Structural exclusion is the industry’s first line of defense against rats.

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Techletter, a biweekly training letter for professional pest control technicians from Pinto & Associates. To subscribe, visit www.techletter.com.

The effectiveness of “pest-proofing,” or eliminating openings, for insects is often debated. But pest-proofing for larger animals such as rats has been shown to be an effective technique, especially as part of an integrated program involving other control measures.

“Rat-proofing” is a specialized version of pest-proofing. The primary purpose of rat-proofing is to keep rats out of the building (exclusion). When you have an ongoing problem with rats in an account, baiting and trapping alone may not do the job. You may find yourself simply harvesting rats that are quickly replaced by new rats moving in.

Indoor rat-proofing also can be used to control the movements of rats within a building (isolation). Sealing openings and blocking travel routes can confine rats to a certain section of a building, making them easier to control. High-risk areas, such as the loading dock, receiving or compactor room, can be physically isolated from the rest of the building.

Structural rat-proofing can be very labor intensive, depending on the size, age and condition of the building. Rat-proofing can involve everything from caulking cracks, screening vents and eaves, and sealing openings where pipes and utility lines enter, to reinforcing places where rats have gnawed, installing sweeps and metal kick plates on doors, and placing metal rodent guards on overhead pipes in commercial buildings. The work may be done by your company or by the client or by the client’s contractor. As the rodent expert, you can identify and document problem areas to be sealed and make sure that susceptible sites are protected from rat gnawing.

For private residences, attached garages of suburban homes are one of the main entry points for rodents. Although garage doors may be relatively tight when installed, rarely are they maintained in this manner on an annual basis by homeowners. Moreover, most people are not aware of the important but subtle difference between a door that is closed and a door that is closed and tight. Consider the long crevice along the base of a “closed” garage bay door.

With garage doors that are not tightly pest proofed, the crevice at the base of the door allows for the escape of attractive warm air currents during the hot summer months. Food odors produced within a residence several times daily also seep out of garage door crevices, providing yet another strong pest attraction.

It is easy for a pest professional while working inside any building to look outward at all doors for any thin line of light leaking into the home or garages from the outside. Light leaks should be shown to the client, with explanations as to the importance of pest proofing on energy losses. Certainly, pest management companies should offer services to pest proof the door and all other such areas of the home as part of a total residential IPM package.

Or PMPs can leave behind fact sheets, door hangers, website addresses, etc., explaining these aspects of rodents and human daily behavior (see related story, page 42) and the rodent-proofing services offered by their company (e.g., “Does your home need a pest vulnerability check-up? Call us!”). Such approaches not only offer excellent business opportunities but provide a valuable service to the community as well. – Bobby Corrigan

The preceding article was excerpted from the book, “Rodent Control: A Practical Guide for Pest Management Professionals” by Dr. Robert Corrigan.

SEAL CRACKS OR GAPS. You’ve heard it said that if a rat can get his head through an opening, he can get the rest of his body through, too. To truly rat-proof a building, you need to eliminate every critical opening that is larger than ¼ inch. Caulk openings beneath sinks, stoves and dishwashers. Use concrete or masonry grout to fix cracks in foundations and floors. Check roof joints and the areas where chimneys and fireplaces come through the floor from the cellar or crawlspace. Look for gaps around ground floor or below-grade windows and window wells.

REPAIR HOLES. Use strong materials such as ½-inch hardware cloth, welded wire mesh, sheet metal plates, concrete mortar, copper gauze or steel wool with expanding foam sprayed over it. It’s important to use the right materials for rat-proofing since rats can chew through wood, soft materials, plasterboard, plastic and many other materials.

SEAL OPENINGS AROUND PIPES. Plug gaps around water, gas or heat pipes. For large holes around pipes, use galvanized metal pipe chase covers, sheet metal plates, mortar, plaster of Paris or cement. Wrap pipes that run along walls with sheet metal guards that fit closely to the wall and keep rats from climbing the pipe or cable.

