The water rat belongs to the subfamily of voles and is its largest representative. The body length reaches 20 centimeters, the tail - ten cm. The animal is covered with dense long hair and has a layer of fur on its legs in the form of a fringe, which improves its swimming ability.
The habitats are often the banks of rivers, ponds, lakes, sometimes a water rat can be found far from the water in fields, meadows, in vegetable gardens and gardens. During floods, the vole migrates to more arid areas, after a decline in water level, it returns to its places.
The water rat inflicts tangible damage to gardens, destroying their root system, nibbles the bark of trees in winter, young plantings are especially affected by the invasion. The vole loves to feast on potatoes and other vegetable crops, does not disdain insects, frogs, earthworms and fish.
The pest digs shallow complex long holes in the ground, while a significant amount of soil is thrown to the surface. With its moves, the water rat destroys the fertile layer of land on cultivated agricultural land. The animal comes to the surface in thickets along the edges of ditches and sections. Exits to the surface can be found in heaps of rotted manure or peat, in places littered with polyethylene, branches, stones, as well as under barn household buildings and close to landfills. In warm weather, the rodent can open its passages on the surface of the soil and in places where the earth is ejected.
Before getting rid of rodents, you need to put your site in order and keep it clean thereafter. You can’t litter him! Later, in autumn, tree trunks should be tied with roofing material and branches of spruce. It is possible to reinforce the polyethylene bottles cut along the young trunks; during the thaw days it is worth wrapping snow around the trees. Special rodenticides, which are required to be used in autumn or spring before settling and breeding pests, allow rid of rodents.
Lures are very effective, which are based on carrots chopped on a grater; they also use oats, soaked peas, pumpkin, potatoes or zucchini. Usually they are used in the spring. In the autumn, after the rats have stocked up food for the winter, poisoned baits are best. Usually a water rat is caught on a trick on warm days when it comes to the surface.
Despite the fact that many baits are drugs with relatively low toxicity to humans and other animals, they are still best kept away from food, birds and domestic animals. For the manufacture of baits, trimming pipes, special feeders are used. The carcasses of captured animals, the packaging of preparations and the remains of the bait must be buried deeply or burnt in a timely manner.
Good results when getting rid of rodents give poisoned baits made by gardeners on their own. For catching water rats take flour (30-40 grams), gypsum or alabaster (20-25 grams) and a small amount of sunflower oil. In addition, another composition is prepared: powdered sugar (20 grams) with rosin (20 grams) and brown (15 grams) are mixed. When making baits, you must not touch the solution with your hands, but use a wooden stick and plastic utensils. Rats will not take a solution that has a human smell.
Poisoned food should be placed in the evening near the hole. You need to upload it until it is clear that someone has touched the bait. After that, open holes must be sprinkled with soil. If after a few days it became noticeable that they opened, then the fishing of water rats should continue.