ABSTRACT
The conflicts between rodents and the economic interests or well-being of mankind in Latin America are the same as elsewhere in the world: disease transmission, food destruction, reduced timber and forage production, and physical damage. Rodents, and other animals, become pests only because they somehow come into conflict with man; it is generally a direct result of man's activities that these conflicts arise. Rodent damage can be a limiting factor to the coconut industry. Rodents were reported as impediments to successful reforestation in several countries. The variety of rodent problems identified in Latin America reflects substantial progress in defining the rodent species associated with major crop, disease, and postharvest problems. Long-term solutions to rodent problems in agriculture and public health will require increased emphasis on training in the public and private sectors and support for coordinated research efforts throughout the region. Several different rodent groups were reported to cause such damage in Latin America.