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO DOORS. In commercial accounts, add metal kickplates to the outside bottoms of doors, especially those leading to warehouses or food storage areas. Use 26-gauge sheet metal mounted no more than ¼ inch from the bottom of the door. Large commercial doors should close flush to the ground. In warehouses and other areas where people forget to close doors, install automatic door-closers or alarms. Exterior doors should have thresholds with weather stripping, sweeps or strip seals at the base. Garage doors and bay or delivery doors usually need new rubber gaskets at the bottom and sides. Trash chutes, laundry chutes and elevator shafts should be checked for rat access points.

CHECK VARIOUS VENT OPENINGS. Replace or rescreen stove exhaust, clothes dryer, roof, ridge-line or soffit vents. Screen vents with ½-inch woven or welded hardware cloth or special vent covers; use metal louvers on soffits. Seal space around heat registers, furnace and air conditioning ducts and attic fan openings.

When we consider human efforts to keep rodents and other pests out of buildings, it often is as much rodent denial as it is rodent exclusion. The best rodent-proofed doors using the best technology are of little value if the doors are regularly left open or ajar.

This point is most applicable for commercial facilities, where the most common points of rodent entry are through doors left open by employees. Consequently, all doors of commercial facilities — especially those associated with storing, serving or processing foods — should be fitted with automatic door closers.

In large commercial warehouses and buildings, employees often want to leave doors open to regulate temperature or increase fresh air. If this is done, heavy-duty screen inserts must be used to prevent rodent (and insect) entry. Management must implement programs that stress to all employees the importance of keeping doors closed on a daily basis. Strategically placed door and wall placards emphasizing the importance of pest denial are very effective. But placards must be kept fresh and current (e.g., a different message every four months or so).

Similar to commercial facilities, homeowner habits in residential areas are the cause of many rodent invasions. Even if a garage door is structurally sound and fits tight to the ground, it is common for people seeking fresh air in their own “nests” during the spring and summer months to leave the garage doors fully or partially open most of the day, and up until the time they go to bed at night. Consequently, rodents and insects are often permitted unimpeded entry to houses directly. — Bobby Corrigan

The preceding article was excerpted from the book, “Rodent Control: A Practical Guide for Pest Management Professionals” by Dr. Robert Corrigan.

CHECK FOR SEWER ENTRY POINTS. Check sewer outlets, repair broken sewer pipes, screen drains in basements and shower rooms with ½-inch woven or welded hardware cloth. Commercial floor drains should have a perforated metal drain cover that may need to be screwed down if rats can move it.

PAY ATTENTION TO ROOFS. Roof rats (and sometimes Norways) enter mostly near the roof line. Check attic or gable vents, utility line openings, other openings near the roof line and branches touching the roof. On flat commercial rooftops, look for gaps around headhouses, elevator shafts, pipes and utilities, air conditioning units and other roof structures. Screen rooftop ventilator openings, being careful to not restrict airflow.

The authors are well-known industry consultants and co-owners of Pinto & Associates.

How one pest control company uses its knowledge of construction practices to solve mice infestations.

Would the thought of servicing upward of 15,000 snap traps each week send shivers through your technicians? It might for some but it doesn’t faze Josh Erdman and his team at Erdye’s Pest Control, Green Bay, Wis. Erdye’s has carved out a strong position in its multi-state service area, which includes Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and eastern Minnesota, taking care of residential customers’ mice problems.

“Our goal is not to set up a monthly service schedule for mice with a client, it is to solve their problem the first time,” says Erdman, who spent 20 years in the property management and construction industries before dedicating his time and resources to pest management in 2012.

Erdman says the biggest flaw with most mouse management programs is they don’t address the root of the problem. “Not sealing a house properly will ultimately lead to other control efforts failing,” says Erdman, who estimates 60 percent of his business is dedicated to mouse control.

Following thorough property inspection protocols, Erdye’s technicians identify access points and seal openings using construction grade materials. They also set good old-fashioned snap traps — in abundance — to knock down any existing mice population. Upsell opportunities are available for remediation work — removing damaged insulation in attics, basements, crawlspaces and wall voids, and sanitizing areas infested by mice.

