Velisha Thompson of the City of Johannesburg writes:
With the alarming rodent infestation in Alexandra, the City of Johannesburg has urged the community to handle poisons in the most careful of ways to ensure their own health and those of other living organisms and species not intended for the particular poison.
Rats (rodents)
Rats and mice are regarded as one of man’s worst enemies. The reason for this is that they spread diseases such as the plague and leptospirosis; they spoil and contaminate food; they damage stored goods and they eat electrical cabling insulation causing short circuits and electrical fires.
Rodents may transmit diseases in the following ways:
- Through direct contact with them
- Through their urine and droppings
- Through water and food that have been contaminated by their urine and faeces
- Through fleas and lice that live as parasites on them.
For rodents to thrive and multiply they need food, water and shelter. This is usually provided by household rubbish, junk, builders’ rubble, filthy unmaintained premises and overgrown stands.
If the environment in which rodents thrive is kept clean and free of hiding places, the rodents will move away.
Rodents can be controlled by:
- Keeping the environment free of waste and rubbish
- Keeping lids on dustbins
- Using mouse/rodent traps
- Using rodenticides (rat poison)
- Encouraging birds of prey (owls, hawks, eagles) to move into the area.
Aldicarb is an extremely dangerous substance that is regulated by strict legislation.
Aldicarb or Temik, better known as ‘two-step’ or rather ‘haliphirimi’ is a banned nematicide which was recently used as a pesticide on crops such as potatoes, cotton and peanuts. It is a grey granular substance with a garlic-like smell that is applied underneath the surface of the soil during planting. Special care has to be taken to not expose it above the surface of the soil, as it is highly toxic if ingested by humans and animals. Excessive ingestion causes vomiting, cramps and pains and in severe cases can lead to death.
NB: When using poison to control rodents, ensure that it is placed out of reach of children.
