Members of PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board share common challenges of rodent control

We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to share what the most challenging aspects of rodent control are. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our August 2024 print edition.

PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board and Regular Contributors

Dr. Michael Bentley, BCE

Dr. Michael Bentley: “One of the most challenging aspects of rodent management is that no two situations are ever exactly the same. Conducive conditions such as overgrown vegetation or poor waste management may be shared across accounts, but why the problem exists may vary wildly from one client to another. Overcoming this challenge begins with assessing each account individually. Make time for a thorough inspection of the property, don’t make assumptions to cut corners, and do your due diligence when interviewing clients on their daily routines and processes.”

Doug Foster: “The most challenging aspect of rodent control is not what bait or trap to use but rather ‘How are they getting in, and what can I do to stop that?’ A deep dive in and around the structure will reveal unseen or unnoticed openings where exclusion techniques such as door sweeps, rodent-resistant sealant, garage/dock door seals and other construction methods can be used to permanently refuse entry to rodents.”

Pete Schopen: “Many companies offer exclusion as part of their rodent management programs, but some businesses fail to teach their techs the proper techniques. Inspecting, identifying, removing insulation, finding sebum, sealing holes, using steel wool or copper mesh, installing weather stripping and door thresholds, caulking and outdoor baiting are all part of a proper exclusion service.”

Dan Baldwin: “Once you accept that rodents are a highly adaptable, acrobatic and intuitive, capable of complex decision-making, rodent control really isn’t that difficult. The challenge with providing excellent elimination and prevention usually comes from a lack of consideration regarding rodents’ abilities; an underestimation of the population; a thorough assessment of the interior and exterior habitat; and structural, storage and sanitation conditions. All too often, rodent control strategies lack the dimensions necessary to provide the desired level of protection. Randomly placed bait stations on the exterior may not be in the rodents’ travel path. Insufficient trapping on the inside can lead to population rebound. Rodent elimination and prevention need to be an ‘all in’ effort. You have to try to figure out why they are there, how they got in, where they are hiding, how they are moving around a structure, and what their food source is.”

Dan Baldwin

Judy Black: “In terms of a rodent infestation, the most challenging aspect is time. We often think in terms of going out weekly to a rodent infestation, because when you are running a route, it is easier to ‘fit in.’ However, if you took those same four visits and made them four days in a row, or at least every other day for eight days, you would make far more headway on getting rid of the infestation. If you are going weekly, too much can happen in those intervening six days where you are unable to adapt your attack.”

Paul Hardy: “Rodent control has always been a challenging part of our industry’s services. Even with today’s cutting-edge equipment and materials, the biggest problem is still the same: training and customer communication.”

Dr. Faith Oi: “Rodents learn. We have to adapt to their behavior changes.”

<p>The post Members of <em>PMP</em>’s Editorial Advisory Board share common challenges of rodent control first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>

from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2024/08/07/members-of-pmps-editorial-advisory-board-share-common-challenges-of-rodent-control/
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