Preventive control

Natural enemies

Predators

1. Small Indian mongoose
2. Snakes
3. Barn owls
4. Crows
5. Some people

Management and cultural practices

1. Clean dikes and main irrigation canals, including surrounding areas, and free them of weeds.
2. Reduce the size of the bunds or dikes (less than 30 x 30 cm) as rats prefer to nest on the higher ground of the rice field. It limits the nesting and burrowing sites and the areas for weeds to grow.
3. Cover burrows and place the treated baits.
4. To drive out rats in their burrows and nesting sites, flood the paddies just below the dike level. This practice will not kill them but force them to go to a higher ground.
5. Follow synchronous planting, i.e., planting at the same time with other farmers in the same area.
6. Completely remove rice straws after harvest.
7. Fallow the rice field 1 - 2 months during the dry season.
8. When possible, do not kill mongoose, snakes, owls and other birds as they are very good predators of rats.
9. Always remember that rat control can be best achieved if most of the rice farmers act together to limit the factors that favor rat population build-up, such as food and shelter.