Vertebrate Pest Handbook 3rd ed.: Questions & Answers on Rats & Mice

By Stephen Vantassel

The Vertebrate Pest Handbook: Questions & Answers on Rats & Mice, 3rd edition, is a revision of Dr. Austin Frishman's 2nd edition published in 1999. The revision retains his question and answer format but narrows the scope to commensal rodents, brown rats (aka. Norway rats), house mice, Peromyscus spp. and roof rats (aka. black rats). Pest control operators and wildlife control professionals looking to test their knowledge or have questions for in-house company training, will find this book a helpful addition.

This book was revised to achieve several goals:
• to serve as a handy reference for anyone engaged in vertebrate pest control without overwhelming readers with excessive detail,
• to aid both Pest Management Professionals (PMPs), Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs) and people from the Board of Health in training new personnel,
• to assist professionals in answering customer questions,
• to compile a compendium of facts to guide one's working knowledge of commensal rodents,
• to provide test questions for supervisors of PMPs and WCOs who wish to train new and experienced employees, and
• to stimulate all to think before they undertake a commensal rodent control program.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312420267

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER 1: General Rodent Information

I. True or False

I. True or False: Answers

II. Matching:

A. Rodents Matching

A. Rodents Matching: Answers

B. Match Common Name with the Scientific

B. Scientific Name Matching: Answers

C. Identification

C. Identification: Answers

III. Short Answer

A. Define Each of the Following Terms

A. Definition: Answers

B. Short Answer: Questions

B. Short Answer: Answers

References

CHAPTER 2: Brown (a.k.a. Norway) Rats

A. True/False: Questions

A. True/False: Answers

B. Short Answer: Questions

B. Short Answer: Answers

C. Fill in the Blank: Questions

C. Fill in the Blank: Answers

References

CHAPTER 3: Roof Rats

A. True or False: Questions

A. True & False: Answers

B. Match Them Up: Questions

B. Match Them Up: Answers

C. Fill in the Blank: Questions

C. Fill in the Blank: Answers

References

CHAPTER 4: House Mouse

A. True or False: Questions

A. True and False: Answers

B. Fill in the Blank: Questions

B. Fill in the Blank: Answers

C. Short Answer: Questions

C. Short Answer: Answers

References

CHAPTER 5: Deer Mice

A. True or False: Questions

A. True or False: Answers

B. Short Answer: Questions

B. Short Answer: Answers

References

CHAPTER 6: Rodent Diseases

I. True or False: Questions

I. True or False: Answers

II. Matching Questions

A. Mode of Transmission: Questions

A. Mode of Transmission: Answers

B. Matching: Questions

B. Matching: Answers

III. Short Answer: Questions

A. Campylobacter: Questions

A. Campylobacter: Answers

B. E-coli: Questions

B. E-coli: Answers

C. Hantavirus: Questions

C. Hantavirus: Answers

D. Leptospirosis: Questions

D. Leptospirosis: Answers

E. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus: Questions

E. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus: Answers

F. Rat-bite Fever: Questions

F. Rat-bite Fever: Answers

G. Salmonellosis: Questions

G. Salmonellosis: Answers

IV. Endoparasites

A. General Questions

A. General Answers

B. Rat Lung Worm: Questions

B. Rat Lung Worm: Answers

C. Trichinosis: Questions

C. Trichinosis: Answers

V. Diseases Transmitted by Arthropod Parasites of Rodents

A. Lyme Disease: Questions

A. Lyme Disease: Answers

B. Ehrlichiosis: Questions

B. Ehrlichiosis: Answers

C. Anaplasmosis: Questions

C. Anaplasmosis: Answers

D. STARI: Questions

D. STARI: Answers

E. Murine Typhus: Questions

E. Murine Typhus: Answers

F. Plague: Questions

F. Plague: Answers

G. Rickettsialpox: Questions

G. Rickettsialpox: Answers

References

CHAPTER 7: Non-Toxic Rodent Control Methods

I. Either or Questions

A. Select A or B: Questions

A. Select A or B: Answers

B. Checkmark: Questions

B. Checkmark: Answers

C. True or False: Questions

C. True or False: Answers

II. Short Answer

A. Homeowner Actions: Questions

A. Homeowner Actions: Answers

B. Office Building: Questions

B. Office Building: Answers

C. Habitat Modification: Questions

C. Habitat Modification: Answers

D. General Rodent Control: Questions

D. General Rodent Control: Answers

E. Multiple-catch Traps: Questions

E. Multiple-catch Traps: Answers

F. Glue Boards: Questions

F. Glue Boards: Answers

G. Repellents: Questions

G. Repellents: Answers

References

CHAPTER 8: Rodenticides

I. True or False: Questions

I. True or False: Answers

II. Short Answer

A. General Toxicant: Questions

A. General Toxicant: Answers

B. Definitions: Questions

B. Definitions: Answers

C. Tracking Powders: Questions

C. Tracking Powders: Answers

D. Baiting at Dumps: Questions

D. Baiting at Dumps: Answers

III. Matching

A. Products: Questions

A. Products: Answers

B. Mode of Action: Questions

B. Mode of Action: Answers

References

CHAPTER 9 Training Resources

PODCAST

BOOKS

VIDEOS

TRAINING COURSES: Online and in-person

APPENDIX: Peanut Butter

References

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook

Wildlife Removal Handbook

Being Kind to Animal Pests

DEDICATION

Second Edition

To Al Hochman of Clover Exterminators-The man who taught me the importance of practical pest control and first made me aware of the need for professional training in the pest control industry.