“My construction background provides me with knowledge of where a home’s structural weak points are located that allow mice access,” says Erdman, who conducts hands-on training with his technicians on construction practices. “We train them on what to look for and act on it.”

Another area Erdye’s differs from the competition is that it isn’t afraid to charge the customer what it takes to fix their mouse problem over the long haul and not just in the short term. The company offers a set price for the initial trapping program set up, but fees vary for exclusion and cleanout work depending on the specific needs and unique aspects of the property.

“All rodent situations are different and need to be priced accordingly,” says Erdman. “We have learned through trial and error, but at the end of the day our customers pay us to fix the problem.”

Erdye’s extensive use of snap traps — each home they service averages 35 to 60 traps depending on the size — is another trademark.

“We do not use sticky traps and we do not use bait inside because we do not want to have rodents die in wall voids and other inaccessible areas and cause additional problems and expense for customers,” says Erdman, who does deploy bait stations on the exterior to knock down the population.

Because Erdye’s technicians need access to a home’s interior to check traps, their route scheduling may not be viewed as efficient, but that is fine with Erdman. “I wouldn’t change it because we will spend the extra time and fuel it takes to get there to take care of clients to our standards,” he said.

The company’s exclusion-first approach — complemented by the investment in traps and exterior bait stations — also is dictated by the Upper Midwest’s harsh winters and its impact on homes. “Homes can change structurally with the seasons and create new opportunities for mice to gain access,” Erdman said. “That is why we start with exclusion and the results have been good for us and our customers.”

Word-of-mouth marketing, referrals, a strong, consistent social media presence, and positive online reviews also have helped Erdye’s triple the size of its mouse control business over the last three years.

“Customers get what they pay for and the reason behind our growth — hands down — is because we fix their mouse problem from the start,” adds Erdman.

When asked if this model can be replicated, Erdman says yes, if a company is willing to invest time to train technicians about construction practices and deal with non-traditional routing practices.

Source: Rodent Control: A Practical Guide For Pest Management Professionals

The author is a PCT contributing writer and can be contacted at jfenner@gie.net.

An evaluation of exclusion in pest management and how pest control companies can begin adopting exclusion methods.

(Pictured: Bobby Corrigan (right) and Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann discussing exclusion of compactor room door.)

Where is the pest management industry heading: toward concentrating on eliminating pests once they become a problem in a home or building? Or, focusing on excluding potential pests before they become a problem? Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, PhD, of the Geneva, N.Y.-based New York State IPM Program at Cornell University and leader of the working group The Scientific Coalition on Pest Exclusion (SCOPE),

presented an evaluation of exclusion in pest management, how pest control companies can begin adopting exclusion methods, and why the industry should be heading in the exclusion direction. The concept of SCOPE was pioneered by Dr. Bobby Corrigan, a founder and member of this working group.

Exclusion Explained What exactly does pest exclusion mean? Gangloff-Kaufmann describes pest exclusion as making repairs and improvements to the exterior of buildings to prevent pest entry from outside; making repairs inside to prevent pest movement from one space to another; and, altering outdoor pest habitat to eliminate harborage near buildings. “We know the pests are outside, but how can we prevent them from getting in or keep them from going from apartment to apartment?” Gangloff-Kaufmann asks. Obviously, keeping pests out of homes and buildings is common sense, she acknowledges. But it is important to recognize that exclusion work can be challenging, especially in older and adjoining structures. Over time, for example, buildings deteriorate and people create openings in structures, like such as holes for cable or internet infrastructure.

The greatest reasons to practice exclusion in pest management are for health and safety factors, including human exposure to rodenticides, pest transmission of pathogens that cause diseases and illnesses, and pest-caused structural damage. Consider the fact that rodenticide sales are steady or increasing as of 2014, shares Gangloff-Kaufmann, but despite the use of rodenticide baits, mice and rats persist, especially in urban areas. Unfortunately, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 11,000 cases of potentially hazardous exposures to rodenticides were reported in 2014. If rodents can get inside, they will get inside, and despite the use of rodenticides, and we’re not winning the battle, explains Gangloff-Kaufmann. Rodents can chew through wires and cause electrical shorts, they can undermine sidewalks, and rodent droppings are dangerous to human health, she explains.

