Rodent Control Methods

Over-watering and under-watering pose the biggest challenge when taking care of a plant, and thankfully, this technique fixes that and many other problems that can stem from it. By keeping a dry top layer of soil, you can deter insects, pests, and fungi away from your plant. Bottom watering eliminates this issue by minimizing water contact with the foliage and upper soil layers where pathogens often dwell. Take leaf or crown rot, for example, which is basically a fungal or bacterial infection on your plant. Other fungal issues you may want to stay clear of are houseplant invaders by the name of fungus gnats. These are fruit fly-sized insects that are attracted to the damp topsoil, which serves as a great home for their 200 eggs... Yeah, no, thank you.  Lastly, bottom watering can prolong the lifespan of your soil and plant. Frequent top watering can lead to soil erosion, leaching away nutrients vital to your plant. With bottom watering...

SenesTech announced it entered into a development and distribution agreement with Pathogens and Environmental Solutions (PES) of South Africa for the commercialization of ContraPest into South Africa. Under the agreement, PES will be responsible for seeking regulatory registration, and all marketing and sales of ContraPest into South Africa. "At PES, we aim to bring innovative products to the African Sub-Saharan region. ContraPest fits this aim perfectly, and partnering with SenesTech was a logical fit," said Reon Hillebrand, director at PES. "Once regulatory approval is achieved, we look forward to offering our customers this unique rodent control alternative, complementing our current rodent control offering in South Africa and our other African partners." SenesTech also announced further expansion with entry into a distribution agreement with Pesterminators of Maldives for the deployment t of ContraPest ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Rats! They're creepy, clever and everywhere in Seattle    The Seattle Times

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has an important message for residents heading into the summer: don't let Canada Goose frustrate you. The department says that the Canada goose 'thrives in a variety of habitats, including such areas as neighborhood ponds, office complexes, city parks and other developed areas.' This ability to adapt often leads them to be near people, according to the department. "Geese go through a molting process in midsummer, where they lose their flight feathers and grow in news ones, so it may seem they are 'hanging around' an area longer than usual - especially in late June and early July," Kara Nitschke, migratory gamebird biologist with the WRD Game Management Section said. "This means our offices typically receive an increase in nuisance calls about Canada geese this time of year. But it is not because the geese are trying to frustrate the homeowner, they are just hanging around because they ca...

The state of Michigan has a rather long list of invasive species. However, there are two particular insects that are outright prohibited in the Mitten State. As such, if you see the signs of these invasive insects that can kill or are killing Michigan's trees, you need to report it to the state. There's a difference between a typical invasive species such as those pesky stink bugs and a prohibited species. A prohibited species is one that the state has deemed "unlawful to possess, introduce, import, sell or offer that species for sale as a live organism, except under certain circumstances," from Michigan.gov. Both of the insects on the state's extensive prohibited species list are tree killers and both leave signs of their presence. Still, invasive species are difficult to stop. Once they are present, getting rid of them is a bigger struggle than simply keeping them out. That applies to the first insect, the Asian Longhorn Beetle . In this case, the beetle has not...

Abstract Rodent-borne hantaviruses are prevalent worldwide and upon spillover to human populations, cause severe disease for which no specific treatment is available. A potent antibody response is key for recovery from hantavirus infection. Here we study a highly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, termed SNV-42, which was derived from a memory B cell isolated from an individual with previous Sin Nombre virus (SNV) infection. Crystallographic analysis demonstrates that SNV-42 targets the Gn subcomponent of the tetrameric (Gn−Gc) 4 glycoprotein assembly that is relevant for viral entry. Integration of our 1.8 Å structure with the (Gn−Gc) 4 ultrastructure arrangement indicates that SNV-42 targets the membrane-distal region of the virus envelope. Comparison of the SNV-42 paratope encoding variable genes with inferred germline gene segments reveals high sequence conservation, suggesting that germline-encoded antibodies inhibit SNV. Furthermore, mechanistic assays reveal that SNV-42 i...

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Knowing how to get rid of rats can help you deal with this pest quickly and effectively. If you suspect a rat has taken up residence in your home, it can leave you feeling uncomfortable and unsafe. Rodents carry diseases which can be fatal if transmitted to either humans or animals, and as rats are known to be more aggressive versus mice, care must be taken to avoid being bitten.   That's why if you've spotted signs of a rat around your home, you need to take action as soon as possible. It's plainly unhygienic and dangerous for yourself as well as any children or pets.  If you're looking for guidance on what to do, here we'll break down how to get rid of rats step-by-step, including preventative measures to stop this pest from returning. Should you be unsure of whether you're dealing with a rat in the first place, we will also cover signs to indicate this pest. Find out what are the...