Third Edition

To my wife, Donna, for her love and support in the production of this project.

To wildlife control operators and pest control professionals who continue to improve their knowledge and skills to enhance their ability to provide the best service to their customers.

PREFACE

Second Edition

The author welcomes comments and solicits questions for future publications. No one knows more about questions that need answering than the people working in the field.

It is difficult to imagine that over 21 years have passed since the first edition of this book. Some things never change, and so remain in this book. The majority of items are new and reflect the changes in attitude and technology.

It is recognized that deer, wild cats, and birds are also rapidly increasing their importance as a wildlife nuisance problem. The author chooses to focus on a more limited, but detailed vertebrate arena.

Third Edition

The responsibility of updating the work of pest control legend, Dr. Austin M. Frishman was both an honor and a concern. After all, I did not want to embarrass myself nor cause Dr. Frishman to regret selling his book to me. While researchers have significantly expanded our understanding of commensal rodents, their findings have not always harmonized. Readers should be aware that sometimes their reading/knowledge will arrive at different answers than those provided here. The fact is some questions have multiple answers and/or answers with a little more wiggle room than a simple yes/no answer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Second Edition

Special thanks go to Dr. Robert Corrigan and Mr. Dale Kaukeinen, who spent many hours reviewing the manuscript. Both, through their knowledge and personal concern, have significantly elevated the contents and flow of the book.

Third Edition

There are too many people to thank and express my gratitude to, but at the risk of making a mistake, I wanted to list a few of them. It is with a grateful heart that I wish to thank Dr. Frishman for letting me purchase his book, thereby allowing me to update it. I hope my work merits his approval.

I wish to thank Dr. Robert Corrigan, who allowed me to attend 2 of his Rodent Academy Workshops and Dr. Paul Royster who provided assistance on layout.

Deep appreciation also belongs to entomologist and pest control technical advisor (retired) Dr. Gerry Wegner for his willingness to review the book in its entirety. His expertise and wisdom improved the accuracy and usefulness of this book.

Likewise, I owe thanks to Erik Johnson of Grove Eco-friendly Pest Control, Calgary, Alberta, for his eye for editing and Ronnie Purcella of An Animal & Pest Control Specialist Inc., Commerce City, Colorado for helpful comments.

Of course, my wife, who was a computer widow more often than she should have been and for her assistance in editing.

Finally, readers should know that this book was published without receiving any compensation or advertising revenue from outside companies.

INTRODUCTION

Adapted from the Introduction to the second edition.

Vertebrates are not insects, and therefore should not be treated as such when it comes to control. Yet many entomologists are charged with controlling these four-legged vermin along with the six- and eightlegged variety. Training on vertebrate pest problems is often limited for pest management professionals (PMPs) and restricted to hearsay and the school of hard knocks. Wildlife control operators (WCOs) know much more about the control of vertebrates, but their familiarity with the use of toxicants is often quite limited.

Both PMPs and WCOs can benefit from learning more about commensals. Improved information and advanced training allow for better control and higher profitability. Commensals exhibit individual variations in behavior and may on occasion differ from the norm. Answers in this text are based on normal situations.

This book was written for several purposes:

Questions are organized according to complexity. True/False questions are listed first, followed by matching, fill in the blank, and short answer. Some questions are repeated or overlap with others. Unlike the second edition, answers do not immediately follow the questions. This change makes it easier for supervisors to create quizzes and to encourage readers to create an answer. If the answers were directly below the questions, then readers may neglect to answer the questions and just skip to the answer.

ABBREVIATIONS

~ – Tilda symbol means approximately.

A.K.A. – An acronym for ‘also known as’.

CDC – Centers for Disease Control

e.g. – Acronym for a Latin phrase meaning ‘for example.’

FGAR – First generation anticoagulant rodenticide. Plural form is FGARs.

GUP – General use pesticide (i.e., pesticides that do not require applicators to have a certification/license to apply the pesticide on their own property). The plural form is GUPs.

HPS – Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

i.e. – Acronym for a Latin phrase meaning ‘that is.’

IPM – Integrated Pest Management

NIOSH – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NWCO – See WCO

PCO – Pest control operator. While not the preferred designation (see PMP), you may see it in these pages. The plural form is PCOs.

PMP – Pest management professional. This term will be used in place of pest control operator (PCO). The plural form is PMPs.

