Rodent Pests: Ecology and Management

This fully updated new edition covers new developments and the integration of rodent ecology into pest management approaches. It reviews rodents in urban areas, management approaches by continent, rodent issues in livestock holding, pros and cons of rodenticide use, new poison-free non-lethal approaches, and animal welfare in rodent management. Rodents are the most diverse mammalian order and they inhabit all continents except Antarctica. They are important elements of ecosystems with diverse population dynamics, life history traits and behaviour. Some can cause detrimental damage to crops (agriculture, forestry), intensive livestock operations, infrastructure (urban habitats), human and animal health (rodent-borne pathogens) and in conservation (invasives). Many rodent species provide positive ecosystem services. This revised, largely restructured and substantially updated third edition focuses on both ecology and management of rodents bringing together the expertise of 45 authors from 20 countries. The link between ecology and management is sensible scientifically and benefits application. This makes the book an essential resource for practitioners and scientists involved in basic rodent research, rodent pest control, conservation, and public health. Rodents are the most diverse mammalian order and they inhabit all continents except Antarctica. They are important elements of ecosystems with diverse population dynamics, life history traits and behaviour. Some can cause detrimental damage to crops (agriculture, forestry), intensive livestock operations, infrastructure (urban habitats), human and animal health (rodent-borne pathogens) and in conservation (invasives). Many rodent species provide positive ecosystem services. This revised, largely restructured and substantially updated third edition focuses on both ecology and management of rodents bringing together the expertise of 45 authors from 20 countries. The link between ecology and management is sensible scientifically and benefits application. This makes the book an essential resource for practitioners and scientists involved in basic rodent research, rodent pest control, conservation, and public health.