THE INFLUENCE OF ATTRACTANTS AND REPELLENTS ON THE FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF Rattus norvegicus

Poison b a i t s are extensively used for commensal rodent control; considerable folk lore e x i s t s regarding the use of a d d i t i v e s to induce rodents to come to and eat poison b a i t s . T h i s paper describes a rational evaluation of attractants and the i n f l u e n c e of different odours in i n d u c i n g Rattus norvegicus to feed at g i v e n locations. The influence of certain repellents was also examined. Tests consisted of attempts to induce rats to feed at non-preferred s i t e s or to repel them from preferred s i t e s . P l a c e preference was the dominant factor in feeding by rats, and odours f a i l e d to influence feeding activity significantly.