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There are 4000 species of mammals, of which about 1700 are rodents. However not all rodent species are commensal pests. About 150 species have been defined as a commensal at some time or another, though only 20 could be termed important in connection with post-harvest losses. The number of species occurring in and around human habitation drops to below ten according to FAO (2014) and when it comes to the urban environment the number could be still lower.
Rodents are possibly the most noteworthy pest to humans. They eat and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans. They live and thrive in a wide variety of climates and conditions, and are often found in and around homes, buildings, gardens, various man-made structures, farms, open fields and forests. The ability to transport themselves with humans and in association with human driven activities has thus made them a cosmopolitan pest.
Control and management of rodents remains predominately a challenge with a need for continuous monitoring and intervention. Only rat proofing through physical methods has proven to be long-lasting. Other methods such as traps, baits and poisoning are labour intensive, messy and at times dangerous. The need for alternative solutions is at the forefront for every manufacturer, researcher and pest controller. This need has led to the development of a new humane, rodent control device, the Goodnature E2 Automatic Humane Rat and Mouse Trap marketed by Ensystex.
Rodents are attracted to the Goodnature E2 by a non-toxic food lure. The lure can be manually dosed or the user can use a local feed source known to be preferred by the target pest population. The E2 is powered by compressed CO2 from a small, recyclable canister. This powers and resets the trap multiple times before needing replacement. This is important since it ensures other pest...