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Environmental influence on urban rodent bait consumption

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Abstract

Anticoagulant poisoning is a common rodent control method in urban areas, but rodents may exhibit versatile feeding behavioural habits in varying environmental conditions. This study has been conducted to determine those environmental factors that could directly influence bait consumption and which therefore may affect an urban rodent control plan carried out with chemical methods. In the city of Bologna (Italy), 2500 bait stations have been monitored in various urban biotopes and the bait consumption studied in relation to several environmental factors, using both bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results reveal that the rodent patch distribution triggers the avoidance of baits placed outside of their home-range, hence the importance on bait placement. The logistic regression model confirms that vegetation, harbourage and water supplies are important variables in determining bait consumption, probably because they may spatially and temporarily facilitate the agoraphobic rodent movement, ensuring undisturbed bait consumption. The role of predators (dogs and cats) and food competitors (synanthropic birds) remains insignificant. However, bait eating invertebrates may consume part of the bait. For a proper rodent control plan the first real need is to minimize the alternative food sources, which may compete with baits. Weather conditions in which rodents could possibly pass unnoticed (fog and rainfall) may encourage bait consumption, vice versa with a cold climate. The considered environmental factors have satisfactorily explained bait consumption, highlighting the importance of human influence. The study of environmental factors may be useful in categorizing several site-specific conditions where rodent control efforts should be targeted, enhancing any intervention by matching the correct and specific strategy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Colkim s.r.l. for economic and technical support. Thanks are also extended to Mrs. Dorinda Mosedale for the careful revision of the English text and to the three anonymous reviewers for their useful and constructive advices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment, Municipality of Bologna, Piazza Liber Paradisus, 10, 40129, Bologna, Italy

    Matteo Patergnani & Marco Farina

  2. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia, BO, Italy

    Lapo Mughini Gras, Giovanni Poglayen & Laura Stancampiano

  3. Colkim s.r.l., Via Piemonte, 50, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia, BO, Italy

    Aldo Gelli & Fernando Pasqualucci

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  1. Matteo Patergnani
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  2. Lapo Mughini Gras
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  3. Giovanni Poglayen
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  4. Aldo Gelli
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  5. Fernando Pasqualucci
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  6. Marco Farina
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Correspondence to Lapo Mughini Gras.

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Communicated by M. Traugott.

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Patergnani, M., Mughini Gras, L., Poglayen, G. et al. Environmental influence on urban rodent bait consumption. J Pest Sci 83, 347–359 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-010-0304-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-010-0304-7

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