Fears of the next mouse plague are rippling through the agricultural community as Australian farmers become increasingly vigilant for signs of rodent activity.
With grain in paddocks left unharvested due to last year’s rains, mice populations have flourished with the abundance of excess food.
Barmac is urging the farming community to stay on top of their integrated rodent management plan to help reduce the spread of disease and mitigate damage to crops, machinery and infrastructure.
The Tomcat line from Barmac is developed by the world-leading manufacturer in rodent control, Bell Laboratories.
The range features a complete suite of rodent management solutions including rodenticides, tamper-resistant bait stations, non-poisonous glue boards, mechanical traps, and attractants to control rodents in any situation. To help stay ahead of the rat race, Barmac recommends these rodent control must-haves.
Tomcat with Bromethalin Blox with bromethalin is the latest addition to the Tomcat range and is the first product of its kind to be registered for use against rodents in Australia.
“Tomcat with Bromethalin Blox rodenticide helps save users time and money due to its effective knockdown when compared to anticoagulant rodenticides,” says Samuel Wood, Bell Laboratories business manager.
“Rodents can consume a lethal dose in just a single night’s feeding and may succumb to the poison in as little as two days, so more rodents can be controlled fast with less bait. Its unique formulation also makes it effective against rats and mice that are resistant to anticoagulant solutions.”
Mr Wood said Tomcat (Green) and Tomcat II (Red) are the ‘tried and trusted’ baits available to suit different levels of rodent activity and safety requirements. Each is coloured differently to be easily recognised for its level of safety – with green being the safest.
• Tomcat (Green) containing bromadioline is recommended for use around sensitive areas such as homes and near pets and other animals, with its lower toxicity to non-target animals. Tomcat (Green) is available as a block bait, soft bait, or pellets.
• Tomcat II (Red) containing brodifacoum – the strongest single-feeding anticoagulant – is four times more toxic than the green bait and works especially well on persistent or high infestations, and for a fast kill. Tomcat II (Red) is available as a block bait or pellets.
Tomcat blox are attractive to both rats and mice with their food-grade additives and cog-like shape, which satisfies a rodent’s gnawing behaviour. They have shown superior palatability and effectiveness compared with other baits available in the market.
Mr Wood said securely fixed and locked bait stations are the only reliable way to safely place bait while preventing accidental access or unwanted tampering by children, pets, and other non-target animals.
“Barmac’s Tomcat bait stations are made of rigid, heavy-duty plastic to withstand tough outdoor and indoor conditions, and will automatically lock when the lid is closed. They are also manufactured with fixing points, enabling them to be securely screwed or tied into position.”
“Tomcat’s tamper-resistant stations also work to protect rodent bait from the elements to extend the longevity, freshness, palatability, and therefore, effectiveness of the bait.”
The Tomcat range includes smaller mouse bait stations to larger rat stations that will securely hold Tomcat Green and Red Bait Blox and Soft Baits. The hole in the centre of Tomcat Blox allows for precise placement on the bait-securing rods in Tomcat stations.
Top Tips for a Successful Rodent Baiting Plan:
• A recommended baiting tactic is to lay three lines of defence:
1. perimeter control around boundaries and fences to deter rodents from entering the property
2. exterior control around buildings to prevent rodents from moving inside
3. and interior control to kill any rodents that manage to enter the premises.
• Tomcat Bait stations can be secured to fence posts, garden edges, outside walls, and internal skirting boards. Effective spacing of stations along those defence lines is then based on rats ranging 50 to 100 metres from their nest, and mice ranging up to 10 metres.
• A well-managed baiting program includes checking bait stations every week (or more often with high populations) to determine activity; ensuring bait is replaced as soon as they are eaten; and recording all details – including bait-station locations, dates checked, and when fresh bait has been added.
• When monitoring your bait stations, if Tomcat (Green) bait is consistently eaten up by rodents, this likely indicates that there is a high rodent population. In these situations, the more powerful Tomcat II (Red) is recommended to bring the population under control faster.
Mr Wood said if you are already aware of a heavy infestation, start with TOMCAT II (Red); and switch to Tomcat (Green) once the population is under control as part of your ongoing baiting program.
“Manufactured by Bell Laboratories to uncompromising quality, the Tomcat range is exclusively available to the Australian agricultural market through Barmac.”
