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Voles and Pesticide Labels

If you have a pesticide license, chances are pretty high that you have heard the statement, “The Label is the Law!!” Sounds simple enough, just follow the label and you will avoid lots of legal liability as well as avoiding misusing pesticides. I think everyone would agree that proper pesticide use is a good thing. But when we use the slogan, “The label is the law” one would assume that the label can actually be followed? Right? How can you follow a law that can’t be followed? Does that happen with labels? I think it does and it does with voles and pesticide labels.

Vole trail and burrow. Leatherman Supertool at left for scale.
Vole trail and burrow. Leatherman Supertool at left for scale.

Voles and Pesticide Labels

Let me explain. Many rodenticide labels have the following wording. “DIRECTIONS FOR USE It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. READ THIS LABEL and follow all use directions and precautions. Use only for the sites, pests, and application methods described on this label.”

This means that the FIFRA (ee) exemption does not apply. You may be wondering, “So what?” Well let’s consider the use of rodenticides for the control of voles (Microtus spp.). Most rodenticide labels list meadow vole which has the scientific name Microtus pennsylvanicus. That in an of itself is not an issue. The problem is, did you check to ensure that the voles you were poisoning were actually meadow vole? There are lots of voles out there. Meadow voles are just one species. Prairie voles, long-tailed voles, montane voles, woodland voles (formerly called pine voles) etc. all can cause damage. Don’t think for one minute that it is easy telling voles apart. The fact is for some voles the only way you are going to conclusively tell them apart is by checking the teeth. Check out in case you want to know my sources.

  • Henterly, A.C., Mabry, K.E., Solomon, N.G., Chesh, A.S. & Keane, B. 2011. Comparison of morphological versus molecular characters for discriminating between sympatric meadow and prairie voles. American Midland Naturalist 165:412-420.
  • McGuire, J.L. 2011. Identifying California Microtus species using geometric morphometrics documents Quaternary geographic range contractions. Journal of Mammalogy 92(6):1383-1394.

My point is quite simple. I think it is wrong for the EPA to mandate labels to set up applicators to violate the law. We already have enough people who break the law deliberately, we don’t need to create more lawbreakers through poor labels. I suggest that rodenticide labels should say you can control all vole species unless there are threatened and endangered vole species in that area that could be harmed. Vole damage is quite easy to identify. So why make the label so species specific?

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to [email protected] 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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Retirement planning

Stephen M. Vantassel’s vodcast, “Living the Wild Life” exhorts wildlife control operators and pest control operators to plan for retirement while they are young. Listen to the podcast at the link below.

Stephen M. Vantassel hosts a segment entitled “Living the Wildlife” on the Pest Geek Podcast.
Stephen M. Vantassel hosts a segment entitled “Living the Wildlife” on the Pest Geek Podcast.

Retirement planning

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsulta[email protected] 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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Politics & Lobbying

Most wildlife control operators (WCOs) I know hate politics and lobbying. They don’t like the compromises and the betrayals and the slow pace that it takes for political change. Unfortunately, this attitude amongst WCOs means that we are subject to the whims of the anti-WCOs. If politicians only hear one side then that is the side they will

The Nebraska state capital building at night.
Lobbying government, represented here by the Nebraska State Capital Building is essential work for WCOs.

follow. Politics and lobbying are slow. Politics and lobbying take time, inordinate amounts of time. You have to continue to make your voice heard in order to convince people to your side. 

Other actions needed for political change include joining state and national associations. Numbers matter. Large organizations have money and money is power. Not just for ads but also for people to take the time to lobby and write politicians to block and propose legislation or rules. Money allows paying someone to represent your interests before regulators and hearings. I think you get the picture. I have provided tips for low level lobbying in a previous blog. 

My podcast below goes into further details. Enjoy. 

https://pestgeekpodcast.com/podcast/animal-rights-wildlife-control-and-the-ugly-business-of-politics-stephen-vantassel/

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildl[email protected] 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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Taking Better Cell Phone Pictures

One of the tragic occurrences with pest control operators (PCOs) and wildlife control operators (WCOs) is how often they take poor photographs. So many beautiful photos and the opportunity being in the right place and the right time affords oneself, is lost due to careless mistakes with a camera. This blog post focuses on how PCOs and WCOs can go about taking better cell phone pictures.

Don’t take a cell phone photo using one hand.

The first step to taking better cell phone pictures begins with keeping your hand steady.  You probably don’t think you are doing anything wrong, because when you look at your cell phone, the picture looks clear. But if you used your fingers and zoomed in on the photo you would notice that the edges are often blurry. This is why when you send a photo to a friend and he opens the image on his computer screen the photo looks terrible. This blur often happens because we take photos with one hand and then press the button with our thumb. This creates “shake” and causes the edges of the photo to be blurred.

Here is a better way to hold a cell phone for crisper images.

Stop this shake by using two hands and being intentional, not rushed with the shot. Next keep your elbows close to your body so that the camera is held more securely as demonstrated in the photo to the left. Holding your elbows against your body reduces shake by increasing stability of the camera.

Try this method next time and you will see an incredible improvement in the clarity of your photos. With better photos you can improve the chances of making money on your photos.

 

 

 

 

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to [email protected] 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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