[Case Study] Wichita Zoo Goes 'Ape' Over Termite Bait Solution

Imagine, for a moment, one of the most sensitive environments for pest control treatment and products. While there are many challenging environments for pest management professionals, the delicate ecosystems created in a zoo present high stakes for those involved in preserving the health and well being of animals and their environment.

Juggling that delicate balance has been an exciting challenge for those involved in treating termites at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kan. The nationally renowned zoo — which features more than 2,500 animals, 500 species and a newly completed gorilla forest — also features a wide variety of tempting wood environments for termites. From the railroad ties in the jungle building to the mulch that lines various pathways, the zoo presents prime feeding ground for termites. The 24,000-square-foot jungle building, for example, is filled with soil, plants, water enclosures and wood limbs and stumps recreating a natural environment indoors.

"We have to be enormously careful with all pest control treatments," explains lead zoo veterinarian Dr. William Bryant. "Animals drink the water, birds feed on insects — the food chain and environmental issues are in full play. We have an enormous responsibility to our animals, our visitors and our donors to use the utmost care."

A big step in that direction came when the zoo’s pest management company, Granpa’s Pest Control, recently recommended the use of the Advance Termite Bait System, developed by Whitmire Micro-Gen. (See story at right.)

MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Various areas of the zoo have had tough and sometimes costly battles with termites, including the Amphibian and Reptile Building, the jungle and the veterinary hospital.

Over the past 22 years, the zoo experimented with various liquid treatment methods. But Bryant said he preferred the insect growth regulator method of Advance™ Termite Bait System over using liquids. Avoiding groundwater contamination was of utmost importance along with minimizing disruption and avoiding dust created when drilling.

Bryant added that from a purely economical standpoint, it is more cost-effective for the zoo to invest in termite prevention efforts rather than the high costs associated with repairing termite damage.

The initial phase of the Advance Termite Bait System rollout included the installation of 30 stations around the four-year-old veterinary building in March 2004. Within the first two weeks, five of the stations showed termite hits.

"By nature, termites are everywhere in the zoo, and this certainly proves it. The effort is really about termite control versus termite eradication — which is impossible given the circumstances," says Dave Hill, owner of Wichita-based Gran-pa’s Pest Control. "I’m very encouraged by the results and feel like we’ve found a product that is effective for all areas of the zoo."

Based on the results of the trial phase, the zoo will be phasing in installation of about 2,500 Advance Termite Bait System stations throughout the zoo’s 110 developed acres, starting with the newly opened Downing Gorilla Forest.

Hill says the zoo is the toughest environment he’s ever had to treat. Due to the zoo’s rigorous safety requirements, he must provide Bryant with detailed information on active ingredients and their effect on a wide variety of animal species. The two communicate frequently during Hill’s regular visits to the zoo grounds in order to be absolutely sure their pest control efforts are as effective as possible.

"The Advance Termite Bait System is a great solution for a lot of our concerns —not to mention its effectiveness," Bryant says. "As we continue to phase in the product, we will enjoy a more well-managed termite environment that saves the zoo time and money."