[Back Talk]

Creative Cover
Super job on the “Unwelcome Tourists” article in the October issue of PCT. It was very thorough! The cover cartoon of the invaders with suitcases is very cool. I like that a lot. Is there any chance of getting a copy of the cover to use in talks? The image will be perfect for a PowerPoint presentation and the audience will get a kick out of the cartoon.

Mark S. Hoddle, Ph.D.
Department of Entomology
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, Calif.

Editor’s note: We sent Dr. Hoddle a PDF of the October cover. If you’d like a copy of the cover, just drop us a line at jdorsch@giemedia.com.

Learning From Lifts Article
Great article on lifts and wildlife control by Scott McNeely (“Using Lifts for Wildlife Services,” September PCT). After years of struggling with ladders, ridge hooks, ropes and climbing gear we started renting equipment for the taller jobs.

We rented lots of types of equipment (and still rent larger 130-foot lifts for extreme jobs), but last year we purchased a used 50-foot self-driving articulating lift after many years of renting the same types of equipment. Purchasing isn’t for everyone, but if you are constantly renting or not quoting jobs/losing jobs due to high rental prices, buying your own equipment might be right. We are the only wildlife firm in New Hampshire capable of five-story work. News travels fast about your services, and quotes are accepted even faster when you offer pictures of your own equipment you will be utilizing. Realtors and property managers take notice when driving past you on the highway with your own lifts.

I wish this article had come out five years ago when we started renting equipment. It could have saved some aggravation, but we all have wisdom learned from mistakes. Again, great article. Hopefully it will save some readers some aggravation in their future lift-renting needs.

Jesse Fraser
Critter Control of New Hampshire
Merrimack, N.H.

Readers are invited to send letters to jdorsch@giemedia.com. Comments may be edited for space or clarity.