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Rat control in Alberta

Description

Albertans have enjoyed living without the menace of rats since 1950, when the provincial rat control program was established. Norway rats are well known to be extremely destructive creatures. The... More ≫

Description

Albertans have enjoyed living without the menace of rats since 1950, when the provincial rat control program was established. Norway rats are well known to be extremely destructive creatures. The economic losses they cause to stored and infield crops, the destruction of property and their effects on human health have been widely documented for decades. This information sheet includes information on how to identify rats and how to recognize their presence. It also includes information on both passive and active measures that can be taken to control rats.

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The history of rat control in Alberta

Description

Norway rats are one of the most destructive creatures known to man. They destroy and contaminate untold quantities of food, and through their tunneling activities, undermine the foundations of... More ≫

Description

Norway rats are one of the most destructive creatures known to man. They destroy and contaminate untold quantities of food, and through their tunneling activities, undermine the foundations of buildings, sewer and water lines, and city streets. Rats also weaken and deface buildings by gnawing holes through floors, walls, insulation and supporting structures. Norway rats carried the flea that spread plague throughout Europe and Asia. Even today, they spread organisms responsible for food poisoning, hepatitis, tularemea and other diseases. Thus, the people of Alberta are extremely fortunate not to have rats. This is not by chance but by design. For the past four decades, Alberta has had a program to keep rats out of the province. This publication describes the evolution, history and current status of the rat control program in Alberta, and discusses factors which contributed to its success.

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Biology and control of skunks

Description

People generally relate skunks to the foul-smelling, defensive spray they discharge when scared or threatened. Generally, people avoid skunks and have little tolerance for their presence. In many... More ≫

Description

People generally relate skunks to the foul-smelling, defensive spray they discharge when scared or threatened. Generally, people avoid skunks and have little tolerance for their presence. In many parts of North America, skunks are also a major carrier of rabies. Rabies has been present in the skunk population of southern Alberta, at fluctuating levels, since the late 1970s. This information sheet includes a brief look at the biology, behaviour and reproduction of skunks, and then focuses on non-lethal and lethal methods of skunk control.

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Control of pocket gophers and ground squirrels

Description

Pocket gophers, commonly called moles, are a problem in pastures and hayland throughout much of Alberta. They also eat garden crops and kill woody plants and shrubs by feeding on the roots. Pocket... More ≫

Description

Pocket gophers, commonly called moles, are a problem in pastures and hayland throughout much of Alberta. They also eat garden crops and kill woody plants and shrubs by feeding on the roots. Pocket gophers tend to feed above ground in late spring and early summer, when stems and leaves are most nutritious. As the nutritional quality of stems and leaves declines, pocket gophers turn to feeding below ground on roots and other plant parts. These gophers create extensive burrow systems in search of food.

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Control of rabbits and hares

Description

Orchards, nurseries, shelterbelts and gardens can suffer economic losses and aesthetic damage because of gnawing animals. Most damage occurs from late fall until early spring when extreme weather... More ≫

Description

Orchards, nurseries, shelterbelts and gardens can suffer economic losses and aesthetic damage because of gnawing animals. Most damage occurs from late fall until early spring when extreme weather conditions limit the available food supply. Plant damage can also be extensive during periods of drought or when rabbit and hare populations are high.

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Control of porcupine damage

Description

The porcupine is Alberta’s second largest rodent, measuring up to 90 cm in length and weighing as much as 12 kg (Figure 1). They live throughout the province, usually near stands of woody... More ≫

Description

The porcupine is Alberta’s second largest rodent, measuring up to 90 cm in length and weighing as much as 12 kg (Figure 1). They live throughout the province, usually near stands of woody vegetation. The porcupine has a unique defence mechanism of up to 30,000 hardened barbed quills built into its coat. The porcupine is an interesting animal that has an important place in the environment. Porcupines are edible and have been used by humans as an emergency food. The quills are used for decoration, especially by native Canadians. The hair is very popular among fly fisherman. Porcupines may need to be controlled but should not be totally eradicated.

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Mice and their control

Description

Mice are a large group of mammals, with more than 130 species found worldwide. In Alberta, there are seven species of mice and 12 species of voles. The most troublesome and economically important... More ≫

Description

Mice are a large group of mammals, with more than 130 species found worldwide. In Alberta, there are seven species of mice and 12 species of voles. The most troublesome and economically important of the species found in Alberta are the house mouse, the whitefooted mouse and the meadow vole (commonly called field mouse).

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