Development and application of"rodent station"in the farmland of Sanya,Hainan Province,China
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a device called"rodent station"for rodent monitoring and control in farmland.Methods This device was placed on the field ridge of Nanfan Breeding Base in Yazhou District,Sanya,Hainan Province,China.The feasibility of the device for rodent surveillance was determined by using the built-in snap traps to monitor rodent density at night.Its efficacy for farmland rodent control was tested through bait feeding method.The palatability of base baits for rodent control was tested by selective feeding.Results From September to December in 2023,a total of 91 small mammals were captured in the four catches,including Rattus losea,R.tanezumi,R.norvegicus,and Mus musculus(in the order of the number of catches from large to low).The capture rate of four catches were 8.75%,8.33%,7.50%,and 4.58%,respectively,with 47.66%of efficacy against rodent.The selective feeding results showed that rodents preferred paddy,corn grits,corn flour,and rice from most to least.Conclusion The"rodent station"can be used as a tool to monitor and control rodent density in farmland and other outdoor environments,although the operation method needs to be improved.