GB2117242A - Method, apparatus, and bait for feeding and destroying vermin or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for dispensing a rodenticide to rodents, for example mice, comprises a plurality of edible plates 1, each provided with a generally central hole through which passes the shaft of a support rod 3 having a stop 4 at its lower end. The edible plates incorporate a matrix of stearic acid, cut wheat and a rodenticide. Spacer tubes are provided intermediate the edible plates 1 having holes sufficiently large so that they are capable of passing over the head 4, such that if the lowermost plate 1 is removed, the lowermost spacer tube will fall free of the support rod, to enable the next edible plate to take the former position of the one removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method, apparatus, and bait, for feeding and destroying vermin or the like This invention relates to methods and apparatus for feeding rodents, primarily with a view to destroying the said rodents by incorporating poisonous substances in the foodstuff. The invention also relates to a novel bait for use in destroying rodents and similar vermin.

In recent years, a great deal of research effort has been expended in the formulation of new pesticides, for controlling rodents and other vermin. Most of this research effort has been directed towards the formulation of new chemical substances to replace known poisons, to which the rodents have become insensitive. Very little effort has been directed to the presentation of existing poisons in forms in which they are more attractive to the particular pest.

Rodents are very particular about the way in which their food is presented, and in particular are reluctant to eat bait which is fouled with urine or excreta. They will, nevertheless, rapidly foul bait which is simply deposited in the areas where the rodents run. Furthermore, many rodenticides are rapidly degraded by contact with the air and particularly moisture. Traditional methods of presenting bait to rodents is to provide a tray of cardboard, plastic or the like, containing the bait.

Because of the two problems mentioned above, such trays must be serviced and replaced regularly, for example every two weeks, and this regular servicing greatly increases the cost of pest control.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bait block for rodents or the like creatures, in the form of a rodenticide or other poison, incorporated in a solid matrix of an edible fat or wax. Rodents generally choose to eat from the corners of block-like materials, and it is therefore preferred that the block has a plate-like shape, so that the rodent may eat inwards from the edge, a fresh edge portion being provided as the edges are consumed.

Such plates preferably provided with a mounting hole generally in a central part thereof, to enable the plate to be mounted on a support rod.

Any suitable edible fat or wax having an appropriate melting point may be used in the formulation of such bait block for example stearic acid, stearates, tallow, cocoa butter, suets, beeswax, paraffin wax, or any combination of two or more thereof. Any desired melting point or other physical properties may be produced by appropriate mixing of two or more such fats or waxes. Similarly any of the various available rodenticidcs, such as alphachloralose, calciferol or any of the many anticoagulants, such as brodifacoum, bromadolone, coumatetralyl, chlorophacinone, diphacinone, difenacoum, fumarin, norbamide, or warfarin may be employed.

Rodent attractants such as cut wheat, biscuit meal, aniseed, sugar, fish oils, whole wheat, coarse or fine oatmeal, rolled oats, sunflower, canary or sesame seeds, crushed groundnuts, crude chocolate, fish meal or mixtures of two or more thereof are preferably also incorporated.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a device for providing a dispensed supply of an edible substance to a rodent or the like creature, the device being particularly suitable for use with bait blocks as described above, although the device has general applicability. It can, for example be used with other forms of plate-like foodstuffs, and additionally has application in the feeding of rodents as domestic pets where, of course, the incorporation of a poison into the foodstuff is not desired.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for providing a dispensed supply of an edible substance to a rodent or the like, comprising a plurality of edible plates, each provided with a hole therein, a support rod, passing through the said holes in the plates, the support rod having a stop thereon for preventing passage of a plate past the stop and a plurality of separators disposed on the support rod intermediate the edible plates, the separators being capable of passing over the stop. In a preferred arrangement, the support rod is orientated in a generally vertical position, such that the lowermost of the said plates is presented for a rodent to eat. On consumption or removal by other means of the said lowermost plate, the lowermost separator is free to fall from the support rod, to cause replacement of the lowermost plate by a plate above it.In an alternative embodiment, the support rod may be positioned otherwise than with the stop downmost, and the plates may be resiliently biased towards the end of the rod bearing the stop.

The device is preferably incorporated in a feeding tunnel, which provides the feeding rodent with a sense of security, which makes feeding more reliable.

