a depressing effect on the psyche of animals, causing severe fear and panic, forcing them to quickly leave the conquered territories. The advantage of such repellers is safety for all residents. The devices Yastreb, Chisty Dom, CHISTON & K, Tornado, Typhoon, Planet Gardener, Tsunami-3, BIOS have earned good reviews. Many devices are effective in controlling insects.

Help from specialists

How to get rid of rats forever if they refuse to leave? When you can’t achieve results, there is one more option left, which is chosen by desperate owners. This is deratization - a whole range of procedures and measures designed to combat rodents. There are two main types of operations: preventive and exterminatory deratization. Those victims of the “rat scourge” who turned to professionals for help were able to completely free themselves from their dangerous “cohabitants.”

Kinds

The mouse subfamily is one of the most numerous, it includes more than 500 species of rodents, which are combined into 121 genera. Let's look at a few of the most common varieties.

Harvest mouse

Field mice are one of the largest groups of rodents. The size of voles ranges from 8 to 12 cm. You can recognize a field mouse by its color; its fur is brownish-brown, often with reddish markings, a rather wide dark stripe is visible on its back, and light gray fur on its belly. These rodents live in Europe, China, Mongolia, and Korea.

Typically, field mice live in open spaces - fields, meadows. There they dig shallow burrows or colonize existing natural shelters. Sometimes voles can settle in garden plots and even enter houses.

The field mouse is cautious and timid, and practically does not detect its presence. You can most often hear these mice squeaking only if they are caught in a trap.

House mouse

The house mouse is a rather small species, the body size of the animals is from 6.5 to 9 cm. The color is dark, brownish-gray, the abdomen is light. House mice have perfectly adapted to living near humans. They can live in houses, bathhouses, and outbuildings.

House mice are the most common species, as they settled across all continents along with people. These rodents are found everywhere, with the exception of the Far North, Antarctica and high mountain areas.

Herbal

One of the largest representatives of the mouse subfamily. The body size can reach 15 – 18 cm, the tail length is slightly less. The coat is elongated, grayish-brown.

Herbal

The homeland of these rodents is Southeast Africa. They live both in the savannah and in tropical bushes. Often found in pastures, gardens, and floodplains. Grass mice, unlike their relatives, lead a diurnal lifestyle.

Lesnaya

The wood mouse got its name because, unlike its relatives, it chooses mixed and deciduous forests for living. It can be found in steppes and even on rocky areas. In nature, the wood mouse tries to occupy natural shelters (empty holes of other animals, voids between stones, rotten stumps), but if necessary, it also digs holes.

The rodent's body length is 8–10 cm, the length of the tail is almost equal to the length of the body. The color is reddish-gray, the fur on the belly is lighter. A distinctive feature is a small yellowish spot on the chest.

Gerbil

Gerbils are a separate subfamily, in which there are more than 100 species of rodents. The body length of the gerbil, depending on the species, is from 6 to 20 cm, the tail length is from 6 to 24 cm. The color is dull, inconspicuous, most often the coat is sandy or muted brown. The difference from most of its relatives is its long, well-furred tail.

Habitat: arid steppes, deserts and semi-deserts. Gerbils are predominantly diurnal and do not hibernate in winter, but become more lethargic in winter.

Shrew

It is very easy to distinguish shrews from other mice. These rodents have a long, strongly pointed muzzle with a slightly curved nose at the end. Shrews are small rodents with thick fur of an ash-gray, reddish or buffy hue.

They prefer to live in places with high humidity; some species lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle. They occupy the burrows of other animals or dig their own in the ground. They can build nests under fallen trees or dead wood, in rotten stumps, and sometimes settle next to humans.

Yellowthroat

The yellow-necked mouse is a small rodent, the size of which rarely exceeds 10 cm. The color is quite bright, brownish-red, and there is a yellow stripe around the neck, from which the mouse got its name. Another feature of this variety is its large, rounded ears.

Yellowthroat

The distribution area is almost all of Europe and Western Asia. Most often, mice live in open clearings of mixed and deciduous forests, but they can also be found in city parks, gardens and personal plots.

What to do in garages and outbuildings?

Tailed uninvited guests cause considerable harm in places where the owners do not visit very often. Even cars, wiring in particular, “get it” from them. In this case, the absence of residents is only a plus, because a larger range of products can be used. For example, some owners:

• start a mini-fire by burning a piece of rubber in a fireproof container;
• spray the corners of the building with a spray bottle with kerosene or naphthalene;
• mix sawdust with mothballs, and then scatter the composition in the corners, near the holes;
• use a cloth (rags) liberally moistened with turpentine to clog the entrance to the rat hole.

You can use any traps, traps, as well as poisonous drugs, if there are no animals or children in the building. Sulfur bombs are often used in garages. This fumigation forces pests to leave the structure immediately.

Enemies of mice

The mouse is a key link in the food chain of many ecosystems. Many wild animals depend on the existence of this small rodent. For mice living in the forest, the main enemies are foxes, martens, arctic foxes, ferrets, stoats, weasels, lynxes and even wolves. Predators easily tear apart burrows and can eat up to 30 small animals a day.

Mice are the main food for snakes and large lizards. Reptiles such as boas, pythons, vipers, and radiant snakes swallow their prey whole. During the hunt, the snake freezes, and then suddenly attacks the victim, biting it with poisonous teeth, and then waits for the animal to become motionless.

There is also danger lurking for mice from above. Among birds there are predators that differ in the power of their beaks, visual acuity and hearing. These are owls, buzzards, hawks, eagles, owls, kites. They hunt during the day or night, making swift attacks from the air.

How to avoid repeated breeding?

In order not to encounter a problem in the near future, it is better to take all measures to prevent it. To do this, several stages are carried out.

1. First, all areas of the house are inspected. All discovered holes are covered with a solution containing broken glass.
2. All products that are in the public domain are removed. Garbage is regularly thrown away so as not to create ideal conditions for nest building.
3. All ventilation ducts are covered with fine mesh. The material is fixed with self-tapping screws to be able to remove and reinstall the protection.
4. They learn not to leave bags of garbage near the house or near the garbage chute, since such a promising bait will sooner or later attract “guests.”
5. Protect windows with mosquito nets. Always close the doors when leaving the house, even for a short time, because rats can move through trees located nearby.

If pets can survive such a “mockery of the rights” of a pet, then the animals’ food is removed at night. An additional preventive measure is an ultrasonic repeller. If it is turned on constantly, then rodents will not have the desire to pay a second visit to the owners of the house, and then stay in it.

There is no need to think that any fight against conquerors is pointless, since many owners still manage to get rid of rats forever. Success is virtually guaranteed if the war is fought on all fronts. Therefore, the more methods are used, the higher the chance for owners to emerge victorious from this battle.

How to get rid of rats forever, is it possible to gain freedom without the help of many means and great effort? The author of this video will tell you about one, not entirely ordinary, but working method:

Lifestyle and habitats

Field mice live in families that include several generations. They are quite peaceful, do not aggressively divide the territory, and can get along with other families in the same area.

Mice do not hibernate during the winter. They endure cold weather, store supplies for the winter, dig quite deep holes with a large number of passages, storage rooms for supplies, and bedrooms. In wet and swampy areas, they do not dig holes, but build nests in trees and bushes, adapting to almost any living conditions.

Field mice typically live close to humans. For example, they can overwinter in stacks and sheaves left in fields. They also like to settle for temporary or permanent residence in deposits of construction and other waste, in barns, basements, cellars - where food can be found.

Field mice are predominantly nocturnal. The animals are very voracious; in a day, mice can eat a volume of food equal to their own weight.