[Green Pest Management] Green Rodent Management

Like thousands of other industries, the pest management industry is in the midst of the “Green Revolution.” In fact, “green pest management” now contains pest-specific components. Clients are asking about green termite control, green residential services, green warehouse pest control, etc. And the pest management industry is responding.

We are now seeing innovative rodenticide formulations and lower concentrations of actives in baits, new monitoring and tracking baits, and perhaps more humane traps, and options for even live trapping and removal services. Trendy or not, the green revolution and the market for “going green” has pushed the pest management industry to think differently and more aggressively for a less chemical footprint than had IPM. The next decade should prove to be even more exciting as it’s obvious the green market is only going to increase. The purpose of this article is to discuss green rodent management programs (GRMPs).

Green vs. IPM: Any difference? Actually, green pest management is quite similar in principle and in procedures to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In fact, IPM is inherently a green approach. But, as Victor Hugo, the famous writer and activist stated a century ago, “There’s no stopping an idea whose time has come.” And green definitely has come of age.

There are two broad issues at play in green vs. IPM. First, despite academia’s and industry’s best efforts the past two decades, the concept of IPM has always had difficulty getting traction with the public. Most pest management professionals “get” IPM, but most of our clients do not. They do, however, “get” the concept of “green.” They can appreciate the general concept of being environmentally friendly and leaving “small footprints” — especially with the extensive media coverage of “green” during the past decade.

Secondly, and relative to rodents specifically, maximizing a “humane” approach when dealing with other mammals, seems to be increasingly important to the public on a global scale.

Key Points of GRMP. So what can the pest management industry offer commercial and residential clients requesting green rodent management services? Well, like other colors, green can vary in its shades. Green can range from a dark forest green, (i.e., leaving the smallest human footprint), to the other end of the spectrum, perhaps lime green. Realistically, and at least at this time, some large-scale commercial facilities simply may not be able to implement a forest green effort because of operations, or because of a facility’s location (also see “It’s not easy being green” on page 96).
Here are a few tips, tools and key points for green rodent management approaches for both residential and commercial facilities:

1. Pest proofing and sanitation are the prerequisites for green pest management programs. Obviously, if rodents cannot get into our human buildings in the first place, then there is no need for pesticides or lethal traps. This is especially applicable for residential clients (see Figure 2 on page 91). But, pest exclusion is not always easy — especially for some large industrial accounts. Moreover, rodents can come directly through delivery doors within boxes and other supplies. Nevertheless, new technologies are emerging that allow for easier and more advanced ways of rodent proofing buildings and around various types of penetrations into buildings. (See related article on page 94.)
2. The use of rodenticide baits, when necessary, is not anti-green. But green pest management programs indicate that baits be installed only when and where professional inspections have demonstrated that rodents are actually present, or the presence is likely in the near future. In other words, a “yardstick” approach of installing bait stations around room perimeters or exterior walls at measured distances is a common pesticide application that, in fact, leaves a very significant footprint (see Figure 1 on page 82).
3.  When baits are applied, dosages should match the level of the infestations. For example, for exterior rat infestations, several bait labels state a dosage rate of 4 to 16 ounces at approximately 15 to 30 feet spacings. It is up to the pest professional, based on situation analysis of the infestation, to decide the appropriate dosage. For light infestations, 4 ounces of bait at the farther spacings, is obviously the lesser footprint.
4.  In the accounts where possible secondary hazards exist to non-targets (e.g., hawks, owls, fox, coyotes, companion animals, etc.), extra efforts can be taken. Non-chemical approaches can be employed such as trap stations. But even greener still, would be to earnestly attempt to eliminate those conditions causing rodents to be utilizing the area in the first place. Then, if baits still must be used, those baits with the lowest secondary toxicity levels, and those formulations with the lowest secondary hazards to non-targets can be employed. For example, block bait formulations are appropriate for securement on rods within tamper-resistant bait stations, but not for tossing individually into rat burrows. Loose pellet formulations are appropriate for deep loose installment into burrows but are not appropriate as loose baits within bait stations.
5. For large commercial facilities such as industrial warehouses, food-manufacturing plants, office complex parking lots, etc., multiple, repeating bait stations at yard-stick measurements can be reduced or, even for some areas, be avoided where property fence rows adjoin fields, wooded areas or other undeveloped natural areas.
6. For the commercial facilities previously mentioned (and others), various exterior areas can be monitored for rodents using non-toxic bait blocks. The new Detex with bio-monitoring tracers (see related story on page 96), now offers an additional tool of being able to track the activity and path of exterior rodents around sensitive facilities. Conventional rodenticide baits or kill traps can then be substituted should pest activity that actually threatens a facility or a product develop. Such non-toxic monitoring blocks have particular green value in sensitive facilities such as zoological gardens, city parks, animal-rearing facilities, etc.
7. When quick control of a minor mouse infestation is necessary, multiple catch live traps or quick-kill traps (e.g., electrocution traps, snap traps) can be employed by the pest professional (see figure 3, page 96).
8. Bio-centric clients (which now include some very large corporations) may insist on the use of live trap and removal programs for any pest mice in or around their buildings. Multiple catch traps (e.g., the Tin Cat-style trap) and customized single catch mouse traps exist and they can be used for these forest green services. To maximize survival of captured mice, live traps must contain some foods (e.g., a few kibbles of dog food), a slice of apple and a few paper towels. The towels are important to protect the small mammal against hypothermia and general trap stress. Live traps must be checked daily by the client or by the pest professional.
9. Some clients misunderstand the complexity of the “be kind to other animals” approaches (i.e., high green). For example, live trapping and removal of a few mice in a store or an office is usually at least an option. But live trap and release will be an area- and time-of-year dependant issue. (For more on this topic refer to the December 1997 issue of PCT and a future Vertebrate Pests column.)
10. As previously discussed, “green” can vary in shades. But tossing loose bait packs and bait blocks into walls, false ceilings, cubicle base voids, behind appliances or applying tracking powders into these types of voids and areas in apartment buildings, office towers, shopping malls and the like without any intention of retrieving these pesticides is potentially hazardous and unprofessional. Green is not exactly the environmental color of such practices.

