View report page

Normally rats nest near to the source of their food supply and keep to
the same runs when travelling around their particular areas. It is frequentiy
found that they make their nests underneath chicken houses where
there is always a supply of food. They may also be attracted to houses
where food is thrown out for the birds. It should be placed on a platform
raised on a pole so that rats cannot climb on to it.
Chicken houses should be rat-proofed and built on piers at least twelve
inches high and the space below the houses must be kept clear, as rubble,
timber, etc., dumped there affords cover for rats to nest in.
The house mouse also breeds very rapidly, having four or five litters
in a year each of five or six young which are able to carry on an independent
existence in two weeks and breed at the age of six weeks. Occasionally
mice enter houses from the field and gardens during the Autumn when
the weather turns colder.
Eradication of mice is frequently much more difficult than eradication
of rats and various methods of dealing with the problem are used. Extensive
research work is being carried out by the Ministry.
During the year it has not been necessary to serve any notices under
the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act and it has been found that the
public as a whole co-operate with the Department. No charge is made
for eradication of rats from private dwellings but the cost of work in
business premises is recovered from the owner of the business. All costs
incurred on eradication of mice are recovered from the occupiers of the
properties.