3.T.2 Control of rodent infestations in intensive crops, industrial and island situations

The Animal Control Technologies Australia (ACTA) group is responsible for a key rodent research program within the CRC.  In collaboration with Dr Luke Leung and his rodent team at the University of Queensland (Gatton) campus, they are seeking to improve methods for monitoring and control of mice and rats. 

A second priority is to improve the management of rodents in intensive crops and for environmental management on islands.  The replacement of large-scale misapplication of certain anticoagulant rodenticides is of great significance in protecting Australia’s native wildlife.  The prevention of overwhelming infestations of rats and mice is also important in  protecting fragile habitat and seed banks.  

This works builds on ACTA’s previous success in managing rats in sugar cane crops and tree plantations in far north Queensland, and the control of plague mice in broadacre crops throughout Australia with MOUSOFF and RATTOFF.

Goals

The project aims to validate monitoring techniques that are practical and accurate, and can be readily applied by local managers to assess their rodent problems and assist in decisions regarding rodent management.

Key aims are to :

• survey industry stakeholders (difficulties with rodents, research priorities, suitable trial and test sites).
• source appropriate formulations and presentations of key active ingredients having regard to suitability, safety, regulatory framework, cost, availability and humaneness (if appropriate).
• apply selected rodenticides to intensive crops, industrial and island situations.
• obtain regulatory data that will support ACTA registration applications for technology specific to certain rodent infestation problems; and to
• develop advisory information to enable improved rodent management in industrial situations, intensive crops and on islands.

It is anticipated that most data from the project will be published or released in technical reports to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority and sponsoring industry groups.

There is already a small impact on import replacement from the company establishing a local production facility for pest animal control products, and there is some potential for the development of exports from this project.

Progress 

ACTA had originally planned to undertake trials opportunistically in crops when mouse infestations were identified, but this has proved to be very difficult in all crops due the sporadic nature of the problem. 

Some field trials on mouse control have therefore been re-organised and are taking place instead within intensive crops using the mouse proof enclosures at Gatton campus of the University of Queensland, and crops planted specifically for the purpose.   This has given greater control over conditions (including mouse density) and facilitates collection of crop samples for residue testing.   This method also allows for greater replication and more decisive measurements etc.    Field trials will still be run when opportunities arise and if labour is available.

The initial focus for the rat control work has taken place in the  banana industry where the rats have been very active.  Early results have been encouraging, with knockdown rates of up to 80% using RATTOFF in mark/recapture trials.  

The project has received considerable support from the banana industry and the University of Queensland.

Spinoff benefits 

The consolidation of technology for rodent management in the identified situations (intensive crops, industrial situations, intensive livestock situations and islands) will be likely to spill over into domestic rodent management.

Building of research capability, post-graduate training and advisory depth in this area enhances the technical information transfer, retains key skills and enables best practice approaches in all situations (this has been a feature of all of the ACTA projects in the field).