It’s not easy being green. Yes, we are in a green revolution. And whenever possible, it makes good sense for us to be considerate of our own nest. History has taught us that whether we realize it or not, when we kill or impact other animals, including pest species, we can also and inadvertently hurt ourselves. Nevertheless, as Kermit the Frog used to remind us, “It’s not always easy being green.”

People whom have not had any negative experiences with rodents or other wild animals can easily perceive an invading mouse as a small, cute, “little fella,” who has lost his way. They may not realize that regardless of its size and its direction, the mouse is still a wild mammal. And with wild mammals, it is not uncommon for situations to occur when green approaches may not be possible, or even wise. A rat loose in a school; a squirrel in an attic or crawlspace containing electrical and/or gas lines; stowaway mice arriving inside a delivery box at the local supermarket where people buy the foods they will later be eating — these are but a few easy-to-conceive examples of pests threatening human health or safety

The biocentric homeowner or office worker wanting to be green by live-trapping and relocating the mice infesting their kitchen or office should realize that although this approach is an option, it may take longer and possibly be much less effective. This may mean additional days and nights for the wild animal(s) to deposit urine, feces, hair, saliva and possibly ectoparasites where ever and on whatever (foods, food containers, furniture, desks, food preparation surfaces, utensil drawers, toys, etc.). Is allowing a wild rodent to exist within people’s work spaces and houses for even one day longer than necessary green? Or, some other color?

The author is president of RMC Consulting, Richmond, Ind. and can be reached via e-mail at
rcorrigan@giemedia.com

*****

New Bait Helps Monitor Rodent Activity

Bell Laboratories this month introduces its non-toxic Detex Blox now with Biomarker, a non-toxic substance that aids monitoring by making rodent droppings glow under black light.

The special additive, visible only under black light, makes it easy to detect and identify rodent feces, the company reports. Droppings from rodents that have consumed Detex with Biomarker appear normal color under regular light but glow bright neon green under black light.

New Detex Biomarker is designed for monitoring rodent activity in schools, food warehouses and other sensitive accounts, according to Bell Laboratories. Under black light, the “glowing” droppings make it easier to track rodent movement and identify rodent harborage and nesting areas. Pre-baiting with non-toxic Detex also ensure ready acceptance when bait is substituted, Bell says.

With Detex Biomarker, droppings containing biomarker are easier to locate and help PMPs identify the specific species and size of the infestation, Bell Labs reports. Rodent runways are easier to identify and active burrows become visible under black light.

*****

Mice Infesting Cooler and Freezer Boxes?

The following procedures are recommended for eliminating rodents that have nested inside insulated walls of food cooler and freezer boxes:
1. Limit all foods via sanitation or temporarily remove food from the cooler or freezer box and surrounding exterior. Foraging rodents that notice the food supply has suddenly disappeared will respond well to foods used to bait traps.
2. The same foods that the mice were eating prior to the cleanup should be used as the bait for the snap traps of multiple-catch traps (placing the bait in their entrances).
3. If multiple-catch curiosity traps are used, pieces of paper toweling can be placed partially into the entranceway of the traps. Mice in coolers often respond well to soft warm nesting materials. Mice will sometimes enter these holes when they encounter nesting materials.
4. If the entrances of the mice into the cooler/freezer walls can be found, these holes can be treated with a nonresidual flushing agent as is done to inspect for the presence of insect pests. Often this causes infesting mice to evacuate the wall. The area surrounding the hole can be surrounded with rat-sized glue traps just prior to inspecting with the flushing agent. Any infested mice will become captured as they exit.
5. The same holes can be surrounded with double sets of mousetraps and left in place for mice as they exit from these holes to go foraging.
6. Once the mice in walls have been eliminated, the holes must be sealed closed using high-quality sealants.
7. If mechanical snap traps are used inside coolers and freezers, the traps should be exposed to the cold temperatures before being set. Otherwise, they may set off prematurely from the temperature change.
8. Tracking powders should never be applied into these walls (or anywhere else in a food-handling establishment) as the rodents can track the toxicant onto nearby stored and often exposed chilled or frozen foods or food storage surfaces.

This article was adapted from Rodent Control: A Practical Guide for Pest Management Professionals by Bobby Corrigan. To order, visit www.pctonline.com.