Case Studies

Case study1 - Crickett Farm, Frankton, Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK Download PDF

Case study2 - The control of House mice in an inner-city school using EradiMouse®

The large secondary school, situated on the Isle of Dogs alongside the River Thames, consisted of five multi-storey teaching blocks interconnected by underground ducting, public corridors and void areas associated with the provision of main services. Although the main kitchen and dining hall were sited at one end of the complex, satellite food preparation and eating areas were located throughout the school. This ready availability of food debris supported a widespread distribution of House mice, and frequent sightings were reported in class rooms and communal areas as well as the kitchen and adjoining rooms.

The mouse problem had been acknowledged for many years, but because of the risk of children encountering bait stations holding conventional poisons, their usage had been confined to secure locations such as ducts and voids.

Treatment with EradiMouse® began at the start of the summer vacation 2000, with the Product being presented in open trays throughout key areas. The placements were inspected and replenished after one week: there had been complete take of bait from bait points in some service ducts, the staff room, and at several other locations. The school was revisited the following week but bait disturbance was light. There was no further take of EradiMouse® during subsequent inspections, and sightings of mice ceased.

Case study 3- The control of Brown and Black rats on a Belgian stud farm using EradiRat®.

The stables associated with an extensive Belgian stud farm were unusual not only in that they housed a world champion Hanovarian stallion, but also had resident populations of both brown and black rats. The brown rats were living in void areas beneath the stable floor and along the banks of an adjacent stream, while colonies of black rats occupied the upper levels of both the main stable block, and an adjoining barn which was used extensively for the storage of feed, straw and hay.

The stud owner was most reluctant to use conventional toxic rodenticides for fear of poisoning his valuable bloodstock, but readily agreed to the treatment of the rat populations using a Natrocell Product.

Both rat species had long been feeding on cereal-based horse food, so it was decided to enhance the attractiveness of EradiRat® by adding a small amount of either mixed spice or powdered saccharine to batches of lightly oiled Product. Both mixtures were shown to be very attractive and good takes were noted. The farmer inspected and replenished the baits regularly.

The brown rat population succumbed within a fortnight, and the black rats were cleared a few weeks later.