Antimite's Anti-Rodent Policy

Effective rodent control begins with a system to create unfriendly environments for rodents, also known as an integrated pest management (IPM) program. Antimite, an IPM-based pest control company based in Southern California, guarantees its technicians make unfriendly environments top priority by training them in the entire process of pest control management. Founded in 1941, Antimite has 10 branch locations providing structural and household pest control services. The company is based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Under the direction of technical training director Dave Taylor, the training and technical department concentrates on preparing inspectors and technicians in all the company’s pest control services. “Even if a technician or inspector is not licensed to perform rodent control services, he is able to recognize a problem situation,” Taylor explained. “If a termite technician notices signs of a rodent problem, he is capable of referring the customer to a household pest technician who can evaluate the site thoroughly.” A board-certified entomologist with the Entomological Society of America, Taylor is also responsible for checking that employees in the field are in compliance with state regulations, including the proper labeling and placement of bait stations.

IMPLEMENTING AN IPM PROGRAM. Depending on the season, about 100 of the company’s 280 employees are technicians providing rodent control services. Antimite technicians are trained to cover all the elements of an IPM program. First the situation is inspected, findings reported, and problems identified. Antimite technicians are trained to think multi-dimensionally when dealing with a rodent problem. Signs of Norway rats are usually found on the ground and inside objects, while roof rats leave clues from ground level to the rafters.

Food preferences and droppings are keys to detecting the different types of rodents. Roof rats eat fruits, vegetables, seeds and ivy, but Norway rats eat foods containing protein. Knowing the types of rats present helps select the correct tools and techniques to eliminate them.

Once the specific rodent problem is identified, options are discussed with clients. Antimite considers educating the customer part of its IPM responsibility. Technicians need the client’s cooperation regarding sanitation practices to relieve problems. Daily cleanup of food debris and water spills is an important process for pest prevention, Taylor points out.

Technicians often face a challenge convincing clients to participate in the next step: exclusion. Proofing the structure for rodents is recommended by plugging up holes, patching, screening and venting with rodent barriers. The goal is to exclude mice and rats from the structure. Rodents can be trapped to wipe out the population inside, but without exclusion, new rodents will continuously enter the structure. The cycle cannot be stopped without the client’s cooperation.

Part of educating the customer is outlining the benefits of the integrated pest management system. “When it’s explained in a biological sense, clients begin to understand that we can clean up now, but other pests still move in,” said Taylor. “The process may cost a little more, but with exclusion we have better control inside, eliminating a continuous battle as rodents enter the structure. If exclusion is done properly, and trapping with mechanical, snap traps or glueboards is thorough, we can control the population inside.”

With almost 20 years of experience in the pest control field, Taylor encourages technicians to use the Commensal Rodent Facts booklets distributed by LiphaTech to convince customers of the importance of exclusion. “The fact that sanitation and exclusion are mentioned in the booklet adds impact because customers see that technicians are not just attempting to make a sale. These are tools that really support our efforts,” remarked Taylor. “Often customers don’t know if they’re being taken advantage of, so using the booklet sets us apart from other companies that make recommendations without explanations.”

If the population inside can’t be controlled with trapping, baits are used. For baiting situations, Antimite has used Maki by LiphaTech for the last seven years. “The single-feed characteristic means one dose is enough to affect the rodent,” Taylor explained. “Plus good bait acceptance means technicians don’t spend much time in the field.”

Serving the community of Southern California has its own challenges. Antimite technicians deal with a balanced degree of mice and rat infestations in diverse settings ranging from city to rural areas, homes to manufacturing businesses, and the moist atmosphere of coastal communities to the dry air of the desert. The company works primarily with residential communities, such as condominiums and apartment complexes; but also serves commercial businesses, such as industrial complexes, supermarkets, strip malls, schools, hospitals and cemeteries.

“The bait stands up to all the rough, moist, unsanitary conditions we put it in. Since Maki is used for both residential and commercial areas, and works on both rats and mice, we don’t have to stock several different kinds of bait,” said Taylor. “Because of our concentration on safety, the availability of the Vitamin K antidote to Maki is very important.”

A CONCENTRATION ON SAFETY. Technicians and office staff at Antimite attend regular safety meetings covering topics on everything from the use of certain pesticides to electrical safety and driving safety depending on the appropriate season. For example, fall and early winter marks the beginning of the rodent season, so meetings may include information on inspections, bait placement, rodent-proofing and signs of rodent activity.

Integrated Pest Management is the key to success for today’s PCOs. For Antimite, thorough training in IPM methods, from inspection and identification to training and baiting, has influenced how each of the company’s technicians approaches pest control, resulting in satisfied customers and superior long-term results.

Ann Wells is a freelance writer based in Milwaukee, Wis.