Pest Management Professional, August 2018
OFF THE CUFF Wildlife is not for the novice By Heather Gooch PMP Editor D o you offer wildlife management services Last month we asked that very question in an informal social media poll Nearly all respondents who confirmed they do included a caveat You must know what youre doing Fake it til you make it is not allowed That could be said of any area of pest control work although following a product label and improving sanitation can go a long way With wildlife though a little more specialized skill is needed Longtime Florida based pest management professional Art Manon also cautions that close attention is needed in collections you really need to sell value here Isnt it unfortunate that a service that requires so much skill labor and time can be so easily brushed off by a customer when payment is due You made it look so easy that they think it was Starting on p 62 we feature the expertise of Charles Holt president of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association His advice just might take you to the sweet spot of being able to offer this service without it being a hassle PMP You can reach GOOCH at hgooch@ northcoastmedia net or 330 321 9754 Education boosts bed bug outcomes 8 August 2018 Pest Management Professional mypmp net ILLUSTRATION LEO MICHAEL A s a pest management professional PMP you rely on a variety of options to treat bed bugs Help your customers understand how your control methods work and why you need their cooperation to solve their pest problems and you will improve your success rates Although bed bugs have been making headlines for years your customers may not understand how they got them why they wont go away and which treatments are available Whether you prefer freezing to pest fumigation or use heat and or chemical treatments two of the options up for debate on p 26 of this issue explain what youre going to do and why youre going to do it For instance tell customers you must thoroughly inspect the crevices in their furniture and mattresses because thats where bed bugs lay their eggs Let them know bed bugs spread by hitching rides which is how they got them and why this pest can be found in all 50 states Explain why heat is an effective option plenty of talking points start on p 26 Tell them infestations are common because a female bed bug typically lays more than 500 eggs on average in her lifetime Share your knowledge with customers in person or on paper They will be more willing to pay more and help not hamper your control efforts PMP You can reach SOFRANEC at dsofranec@ northcoastmedia net or 216 706 3793 By Diane Sofranec PMP Managing Editor
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