Fact or Fiction?
Fact or Fiction?
1. Rodents dying from the effects of rodenticide will get thirsty and go outside looking for water. Not at all true. The natural reaction to commonly used rodenticides is lethargy. Meaning that the rodent becomes slow and sleepy. They will usually find somewhere safe to hide from predators. This is usually wherever they have nested. If rodents are inside an attic they are seeking shelter only(since there is no food or water there). They usually die there. Another misconception is that the rodenticide causes the rodent to mummify or simply dry up. Dried carcasses are exactly that. There is no difference between a rodent killed naturally and one that has died from rodenticide.
2. City rodents are aggressive and attack children, pets, and the elderly. If a rodent is cornered the may show signs of aggression but for the most part they are cowards and run from any type of confrontation. Reports of rodent bites to humans are generally small children and bed ridden elderly citizens. These bites were not caused by aggressive activity from the rodent but because there was food residue left on the face or hands and the rat was simply feeding on that food.
3. Rodents have a collapsible skeleton. Of course not! If a rodent can get their skull through an opening, the rest of their skeleton is flexible enough for their body to get through.
4. Rodents must gnaw on wood or wires or their teeth will continue to grow. Not true. Rodents grind their teeth together to maintain sharpness and length.
5. Super rats in the city are as big as cats. Norway rats in the city are actually smaller than those living in and around farms. City rats average about fifteen ounces where the farm rats grew to over a pound. The largest recorded actually weighed one point eight pounds. Both far lighter than the average cat or even a kitten.
6. City rodents are immune to rat poison. Some cities have reported resistance to older rodenticides but still are controlled with the newer formulations.
7. Cats will keep rats away from your house. Not true. For the most part our pets are too well fed to prey on rats. They may instinctively kill an old or young rat from time to time, but do little to control an established population.
8. There are ten rats for every person living in New York City. No one knows for sure. It is safe to say that there may be dozens or millions of rats in any one city.
There are also concerns about the inhumane effects associated with the use of rodenticides. A recent study shows that the rodents show no signs of pain or stress when treated with a rodenticide.