Seasonal variation and pest status of rodents in Bir Farm Development , Ethiopia

The present study deals with seasonal variation and pest status of rodents in Bir Farm Development, Ethiopia. Snap-traps, baited with peanut butter were used to collect data for three consecutive nights during wet and dry seasons in each habitat. Each season, seven snap-trap grids were placed in fields of major crops (maize, wheat and soybean) and in permanent grass cover, forest and bushland vegetation. Population density varied from season to season; highest was observed during the dry season and less during the wet season. Crop damage to wheat, maize and soybean crops was assessed 2 weeks prior to the farmer’s intended date of harvest. The level of damage by rodents was 13.2% for wheat, 12.9% for soybean and 9.6% for maize farms on the farm development. Comparatively, high rate of damage (29.2%) was observed in the maize farm from the locally farmed areas. Diet analysis indicated that consumption of animal matter was high during the wet season, and monocot seeds, dicot seeds and plant roots were more during the dry season.