Ethology of Rodents in relation to

their Management

Mariadoss, A., M.Sc(Ag.), MBA, CIF, CTM, (PhD)

Asst. Director (RPM)

Plant Biosecurity Division

MAJOR BEHAVIOURS
 FOSSORIALITY
 NOCTURNALITY
 EXPLORATION
 THIEGMOTAXIS
 NEOPHOBIA
 BAIT SHYNESS
 RODENTICIDE RESISTANCE
 REPRODUCTIVE BOUNCING
 MIGRALITY
FOSSORIALITY
 They are fossorial, except most of the squirrels and
house rats.
 They live in burrows/ crevices.
 Constant environmental conditions will be maintained
inside the burrows, facilitated by soil (Soil is a bad
conductor of heat).
 The depth normally depends on the atmospheric
temperature.
NATURE OF RODENT BURROWS
 Porcupines – make crevices between rocky areas; the
crevices are normally tapering; complex of crevices
due to gregarious living.
 Bandicoots – scooped soil exists before the burrows
with soil pebbles.
 Soft furred field rat – vertical burrow, which extends
laterally
 Gerbils – burrow complexes
Burrow structure of B. bengalensis

Branching in burrows
BURROW STRUCTURE

B. bengalensis B. indica
BURROW STRUCTURE (CONTD..)

Millardia meltada T. indica

Burrow of Mus plathytrix

Entry Closed end

NOCTURNALITY
 Most of the rodents are nocturnal in habits.
 The spontaneous activity starts at evening hours after
sunset and have exploration, feeding and feeding
rhythms; the activity will be minimize by 9.30 pm.
 Again they become active in early morning having
exploratory and feeding activities.
 Crepuscular (Dawn and Dusk).
EXPLORATION
 Rodents have a habit of checking the environment
during the spontaneous activity period.
 This is to guard the area where they live to check any
incursions or change in the environment
 This is an in born instinct of all rodents
THIEGMOTAXIS
 Rodents normally move aligning vertical surfaces.
 In crop fields they move at the base of the bunds and
hardly move on the bund.
 Hence, the baits placed on the bund are not accepted
 In storage and domestic situations, they move aligning
the walls.
TRAP POSITION
Rat trapping

Source: AD(RPM)
NEOPHOBIA
 During the exploration, if they observe any change in
the environment, they develop new object reaction
 If it is trap , they will not enter in side.
 If it is food material, they will not eat readily the food;
they mark the food and taste the food.
 Hence if poisoned baits are given, the behavior affords
protection to avoid the bait consumption.
 Neophobic periods:
R. rattus – 3 days
B. bengalensis – 1 day
M. meltada – 5 days
T. Indica – 3 days
TERRITORIALITY

Home range:

 Norway rat-90’-450’
 House rat-300’-500’
 House mouse-30’-50’
BAIT SHYNESS
 Sub lethal doses of acute rodenticide will not kill the
rodents, but the minute quantities of phosphine
generated in stomach will give stomach disturbance.
 Rodents will associate this discomfiture with bait
material ate.
 Consequently they avoid eating the food item- Bait
Shyness.
 It is temporary phenomenon
 Persistent periods:
R. rattus – 75 days
B. bengalensis – 21 days
M. meltada – 135 days
T. Indica – 75 days
ANTICOAGULANT RESISTANCE

 Chronic rodenticides are reported to result in

development of resistance over a period of time one
more number of treatments.
 Warfarin resistance is commonly reported.
 Bromadiolone has so far not shown proven
anticoagulant resistance.
BOUNCING EFFECT OF BREEDING
Normal Breeding
 Sex ration (M:F)- 1:1
 Avg. Litter size – 6
 Post partum oestrous- 90
days.
 Maturity period- 90 d
 This is seen in normal
un-disturbed agrarian
ecosystems.
Abnormal Breeding
 Sex ration (M:F)- 1:2
 Avg. Litter size -20
 Post partum oestrous- 2
days.
 Maturity period- 75 d
 This is seen during
unexpected favourable
climatic situations.
BREEDING PROFILES

Normal Abnormal
MIGRALITY
 Rodents inherently have migrality - movement in
search of food sources
 Emigration – outward movement after the harvest in
search of food available areas
 Immigration – inward movement of rodents to the
crops under establishment
Population in area
 Natalityrate
 Mortality rate
 Migration

 Availability of food
 shelter
Intrinsic population regulation

Bruce effect
Whitten effect
SUCCESS OF RODENTS
 Behavioural adaptations make them success in
avoiding poisons, enemies.
 Success of rodent pest management depends on
uderstanding their behaviour.
THANK U