NPMA Shines ‘Spotlight’ on Rodenticides at Atlanta Event

ATLANTA – With rodenticides continuing to face increased regulatory scrutiny, the National Pest Management Association addressed this topic head on with its first-ever Spotlight Series event, held Feb. 4, in Atlanta.

During the course of the one-day event, sponsored by Neogen, VM Products and Veseris, members of academia and in-the-field experts shared the latest research findings, innovative rodent control strategies and regulatory developments.

Andy Architect, chief operating officer, NPMA, kicked off the event by noting that although the pest control industry is concerned about the current rodenticide registration review, history shows the industry’s ability to adapt and work cooperatively with EPA. Architect reminded that the last time EPA reviewed rodenticides (2008) the industry was able to work with EPA to implement important label changes, including extending the distance from which rodenticides can be placed from buildings from 50 feet to 100 feet and replacing the word "buildings" with the term "man-made structures."  

Claudia Riegel, director of the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB), reviewed how rodents pose significant challenges in terms of contamination of food, destruction of property, disease transmission and public health concerns. Riegel shared that NOMTRCB has been most successful with a city-wide approach that involves surveillance, sanitation, exclusion, trapping and public education. Having a deep understanding of any city’s local infrastructure, species, and socioeconomic factors greatly aids in developing a comprehensive rodent control program.

Just prior to the event, on Jan. 31, Jonathan Richardson, biology professor, University of Richmond, released a new study based on rat complaint data from 16 global cities. Richadson and his team found that about 70% of these cities have seen increasing rat populations driven by factors like climate warming, urbanization and human population density. One reason this research is important to the industry is because rats can carry various pathogens that pose public health risks, so understanding disease risks and protecting pest control workers is important. Richardson also discussed using habitat suitability modeling to predict where rats are likely to thrive in cities, which could help target control efforts. This included genetic analysis to understand rat movement patterns and monitoring for rodenticide resistance in rat populations.

Julie Tesh-Clark, PMi, Greensboro, N.C. and part of NPMA’s Public Policy team; JD Darr, senior director, public policy, National Pest Management Association; and Derrick Lastinger, Structural Pest Division Director for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, provided a policy perspective on the future of rodenticides. Tesh-Clark updated attendees on EPA’s current reregistration of rodenticides. In November 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposed interim decision (PID) on three first- generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs), four second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) and four non-anticoagulant rodenticides. Tesh-Clark noted that EPA received more than 22,000 comments on the PIDs, and one year later (November 2023) EPA released its draft Biological Evaluation (BE) for the rodenticides and the draft Rodenticide Strategy.  In November 2024, EPA released the final BE for rodenticides, which included a few changes that are positive from the perspective of the structural pest control industry: (1) The mandatory carcass removal requirements for SGARs and zinc phosphate were downgraded; and (2) a previous proposal to limit bait station placement to within five feet of man-made structures in areas with endangered or threatened mammals was revised. Exemptions were granted for highly regulated facilities (e.g., food processing facilities), where this restriction could have hindered effective rodent control. Darr discussed the role of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in pesticide registration reviews, noting how EPA is working to comply with ESA requirements. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and other groups sued EPA for noncompliance, claiming the agency was not ensuring that pesticide registrations didn't harm federally endangered species or their habitats. In response, EPA revised its process to include consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and created specific strategies for pesticide categories like rodenticides. These updates are included on Bulletins Live! Two, a web-based tool designed to help identify pesticide use limitations in endangered species' habitats. However, structural pest control professionals face challenges using this tool, particularly due to limited internet access and the need to manually check multiple job sites each day. There are calls for the tool to integrate with software used by pest control providers to streamline compliance. Despite the agency's slow response, Darr is hopeful that future changes in administration may improve the situation. Lastinger shared that state lead regulatory agencies for pest control are also impacted and concerned about enforceability and resource constraints. 

Chris Wible, senior director of technical director services, Rentokil Temrinix, presented on selling rodent control amid consumer concerns — such as safety for children and pets, and the impact of rodenticides on the environment and non-target species. These concerns can be addressed by PMPs through transparent communication, customized solutions, and an integrated pest management approach that prioritizes IPM over the reliance on rodenticides. Wible also encouraged PMPs to empower technicians to perform basic and intermediate exclusion work and to establish partnerships with commercial customers to address their unique concerns and requirements.

Douglas Gardner, Ecolab and Fred Strickland, Anticimex presented on "Performing Effective Pest Management with Limited Access to Rodenticides." Gardner shared some of the challenges faced by large commercial pest control companies, like Ecolab, when in managing rodent infestations due to changing regulations and customer demands. For example, in large distribution centers rodents can be introduced through product deliveries and spread throughout the facility. Gardner said Ecolab addresses these and other challenges by developing a comprehensive, adaptable approach to rodent management that considers the changing regulatory landscape and evolving customer requirements. Strickland explained how Anticimex uses advanced technology and data-driven approaches for managing rodent infestations. This includes utilizing digital monitoring systems, smart traps and data analysis to proactively identify and address rodent issues. Strickland shared how Anticimex used this approach to address a persistent rodent control issue at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Jim Fredericks, executive director for the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), presented on “Consumer Messaging: Tools and Strategies for Communicating about Rodent Management.” Fredericks shared data on the prevalence of rodents in homes, consumer attitudes and concerns about pests, and the industry's initiatives to educate the public through various marketing campaigns and outreach programs. Fredericks also played "Rodents Revealed," a PPMA-created video on the dangers of mice and rats. Fredericks reminded attendees that PPMA provides resources like videos, graphics, and infographics to help pest control companies communicate the public health importance of their work.