A Reason for Exclusion: Health and Safety

Gangloff-Kaufmann explains that pest management professionals “are protectors of human property and health, and we are really obligated to do something about this.” As a result, exclusion is a good approach and solution. And, the concept is not new. Gangloff-Kauffman shares that in 1939, Dr. Hugo Hartnack, a veterinarian, researcher, and exterminator described that builders and architects need to consider “building out” pests by removing their food and shelter and creating “rat-proof buildings.”

Scoping out Exclusion In an effort to study and help promote the use of exclusion methods in the pest control industry, a new venture was formed and called The Scientific Coalition on Pest Exclusion (SCOPE). This effort was led by Bobby Corrigan, PhD, industry expert and world-renowned rodentologist. Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann assembled a group of experts focused on addressing exclusion issues in residential settings, while Steven Kells, PhD, from the University of Minnesota created a working group for industrial and commercial pest exclusion. The group worked with stakeholders in the commercial, residential, food industry, scientific, and pest management professional areas to obtain input.

The SCOPE Concept Effective pest management plans for residential, municipal, and commercial buildings should rely upon pest exclusion as a prerequisite for sustainable pest control and prevention.

The Challenge Attaining industry-wide adoption of exclusion as the “number one” pest management technique.

Current State As part of the study objectives, SCOPE also performed evaluations of the current use or non-use of exclusion in the pest management industry. Via an online Facebook group for pest management discussion, a survey was posted to obtain feedback on why pest control operators might not be using exclusion methods today. Thirty-five percent of respondents shared that their companies offer exclusion services and, that customers are not willing to pay for those services. “Customers have always devalued pest control, so we need to be better at selling these kinds of programs,” counters Gangloff-Kaufmann. Not all technicians have been trained or have the skills to perform exclusion, responded 32 percent of the survey respondents. And, fifteen percent stated that exclusion takes too much time on the job. “We need to increase technician skill level and change our formula to allow for exclusion. We know it can be very useful,” explains Gangloff-Kaufmann.

An additional fear in the pest management industry is that exclusion could potentially reduce call volume and revenue; if pests are excluded from homes and businesses, would customers continue to call pest control companies? To ease concerns, Gangloff-Kaufmann explains that the creation of cockroach and ant bait systems revolutionized the pest control industry, yet these products have not reduced the amount of work for PCOs. Plus, information to do-it-yourself for pest control solutions are widely available on the internet for homeowners. “This still hasn’t reduced the calls. We want to do a better job of pest control,” she says. “Pest management is still thriving.”

New Direction The “new school” direction in Integrated Pest Management is the shift from reactive to proactive, and a concept promoted by Bobby Corrigan. A reactive approach is when customers call pest control companies because they need help or find evidence of an infestation. A proactive approach is more about a pest management professional evaluating customers’ homes and business to determine how to fix vulnerabilities before pests invade. Reactive measures will still be required and can be performed based on need. But, rather than just reacting, the pest management industry needs to understand how the building provides entry, habitat, and opportunity for pests, explains Gangloff-Kaufmann.

Exclusion Adoption For a pest management business to adopt pest exclusion techniques, the shift in priority needs to be preventing rather than solving, explains Gangloff-Kaufmann. The pest control company needs to understand building construction and must teach technicians what to look for, such as types of openings that are important for pests, evidence of pest activity, and evaluation of potential pest harborage, such as hollow cement blocks. Technicians should always carry the right tools to make repairs. Gangloff-Kaufmann suggests sealants (rather than caulk, which does not last over time), concrete patch repair; brush or steel fiber fill door sweeps; stainless steel mesh hardware cloths and screens; copper or stainless steel fiber fillers; vent covers; and even building materials when necessary.

Temporary exclusion – with materials such as steel, copper wool, expanding foam, and caulk – is acceptable if the pest management professional plans to return to the site to follow up, Gangloff-Kaufmann explains. “Come back and do it the right way,” she says. The longer-term focus should be on materials that offer permanent exclusion, such as sealants, concrete, wood, building materials, hardware cloth, and screens.

