Earth rat is a giant among voles

An agricultural pest known as the "earth rat", in fact, belongs to the family of vole mice and is its largest representative. Initially, the earthen rats were found only in the southern regions, but gradually migrated to the north. Now it occupies the territory of the temperate climatic belt almost to the border with the subarctic zone.

This rodent, having a body size of up to twenty-five centimeters, was mistakenly numbered in rats. But in all habits, this is a real vole, except that the vole is an overgrowth. The earthen rat eats everything that grows, giving preference, naturally, to cultivated plants, as more nutritious and juicy. If it appears on your site, you will see it on the cleanly destroyed beds. Onions, dill? Yes easily. Roots? Good too. What is there - a flower bed? She and the flower garden will not disdain. According to the testimony of gardeners, whose plots were subjected to the invasion of this rodent, the earth rat for some reason prefers saffron, which it mows as well as lawn mowers.

The largest specimens of the earth rat have a mass of up to half a kilogram, and their hair is rather thick and long. Under favorable conditions, the rodent multiplies very quickly. The female brings offspring up to three times a year, and in one litter there are three or five cubs each. Little earthen rats are very bright creatures, and a month after they are born they leave the parent, starting an independent life.

The terrestrial rat leads mainly underground way of life, preferring to settle in river valleys and on the shores of natural and artificial reservoirs. As a rule, it does not penetrate the city, as the real gray rats who "stake out" the territory chase out weaker aliens.

Fighting earthy rats goes in different directions. This is the application of traditional poisons, as well as more modern, sophisticated methods. In order to drive away uninvited guests, a method is used that is successfully used against other underground pests - moles. This is the use of ultrasonic repellents. On the site in a certain order, several emitters are installed (the installation instruction is attached to the device), and after a short time the mole or earthen rat leaves to eat field plants, leaving your site alone.

Some fox terriers are used to combat these rodents. However, dogbreeding is unlikely to give a 100% result, the earth rat is too cunning. The struggle with it made some gardeners use very simple, but, according to the inventors, very effective methods. In the chessboard, in four to six meters, pieces of reinforcement, lengths of fifty to seventy centimeters, are clogged, and tin cans of beer or other beverages are put on them. In the wind they start to rattle, and from this sound rats supposedly leave the territory.

Ways to deal with these giant voles exist a lot to choose the one that will suit you most and will be more effective.