Pest Management Professional, September 2012
tips tricks Rodents Bell Labs By Mark Westover Vice President Global Sales Here are six keys to successful baiting 1 Choose the right rodenticide for the job Whether its a new account with a heavy infestation an existing account with persistent rodent activity or a preventative program set up to monitor and keep rodents out proper selection and application of rodenticides will determine the success of the rodent control program Baits containing acute active ingredients are ideal for heavy infestations that need a quick knockdown of the rodent population Rodenticides made with second generation anticoagulants are ideal for picky rodents or when non targets are not a concern Be sure to consider all actives and bait formulations when determining your baiting strategy 2 Read the rodenticide label before placing the bait The label instructions give useful information on bait placement The general rule to keep in mind is the label is the law 3 Place bait where rodents travel Your inspection will identify the problem areas and the species involved Place bait where rats and mice will find it Some baits include specialized luminescent ingredients that cause rodent feces to glow under ultraviolet light for easier and more accurate tracking Locating droppings is helpful because they can help determine species type infestation size and high activity areas 4 Place an appropriate amount of bait for the account It sounds simple but often professionals do not place enough bait to maintain control Also be sure to remove and replace any spoiled or rancid bait 5 Use bait stations wherever safety is a concern Quality tamper resistant stations help keep bait away from children pets and non target animals and should be used in virtually every baiting situation Through its Risk Mitigation Decision RMD for rodenticides the U S Environmental Protection Agency EPA established a tier structure that helps to distinguish the level of bait security a station can provide Some manufacturers now provide stations that have been tested and proven to meet the EPAs highest standards of bait station security Tier 1 6 Eliminate rodents food water and harborage wherever possible Knock down the population first before applying rodent proofing measures disrupting the rodents environment might send them scurrying Liphatech By Ted Bruesch Technical Support Manager The easiest and most effective way to kill Norway rats is to attack them where they live In cases of infestations this usually means treating their burrows with appropriate rodenticides Individual rogue rats are another matter The most effective treatment is to apply a rodenticide directly inside their burrows These additional helpful hints will aid in success Continued on page 82 78 September 2012 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net
You must have JavaScript enabled to view digital editions.
