Rats and mice: How do I keep rodents away from my tractor?
/How do you keep those nuisance furry critters away from chewing up the electrics of your tractors and other expensive farm equipment?
When rodents get inside the engine bay of your equipment, they can turn your tractor into a meal causing costly damage to your tractor and other expensive farm equipment.
It’s not only your equipment that is at risk, 50% of all farm fires are directly attributed to rodent damage. In winter we see a 30-40% increase in rodent call-outs as the rodents look to take shelter in warmer climates like your farm shop, outhouses, sheds and barns.
In this article, we will advise you on the most effective ways to keep rodents away from your tractors and other farm equipment.
Pest control methods to keep rats away from your tractors and farm equipment
Rodent control can be difficult to manage but can be achieved using a combination of preventative measures, natural predators, rodenticides, traps and electronic devices.
Preventative Rodent Control Measures
If you’re storing your tractor and equipment somewhere that is covered (be it a barn, shed, or garage), you will want to seal the spaces and holes that could allow easy entry for rodents. Once they find a way in, they will consider it a viable home and may never leave as they multiply and find food sources.
Block gaps in brickwork
Explore grates, bristle-grip or covers for drainage and vents, the size of exposed holes particularly in older buildings could be the optimum entrance route
Remove the source of food- secure litter bins, tidy up debris left on floors and surfaces.
Tidy out warehouses, garages and sheds regularly
Natural Rodent Predators
Many farmers have success with cats, though anybody who has had more than one cat can tell you that every cat’s attitude toward catching rats or mice is different. Some will relentlessly hunt the mice while others will just sit on your tractor seat and sleep.
Cats and dogs are often seen on farms, but owls are also a great opportunity to deter or indeed get rid of unwanted pests. Provide them with attractive habitats such as a nesting box and they can form part of your pest prevention strategy.
Rodent predators are not something you can solely rely on but certainly can enhance any existing pest prevention measures in place.
Related content - How to protect your farm against from rats, mice, rabbits and other pests
Electric Mats
Using the principles of an electric fence, an electric mat is a humane solution to prevent rats and mice from causing expensive damage to tractors and other expensive farm equipment.
The rat mat works in a similar way as an electric fence, protecting an area or property and uses a very low energy pulse as a deterrent to rodents venturing into or over the protected area. The control box is able to deliver a low energy repelling shock from more than 25m from the power source in ideal conditions.
The matting doubles as a hardwearing floor surface and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. You can walk and drive over the matting making it ideal for pest prevention in farms, garages, and industrial units where machinery and vehicles are in regular use.
Rodent Traps and Rodenticides
Rodent traps and rodenticides are an essential part of farm pest control. With farms characterised by large open spaces, rodents are inevitable - traps and rodenticides enable farmers to keep populations under control.
It is important to understand what techniques to use where for food safety but also to protect non-target animals. Risk management is crucial to providing a safe pest prevention strategy. If you are unsure please speak to an expert pest technician.
An on-going pest management service is almost always advised for a farm, this allows them to avoid costly damage by preventing infestations.
Related content - Mice I can deal with, but rats... I'm calling in the professionals! A recent customer story.
Summary
Controlling rodents on your farm and keeping your tractors free from furry invaders is no mean feat. You need to use a combination of methods to keep them from multiplying and causing expensive damage.
Preventing them from getting into your outbuildings and getting cosy is your first point of call - blocking gaps, closing doors, and removing food sources.
Fight little furballs with bigger furballs! House some natural rodent predators on your farm to reduce the number of rodents on your property.
Electric mats use a low electrical pulse to keep rodents away from your tractor internals it also doubles as hard wearing flooring for both indoor and outdoor use.
Calling in the professional is recommended to ensure any traps or rodenticides are handled correctly to reduce the risk of harming non-target animals.
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