A number of preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the tunnel of Figures 1 and 2, with the device removed, Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the method of construction of the device of Figure 1, Figure 5 is an end view showing the same device in use against a wall, and Figure 6 shows the device in a stand-alone form.

In the drawings, a device for dispensing a rodenticide to rodents, for example mice, comprises a plurality of edible plates 1, each provided with a generally central hole 2 through which passes the shaft of a support rod 3. The edible plates incorporate a matrix of stearic acid, as tristearin incorporating cut wheat as an attractant and calciferol as a rodenticide. The support rod 3 is provided with a stop at its lowermost end, in the form of a tapered head 4.

The uppermost end of the support rod is threaded, and is secured to a magazine cover 5, by means of locking nuts 6. Intermediate the edible plates 1 are cardboard or plastic spacer tubes 7, through a hole in each of which the support rod also passes.

The holes in the cardboard spacer tubes are sufficiently large that they are capable of passing over the head 4, such that if the lowermost plate 1 is removed, the lowermost spacer tube will fall free of the support rod, to enable the next edible plate to take the former position of the one removed. The magazine cover 5, which may be of, for example, plastics, or sheet metal is closed at its sides and ends, to prevent premature consumption of the uppermost edible plates by the rodents. The magazine cover has four small legs around its lower periphery, which are accommodated in four slots 9 in the roof part of a tunnel 10, and thus may be readily replaced periodically by an unskilled operator. The tunnel itself may be formed of, for example, a plastics material or sheet metal.Thus the edible plates 1 protrude into the interior of the tunnel 10 through a hole 12 in the roof section of the tunnel.

The tunnel 10 may preferably be sited adjacent a wall, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, and for this reason the hole 1 2 is spaced somewhat from the wall 1 3. Rodents prefer to run very close to the angle between wall and floor, and positioning the device in this position is preferable as it does not disturb their normal running paths.

In a preferred embodiment, an edge portion of the tunnel 10 is provided with a curved lip, as shown in Figure 3. This enables two similar tunnel parts to be slid together, to form a free-standing tunnel, as illustrated in Figure 6.

It is of course to be appreciated that many variations on the specific arrangement described above are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A bait block for rodents or the like creatures, in the form of a rodenticide or other poison, incorporated in a solid matrix of an edible fat or wax.

2. A bait block as claimed in Claim 1 having a plate-iike shape, so that the rodent may eat inwards from the edge, a fresh edge portion being provided as the edges are consumed.

3. A bait block as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, which is provided with a mounting hole generally in a central part thereof, to enable the plate to be mounted on a support rod.

4. A bait block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edible fat or wax is stearic acid, a stearate, tallow, cocoa butter, suet, beeswax, paraffin wax, or any combination of two or more thereof.

5. A bait block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rodenticide, is alphachloralose, calciferol, brodifacoum, bromadolone, coumatetralyl, chlorophacinone, diphacinone, difenacoum, fumarin, norbamide, or warfarin.

6. A bait block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which also includes a rodent attractant.

7. A bait block as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the rodent attractant includes cut wheat, biscuit meal, aniseed, sugar, fish oil, whole wheat, oatmeal, rolled oats, sunflower seed, canary seed, sesame seed, crushed groundnuts, crude chocolate, fish meal or a mixture of two or more thereof.

8. A bait block substantially as hereinbefore described.

9. A device for providing a dispensed supply of an edible substance to a rodent or the like, comprising a plurality of edible plates, each provided with a hole therein, a support rod, passing through the said holes in the plates, the support rod having a stop thereon for preventing passage of a plate past the stop and a plurality of separators disposed on the support rod intermediate the edible plates, the separators being capable of passing over the stop.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the support rod is orientated in a generally vertical position, such that the lowermost of the said plates is presented for a rodent to eat, whereby on consumption or removal by other means of the said lowermost plate, the lowermost separator is free to fall from the support rod, to cause replacement of the lowermost plate by a plate above it.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein means are provided for resiliently biassing the plates towards the end of the rod bearing the stop.

12. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 1 wherein the edible plates are plates as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8.

13. Apparatus for use in the extermination of rodents comprising a feeding tunnel, having a top wall and at least one side wall, the top wall incorporating a device as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12.

14. Apparatus for use in the extermination of rodents, substantiaily as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.