A checklist or worksheet should be used during an initial visual inspection of a building to help track openings and broken items. Spotting pest evidence, such as feces, foot prints, tracks and rub marks is essential, and “the size of the opening matters,” states Gangloff-Kaufmann. Cockroaches, for instance, can fit into a 1.66mm opening, yellow jackets (3mm); mice (6mm flat, not round), bats (6mm), and rats (9.55mm), she explains.

In addition to exterior openings, pest management professionals need to consider interior exclusion. “Seal points of access to prevent movement of pests among rooms and floors in a building,” explains Gangloff-Kaufmann. She advises sealing cracks, crevices, baseboards, molding, and evaluating behind and under cabinets, and utility rooms. Eliminate harborage by filling in gaps and spaces where pests hide. 

Landscaping, too, is a consideration, as vines and shrubs provide food, water, and harborage for ants, termites, cockroaches, mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels, and yellowjackets. And, mulch encourages odorous house ants where they make colonies and invade structures. As a result, Gangloff-Kaufmann suggests cutting trees, shrubs, and plants twelve inches from the structure, and providing a pebble barrier around the foundation.

The Proof Is in the Pieces Per a SCOPE and Pest Cemetery Exclusion Survey conducted between November 2016 and March 2017, participants were asked “What exclusion materials do techs typically carry to job sites? (Check all that apply)” The answers were as follows:

Per Gangloff-Kaufmann, the fact that only 21% are carrying copper or steel wool and 20% sealants and caulks is not encouraging. “Not enough attention is being paid to exclusion. Even simple sealants should be more available.” she says.

The 204th longest listed company on the NYSE, Rollins, Inc. has achieved many meaningful milestones in the past 50 years.

NEW YORK — Friday, August 10, 2018 marked 50 years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange for Rollins, Inc. 

To celebrate the occasion, R. Randall Rollins, Chairman of the Board, and Henry B. Tippie, Lead Director, participated in The Closing Bell ceremony, making NYSE history of being the only two directors present for a company's initial listing and its 50th anniversary. The NYSE also honored the men by inducting them into the NYSE Hall of Innovation for their remarkable impact on the industry.   

In honor of this event, the company hosted an Analyst Day and an exhibit in Experience Square, located outside the NYSE. The exhibit featured a replica of the bicycle used for transportation during World War II  due to gasoline regulations, as well as a replica of a wagon from the same era that the company used to advertise. Several other brand representatives made appearances at the events, including the Northwest Mouse, and Tess, a bed bug-sniffing dog from Western Pest Services. 

"This is a great achievement for us. We are proud of our heritage, including remaining at the forefront of the pest control service industry since acquiring Orkin in 1964,” said Rollins. 

The 204th longest listed company on the NYSE, Rollins, Inc. has achieved many meaningful milestones in the past 50 years related to acquisitions, franchise expansion and training.  

Acquisitions In 1964, Rollins Broadcasting acquired Orkin for $62.4 million with reported sales of $37 million. In fiscal 1969, Rollins reported revenues of $106.3 million. At the end of fiscal 2017, the Company reported revenues of $1.7 billion.

In 1999, Orkin acquired Canada's leading pest control company, PCO Services, now Orkin Canada.  Since that time, the company has become the parent of 18 leading pest control brands providing termite and pest control services to commercial and residential customers worldwide.

Franchise Expansion  In 1995, Orkin established its domestic franchise program, and in 2000, Orkin launched its first international franchise. Today, Orkin has 84 international franchises represented in 55 countries.

Training Excellence In 2001, the Rollins Learning Center was developed. Its state-of-the-art interactive distance learning system reaches employees worldwide. In 2017, Training magazine recognized Rollins, Inc. for the 12th time for the quality, commitment and investment in training its employees.

Since 1968, Rollins, Inc. has grown from a few U.S. operations to a premier global consumer and commercial services company with more than 700 operations in 55 countries. 

The list was generated based on the number of mosquito services rendered by Terminix between July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018.