Survey of Rodent Pests and Their Damage to Stored Grains in Borno State, North East Nigeria

This study surveys the species composition of rodent pests and quantifies their damage to stored grains in Borno State, located in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone. Rodent pest damage to stored grains is a major post-harvest loss driver in North East Nigeria, where food insecurity is already heightened by conflict and displacement, yet species-specific damage data are limited for the region. Using a cross-sectional design, 60 grain storage facilities (thatch barns, mud cribs, and modern bags) were surveyed in Maiduguri, Bama, and Konduga local government areas. Live trapping with Sherman traps and snap traps was conducted over 15 trap-nights. Grain damage was quantified by the weight of damaged grain expressed as a percentage of stored quantity. Three rodent species were captured: Mastomys natalensis, Arvicanthis niloticus, and Rattus rattus. Mastomys natalensis was the most abundant (62% of captures). Mean grain loss per facility was 7.4 percent, with thatch barns suffering significantly higher losses (12.1%) than bagged grain on raised platforms (3.2%). Population density estimates correlated positively with surrounding uncultivated land cover. Seasonal peaks in rodent activity coincided with the harvest season (September to November). The study recommends platform storage in sealed containers, regular burrow destruction around storage facilities, and community-coordinated trapping campaigns as priority rodent management strategies for Borno State. Keywords: rodent pests, stored grains, Borno State, Mastomys natalensis, post-harvest loss.