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A Suggestion for Bait Station Manufacturers

A Suggestion for Bait Station Manufacturers

Bait stations are boxes designed to restrict access by non-target animals (i.e. pets) and people (i.e. children). Bait stations also protect the bait from the harmful effects of weather, thereby helping to keep the bait fresh and palatable for rodents to consume.

Raptor-357 Rodent Bait Station in open position. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.
Raptor-357 Rodent Bait Station in open position. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

As valuable as bait stations are, they are not perfect. Mouse-sized bait stations are typically not sufficiently strong for use outdoors. So people wanting to control mice outdoors often are forced to use the more durable rat-sized bait stations. You may say, “So what?” The problem is that rat-sized bait stations have openings that are large enough to allow rats to enter and find the bait. But if you only need to control mice, then the hole is too large by a factor of almost 2. While mice can still enter the larger opening, so can other animals such as ground squirrels and other non-target animals. So you may end up killing animals you don’t need to kill, but that it would raise the risk that you could kill animals that would be illegal to kill. If that doesn’t convince you of the problem, what about the wasted money in bait?

You could cut some screen and screw it over the opening to narrow the size to an inch or inch and half opening. But why don’t bait station manufacturers create stations with grooves by the opening where you could slide a piece of place with a narrower opening? Voila. The bait station would be a dual purpose one. The result would allow more targeted use of toxicants resulting in less rodenticide getting into the environment. Sounds like a win win for everyone.

Stephen M. Vantassel specializes in vertebrate pest issues. He is available for consultations, training, and writing.

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Car Damaging Animals

Car Damaging Animals

Vehicle. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.
Vehicle. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

Surprisingly, I have received a number of people asking me how to stop animals from chewing on the cables in their vehicles. The damage and inconvenience caused by these automotive loving animals ranges from nests, to chewing cables and tubes. Of course, people are always looking for magic solutions such as something they can spray or plug in to stop the animals from getting near their vehicles. The problem with chemicals and sprays lies with the heat generated by the vehicle. One wonders if a fire could result from the chemical being heated up; not to mention the smell, health threat and or potential damage to the vehicle. Don’t bother with ultrasound as there is simply no conclusive scientific evidence that they work to repel animals in real world situations.

So how can you respond to car damaging animals?

First, identify the culprit. Chances are the problem will be caused by mice, rats or squirrels, probably in that order. For additional help purchase, The Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook 3rd ed.

Second, reduce the rodent population through reducing food sources and population control. Removing and/or modifying bird feeders, reducing harborage and woodpiles will go a long way to reduce the problem. Now removing food and harborage is not an instant solution. But it is an integral part of the long term solution. Population control will be greatly enhanced when you reduce other food sources as it will make the baiting system more attractive. (Always check wildlife regulations in your area before instituting any animal damage control program). For population control, consider trapping.

Finally, try to garage your car and or park it in an area away from the tree line. In other words, park your car in the middle of the parking lot so that wildlife have to travel farther to reach your car. Are any of these suggestions magic? No. But they will reduce the problem. As always, I am open to other suggestions. Just e-mail me at wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a Certified Wildlife Control Operator (CWCP®) who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest books are the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition and The Practical Guide to the Control of Feral Cats. He can be contacted at wildlifecontrolconsultant at gmail dot com.

If you would like your publication, video, or product reviewed, please contact the author at the e-mail above.

Copyright

All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.

 

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Wildlife Damage Causes of House Fires?

Can Wildlife in the Home Lead to Fires?

Fire in Dumpster
Does wildlife cause house fires? (Photo credit: benwatts)

I received a question once regarding the causes of house fires. The person claimed to quote, Billy the Exterminator who allegedly said, “1/3 of all house fires are caused by wildlife. ”

I responded with a “Wow!” That is quite a claim. I don’t know if Billy said this or not. But let’s explore the possible accuracy of the claim.

 Do Wildlife Cause a 1/3 of all House Fires?

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5150506_leading-causes-house-fires.html  says that cooking causes 36% of all house fires. Well, if that is true than that means there is still room for wildlife to cause a 1/3 of all house fires.

But, farther down on the page, it says that electrical problems are a leading problem. Interestingly it says that people overloading the line is the cause. Now here is the challenge.

