Abstract:
The relative population numbers of rodents were studied in nine habitats in and outside the
N’washitshumbe enclosure site, Kruger National Park, before and after burning the firebreaks
that surround the enclosure. Trap success was exceptionally high, and the field work is
suspected to have coincided with a Mastomys population explosion. This genus dominated the
small mammal communities before and after the burn, and never disappeared from the burnt
patches. Its numbers also did not crash directly after the burn, as have been reported in most
other studies. Movement from the burnt areas was observed, which may have had a significant
impact on the numbers of rodents caught both inside the enclosure and in the more natural
areas outside. Our study suggests that fire can be investigated as a tool to keep rodent densities
down in areas where they are nuisance animals, especially when used in conjunction with
models that forecast outbreaks of Mastomys. It also emphasizes the value of long-term studies
informing management strategies for animal damage control and biodiversity and ecosystem
conservation.
