[On The Road] Real World Research

In laying the framework for the second Syngenta Rodent Research Initiative (RRI) in Orlando in December, well known industry consultant Bobby Corrigan asked participants the following question: “How would you describe human behavior in two words?” The consensus was that there was no consensus and the appropriate answer is: “It depends.”
That same answer holds true for a close relative of humans: rodents. A major reason these cryptic and complex mammals have survived so long is that no two rodents are alike. “We have several hundred years worth of studies on rodents, but what we really know about these mammals is very, very small,” Corrigan said.
Throughout the years, advancements in products and work performed by dedicated professionals in the field — and in research labs — have uncovered many answers...and led to even more questions about rodents. It’s this need for more knowledge that led Syngenta to launch the Rodent Research Initiative. Spearheading this effort for Syngenta has been senior technical representative (now retired) and leading rodentologist Dale Kaukeinen, who envisioned a forum to “bring together real-world research to address the complexities and challenges of rodent control.”
During the past year, leading pest management professionals from the United States performed rodent research. Specifically, these professionals evaluated the performance of rodent control materials such as traps, baits and bait stations in a variety of accounts and environments.

IN THE FIELD. A number of interesting findings arose from this research that provided insights not only about rodents and products, but about how the industry performs rodent work.
•  Rick Cooper, Cooper Pest Solutions, Lawrenceville, N.J., noted that there were occasions when his technicians were mistaking vole activity for rodent activity. “We need to familiarize our staff with rodent identification through analyzing signs and droppings, or doing initial trapping,” he noted.
•  Many of the participants observed the effects of mold on baits. While a bit of mold can actually enhance the attractiveness of baits, too much can adversely affect it. RRI participants agreed that the affect of mold on baits needs further study, and every company will have to decide at what point mold (or melting) makes changing the bait necessary.
•  The rodent program of Protech Termite & Pest Control, Silver Spring, Md., involves monitoring bait stations first before rodent baits are used. Protech’s Antwon Johnson told RRI participants this program has helped the company better communicate with the client and distinguish its service. Corrigan told the group, “You are going to see monitoring becoming more common and requested with rodents, just as monitoring has replaced many preventative pest treatments with insects.”
•  Colleen Cannon, Plunkett’s Pest Control, Fridley, Minn., took a look at snap trap performance, including how traps performed when they were positioned with the trigger out vs. the trigger in. Cannon said that in repeated tests the snap traps placed with the triggers in were more successful than the snap traps with the triggers out. This result was yet another research finding from the RRI that challenged traditional thinking. It appears that keeping the trigger mechanism more protected from dirt and debris may be involved, as well as requiring rodents to be positioned so they are more likely to be securely caught.
•  A future research goal expressed by many RRI participants, including Erin Monteagudo, Western Pest Services, Hollywood, Fla., is to determine if dirty bait stations are more attractive to rodents than clean bait stations. RRI participants said cases could be made for both these arguments. Corrigan and others cautioned applicators that droppings can harbor viruses and that inspectors require clean stations. “And it is better to remove droppings in a plastic bag than to just dump them beside the station,” Corrigan noted.
•  Dan Collins, formerly of Action Pest Control, Evansville, Ind., said his research showed PCOs can maximize the effectiveness of bait station placement by targeting pressure points. Collins suggested more research to look at the feasibility of one approach that Action has used, namely adding trapping stations between regular bait station placements in these high activity pressure points.
• Pat Hottel, McCloud Services, Hoffman Estates, Ill., evaluated bait stations for ease of service. She concluded that the ideal McCloud station would be a hybrid of existing stations, meaning it would fit on 15½- by 7½-inch block with no or little extension off of the block; have a ramp configuration to help keep the station dry; no lip at station entry; have a tray in bait compartment for ease in cleaning; easy opening for technicians; few nooks and crannies for webbing, etc; and a station key to fit on a traditional key ring. Recognizing that she will be limited to available commercial versions, Hottel said she found less significance in the station brand than in the technicians’ familiarity with the keys and opening procedures of particular types.
• A number of RRI participants complained about slugs. Varment Guard’s Dave Ramsey said his company has had success fending off slugs by applying a saline solution to the stations, which evaporates and leaves an effective salt layer behind to repel them.
• Some of what the pest management industry does is forced by regulations, some by tradition. Jeff Wells, Advance Pest Control, Hutchinson, Kan., noted that the industry’s use of rodenticides remains under close scrutiny by EPA because of concerns about secondary poisoning. Corrigan noted that “the days of fenceline baiting may be coming to an end,” since a number of native rodents and other small mammals can live in these areas yet rarely invade our customer’s accounts. It may be better to monitor or trap fencelines, rather than risk killing non-targets or getting toxicants into small animals that may be important food for various predators.
• Eric Snell, Snell Scientifics, updated RRI participants on a number of his research projects, including a study on whether or not rodent feces in bait stations help attract rodents. Thus far, Snell said his research showed the inclusion of rodent feces in bait stations did not significantly attract more rodents. Rats, in particular, seemed to take several days in his tests before they would enter stations, just because they seemed to represent a new and unfamiliar object in their environment.

CONCLUSION. Corrigan concluded the conference by leading a discussion about the many variables in the real world that affect rodent management. Rodent Research Initiative attendees developed a long list, which once again led Corrigan to his initial observation that “it depends” is often the best thought process in determining which products to use.

Editor’s note: Please see additional story on page 74.