Dr Mutiu Oladele-Bukola of the
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, has warned
people against the use of rat poisons to kill mice.
The veterinary doctor, who gave
the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in
Ibadan, said that people should avoid using rat poisons so as to prevent the
contamination of food items in their homes.
Bukola stated that the mice which
eat the poison could contaminate other food items in the home, thereby making
them dangerous for human consumption.
He said, “As rats move from one
place to the other, they carry these poisons in their mouth and even their
body; they contaminate food and water meant for other animals and man.
“Besides, the dead mouse could
decompose at an obscure corner and start smelling, thus making the environment
uncomfortable for living, while becoming a breeding place for infection.
“This is very dangerous to both
animals and human because if such contaminated foods are consumed, they can
cause ill-health or even death of the consumer,” he said.
Bukola stressed that the use of
traps was a good means of getting rid of rats.
He added, “Traps are devices used
for catching rats alive or dead; the process is facilitated by the use of baits
such as peanuts, butter and cheese.
“However, the effectiveness of
any rat bait depends on the environment and the habit of the rats in question.
“Rats are scavengers and the most
effective bait is food. Instead of using rat poison at home and on the farm,
metal rat trap boxes or rat gum, containing smoked fish or meat as baits, can
be used.
“The traps should be placed at
strategic locations within the house to catch the mice alive or dead.
“This can prevent the rats from
dying around and messing up the environment,” he said.
However Bukola warned that dead
rats must not be thrown around the surroundings of the house, adding that they
should be buried so as to prevent the emission of foul smell and the
transmission of diseases.
“We should make sure that our environment is
cleared of bushes and refuse; buildings should also be fenced round with wire
netting so as to make them rat-proof.
Dead rats can so smell! Funny thing is when a rat is about to die, it'll hide itself somewhere and one won't realise it until the smell starts oozing all over. Wicked creatures!
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