RUP – Restricted use pesticide. (i.e., pesticides that do require applicators to have a certification/license to apply the pesticide on their own property). The plural form is RUPs.

SGAR – Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide. The plural form is SGARs.

Sp. – Species (singular), spp. species plural.

WCO – Wildlife control operator. A person who specializes in the management of human-vertebrate conflicts. The plural form is WCOs. Other synonyms include NWCO, nuisance wildlife control operator, and ADC, animal damage controller.

CHAPTER 1: General Rodent Information

While this book focuses on commensal rodents (i.e., house mice, deer & white-footed mice, brown and roof rats), this chapter does mention other rodents/animals to help technicians understand the similarities and differences within rodents and other vertebrate species.

I. True or False

Pest rodents (mice and rats) have weak eyesight.

Rodents have guard hairs that are large and coarse.

Rodents have under-hair or under-fur to keep them warm.

Rodent incisors have an edge like a chisel.

Some rodents hibernate.

Commensal rodent young are altricial (i.e., They are born blind and helpless, and they stay in the nest for some time after birth.)

Rodents are mammals.

Moles are rodents.

Shrews are rodents.

When the means of transportation in urban areas changed from horses to automobiles, the populations of mice and rats in many of those areas declined.

Rats originally came from Asia and migrated west.

The word rodent means to gnaw.

Rats can apply 7,000 pounds of pressure per square inch (psi) (492 kilograms per square centimeter) with their teeth.

Rodents do not have to gnaw on objects to keep their incisors from growing too long.

The space between the front incisors and the rest of the teeth is called a diastema.

Rodents spend up to 20 percent of their waking time grooming.

Rats practice social grooming (i.e., grooming fellow rats).

Male mice often take over nests made by female mice.

Urine smells may influence whether a rodent will enter a bait station or be caught in a trap.

Food items marked with a rodent’s feces can be favored over food with no rodent droppings.

Rats and mice will eat their own feces.

The house mouse originally came from Asia.

There are some rodents that weigh more than 60 pounds (27.2 kg).

Rodents urinate frequently because they cannot control their bladders.

As a general rule, rodents cannot vomit.

Rats groom themselves very thoroughly over a 24-hour period.

Mice groom quickly.

Rodents develop food preferences before they leave the nest.

Rodents contaminate more food than they eat.

Dried rodent urine will fluoresce bluish-white to yellowish-white.

Rodent hairs will fluoresce bluish-white.

Some rodents have sweat glands on their feet.

Rodentia, the order of rodents, contains the highest number of species among orders of mammals.

In general, rodents have high reproductive rates.

Rodents occur on every continent.

Rodents can move their vibrissae independently.

In general, high grass yields high rodent numbers.

Droppings from different species of rats are easy to identify.

Rodents have flexible bones to allow them to enter small holes.

Mice with coats of various colors (called fancy) resulted from breeders in the 21st century.

I. True or False: Answers

True. Though pest rodents can recognize visual patterns and shapes, see movement in low light, and perceive depth up to 3 feet, they lack the ability to see fine details at a distance.

True.

True.

True. This shape is created by the presence of enamel (a hard substance) on the front surface of the teeth only. The backs of their teeth wear down more rapidly which allows for a sharp edge to develop (Figure 1).

Figure 1. A side view of a rodent skull. The circle shows where the lower incisors will scrape against the upper incisors allowing the rodent to wear down its teeth and create a sharp edge. Image: Bureau of Land Management.

True. ground squirrels, such as Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) and Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus), hibernate.

True. Young are totally helpless. This contrasts with animals that give birth to precocial young which are relatively mature at birth and are able to move about.

True. They have fur, bear live young, and are warm blooded.

False. Moles belong to the order Insectivora. They feed on insects, earthworms, other vertebrates, and invertebrates.

False. They belong to the order Insectivora. They feed on insects, mice and invertebrates.

True. Before automobiles, we used horses, which required stables and provided more rodent food and harborage. People living in areas with below standard or degraded construction and/or in locations with inadequate sanitation, however, would probably argue that there are more rodent harborages today.

True. It is likely they originated around the Mongolian plains.

True. The Oxford Dictionary says the term rodent emerged in the mid-19th century deriving from Latin verb rodere which means gnawing.

True. Though technicians should understand that bite force is difficult to calculate because rats vary both in physical size and their individual willingness to bite hard. Other publications list different numbers for the bite force of rats, e.g., 8,000 psi (55,158.07 kPa). Another source says, rats can bite with 5.5 pounds of force (2,479 grams) with a maximum range of 2 to 10.5 lbs (50-4760g) exhibited by a study of 10 rats. That may not sound like much but keep in mind that force is distributed over about a ¼ inch (6.35 mm) of area. Ouch!!

True. At night, you can sometimes hear rats chipping their teeth by grinding them together, instead of having to gnaw on things.

True. Because of this space, rodents can close