Rodent-proofing the home your first line of defense

Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta is embarking on its campaign to wipe out rats, but it is ultimately doomed to fail because these consummate colonizers remain a pest in almost all urban areas of the world.

And killing them and then failing to dispose of their bodies properly may actually lead to more health problems to humans.

A more effective and logical strategy is to keep the vermin out of your home through rodent-proofing, or get rid of them if they have already weaseled their way in.

Here are some general tips on rodent-proofing from a local expert and also from several websites.

* Always keep food stored in sealed containers; rats and house mice will eat almost any type of food. This is particularly important to remember here, where many people choose to store cooked food in cupboards instead of the refrigerator, said the director of infectious disease prevention at the Ministry of Health, Thomas Suroso. If it is not stored properly, the food is an open invitation to the rodents to come in and eat their fill.

* Dry foods, including pet foods, must be stored in closed metal and glass containers. Make sure that when you feed pet birds, for example, that seeds do not fall to the ground, another potential food source for rodents.

* Improperly stored household garbage provides the food and water that rats thrive on. Make sure your garbage is kept in closed containers; this is particularly true of "wet" (organic) foodstuffs, Thomas said, such as eggs, oily food waste, rice and milk products.

* Don't allow drains to become clogged, Thomas warned, because they provide a perfect environment for rats to thrive. Keep them clear and as clean as possible.

* Eliminate water sources such as leaky faucets and sweating pipes, advises the homepage of the Canadian Ministry of Health on effective control of rodents (http://www.rats-mice.ca/rodent- proofing.html.) Rats need, and are attracted by, water sources, so it might be an idea to think twice about that ornamental pond.

* Rats, even Jakarta's mongoose-sized critters, can enter through the tiniest of holes. Patch cracks in windows, cover any open vents with fine mesh metal screening and make sure door and window space is not enough for them to squeeze through.

* Remove cozy nesting sites in unused clutter around the house or garage. In the yard, cut down tall grass and weeds.

* If you have to get rid of rats from your home, metal snap traps are easy to use and very effective, the Canadian website says. Try using strong-smelling, sticky foods as bait, such as peanut butter or animal fat, mixed with oatmeal or raisins, and set a large number of them at right angles to the wall, with the baited end closest to the wall (Move the traps to different locations if the bait does not disappear).

* Glue traps are also effective and are an ideal choice in hard-to-reach places. Wear gloves to dispose of the dead rodents; wrap in a plastic bag and dispose of in your garbage, or burn them. Traps temporarily reduce the number of rats, but the Saint Paul Public Health homepage emphasizes that only preventive techniques of sanitation and pest-proofing bring long-term solutions.

* Never sweep or vacuum dry rat droppings, because breathing the dust raised during the cleanup can cause illness. Use rubber gloves and a dust mask, and dampen droppings with a bleach and water solution before wiping up.

* Always wash hands and exposed clothing thoroughly if you think you have come into contact with rats or their urine and droppings. Use disinfectant to wipe down household surfaces, such as counters, if you suspect rats are in your home.