Pest Management Professional, November 2009
Go Green with Not your usual rat trap Calling the Snap E Rat Trap a rat trap is an understatement Not only does this durable trap put an end to rats but it also works for gophers chipmunks ground squirrels and other pesky rodents Catches rats gophers chipmunks ground squirrels and other rodents No pesticides needed Designed to fit many popular bait boxes on the market Large trip paddle catches from front sides or back Easy to bait with pre formed bait cup Easy to set with large lever East to release never touch the dead rodent Easy to clean Reusable Durable construction for years of dependable service Call your local distributor today for all of your Kness supplies 800 247 5062 www kness com Deer Mouse continued from page 54 and sustaining a breeding population of deer mice No other deer mouse was caught despite extensive indoor trapping after the first mouse was removed Further visits to the site to assess and evaluate the situation discovered landscape crews picking up trash removing weeds and pruning and thinning shrubs and other ground cover vegetation in areas adjacent to the affected classroom This was an on going operation as large trash bags full of green waste were still present in some nearby remediated areas It would appear that this cleaning and tidying up operation displaced the trapped deer mouse from its exterior harborage and forced it to seek cover indoors Door sweeps that were placed on two exterior doors of this classroom were not professionally installed and gaps in the corners of these doors would permit a mouse to enter These openings were not obvious when viewed from a standing position and closer inspections on hands and knees had to be conducted in order to locate possible points of entry A New Home So how did this deer mouse get to this location It is possible that this mouse was accidentally transported to this location in construction materials goods furnishings or other supplies and materials particularly commodities on pallets The house mouse Mus domesticus is believed to be native to Central Asia occurring along the northern borders of Iran and extending east to Pakistan Historical transportation of mouseinfested feed and hay is now widely accepted as the cause of the worldwide distribution of the house mouse House mice are excellent stowaways and they have been found in all forms of modern transportation Deer mice are excellent climbers and they have been found in hay bales and trucks that transport hay feed and grains Deer mice are reported to have comparable transport rate as the house mouse Its also possible a population of deer mice exists in this downtown area of Los Angeles Trash strewn weedy vacant lots abandoned parking lots with weeds growing in cracks in the asphalt poorly maintained freeway embankments weed infested property fence lines railroad tracks and other such places are common in many downtown areas of Los Angeles These types of habitats can support populations of deer mice Recession induced reduction in city maintenance staff is resulting in areas being neglected and becoming overrun by unwanted vegetation Community beautification efforts weed abatement trash removal and general cleanup activities as well as construction work can displace downtown deer mice and cause them to appear in places where they are not suppose to occur Prolonged vacancies encourage unwanted squatters to move in and take up residence Arthropods rodents lizards snakes bats cats raccoons skunks opossum squirrels and other undesirables move in when humans move out In vacant buildings their presence can go undetected for months and sometimes years allowing these varmints to become well established and create problems for realtors and builders that affect the sale of properties Overgrown shrubbery and unmaintained lawns provide excellent cover and harborages for pests which will invade vacant homes and buildings It Circle 127 56 PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL NOVEMBER 2009 www mypmp net
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