Electrical Caused Fires Doesn’t Really Tell Us Anything

What is the real cause of the fire? Overloaded lines or the rodent gnawing  (assuming the rodent actually damaged it) or both? The problem is how would we ever know? It is very likely that fire destroyed the evidence of rodent presence as the insulation of the wire would be burned away. Plus the heat might melt the wire removing any sign of gnawing.

A more reliable source on the causes of house fires consult the Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Fire-Prevention/fires-factsheet.html

Bottom line

I don’t know if Billy made this claim or not. But without more evidence, I have serious doubts that wildlife causes a 1/3 of all U.S. house fires no matter who claimed it reality.

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator. He is available for lectures, workshops, and legal testimony on wildlife damage related topics.

 

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Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

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Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Hantavirus infection is a serious disease contracted from inhaling or coming into physical contact with droppings and rodents contaminated with the virus. With a 30% death rate for those infected, it is scary enough to warrant caution.

Don’t be Paranoid Get Educated

The challenge in getting information on zoonotic diseases is to find information that is both accurate and readable. Thankfully, the good people at the Centers for Disease Control have created a booklet on the subject.

Download your pdf at http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/pdf/HPS_Brochure.pdf . You will be glad you did.

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control professional and is available for consultation, writing, research, and public speaking about wildlife damage management issues and the dangers of the animal rights protest industry.

 

 

 

 

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Restrictions in Rodenticides a Boon for WCOs and PCOs

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Restrictions in Rodenticides a Boon for WCOs and PCOs

After much review, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has decided to restrict the public’s access to second generation anticoagulants (brodifacoum, difethialone, bromadiolone, or difenacoum).  The reason for the change stemmed from concerns over public safety and the hazards second generation anticoagulants posed to non-target animals.  Unlike first generation anticoagulants, second generation anticoagulants are more toxic (requiring a rodent to feed only once to achieve a lethal dose) and more persistent in that predators and scavengers that feed on poisoned rodents can have dangerous build up of toxicant levels in their own system.

Final Risk Mitigation Decision for Ten Rodenticides

The EPA summarized its ruling in a page entitled “Final Risk Mitigation Decision for Ten Rodenticides” found at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/rodenticides/finalriskdecision.htm lists the key restrictions as follows:

““Consumer Size” Products (Products containing ≤ 1 pound of bait)

  • May not contain brodifacoum, difethialone, bromadiolone, or difenacoum (the second-generation anticoagulants).
  • Loose bait forms such as pellets are prohibited.
  • Each retail unit must include a bait station.
  • Bait refills may be sold with bait stations in a single retail unit.
  • All outdoor above ground use must be in a bait station and be applied within 50 feet of buildings.'”

What This EPA Regulation Means for WCOs and PCOs

The bottom line is that homeowners will no longer have access to the faster acting second generation toxicants as of June 2011. Therefore, I predict that customers will be more likely to hire professional rodent control services because:

  • they will become impatient with the slower acting (but still effective) first generation toxicants.
  • the added cost of buying baits protected with bait stations will reduce the gap between over-the-counter products and professional services,
  • the culture of just putting out poison will slowly change as more people will appreciate the role of exclusion and habitat modification (which many will hire out.)

Business Action Plan for WCOs and PCOs

While no one knows the future for certain, I suggest that

  1. WCOs get their pesticide license as soon as possible to enable them to have access to the second generation anticoagulants.
  2. PCOs and WCOs enhance their knowledge of trapping and exclusion control methods in preparation for marketing non-toxic approaches to rodent control.

I suggest that those companies able to seize the toxicant free and low toxicant control market will do well in the new regulatory environment.

Stephen M. Vantassel is a Certified Wildlife Control Operator and consultant on wildlife damage management issues. He is available for teaching, research, public speaking, and more.

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About Stephen

Stephen M. Vantassel MNI, CNI, CWCP, ACE Bio Stephen M. Vantassel is the Vertebrate Pest Specialist for the Montana Department of Agriculture (2015-present). Formerly, he was the Program Coordinator of Distance Education-Wildlife Damage Management for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources from 2004-2014. Stephen filled the position vacated by Dallas Virchow, who … Learn More

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