EPA released a revision to its 2008 Risk Mitigation Decision for Ten Rodenticides, relating to the “50 foot restriction” on professional use products.
NPMA and the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) today received notice from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of notable changes to rodenticide labels, revisions NPMA and ASPCRO worked on with Agency officials in the last several months and that provide additional, much needed flexibility for PMPs to manage rodent infestations. Specifically, the new label language:
• Extends the distance from which rodenticides can be placed from buildings from 50 feet to 100 feet and replace the word “building” with the term “man-made structures” (The phrase “man-made structures” is broadly defined, however, it expressly excludes “fence and perimeter baiting, beyond 100 from a structure…”).
• Permits the use of first-generation anticoagulant and non-anticoagulant professional products to treat burrows that are further than 100 feet from buildings and man-made structures.
These changes will begin appearing on rodenticide labels in the coming months. As always, PMPs should read all product labels very carefully, especially rodenticide labels, since there will be three very different labels in the marketplace.
House mice are so small and they can gain entry into homes and other buildings easier than rats. As a result, house mouse infestations are probably 10 to 20 times more common than rat infestations in homes. Effective control involves sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction. While sanitation and exclusion are preventive measures when a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction such as trapping or baiting is often required.
A key to successful long-term mouse control is limiting shelter and food sources wherever possible. Trapping works well, especially when a sufficient number of traps are placed in strategic locations. Trapping also can be used as a follow-up measure after a baiting program. When considering a baiting program, decide if the presence of dead mice will cause an odor or sanitation problem. If so, trapping may be the best approach. After removing mice, take steps to exclude them so that the problem doesn’t recur.
If you reside in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and mice have entered your residence, contact JP McHale Pest Management.
A rodent commonly known as the African crested rat has always been understood to be poisonous, but until recently, the reasoning was unknown. It turns out this rat is much more intelligent than it is credited for; it slathers poison from tree bark onto its specially designed hairs to protect itself from predators.
The African crested rat has hairs on certain areas of its body which predators are inclined to attack first, based on coloring. These areas are ones in which the rat lathers up with the poison from the bark!
These tactics are sure to work; if the predator is not killed, it is harmed enough that it will be sure to remember the incident an steer clear of future encounters!
An Arizona woman has taken animal hoarding to a whole new level. She’s not interested in cats or dogs, but rather thousands of rats, cockroaches and tarantulas. The woman referred to her roommates as family, and it bothered her neighbors to no end.
The house has been lost to foreclosure, but for all we know the woman could have relocated to a new area to resume her animal hoarding lifestyle. If you have a neighbor who lives this type of lifestyle, don’t be afraid to speak up! Once this woman’s house was foreclosed upon, it was “…gutted and thoroughly cleaned” proving that there is hope of reviving your neighborhood to its sanitary self.
The Sarasota Golf Course in Sarasota, Florida reported a non-native rodent making a home for itself on one of their courses.
The Prairie Dog is native to the west side of the Mississippi and usually inhabits grassland areas. The visitors of the golf course were pleasantly surprised by the new tenant, and he has won them over with his friendly personality.
The golf course has no plan to relocate the rodent, and has decided to name him…Mulligan and Putter are the top two choices! The workers have stated that they will not uproot their friend unless they suspect his safety to be in danger.
We hope he is cozy down there at his new residence!
Have you come across any wildlife at your preferred golf course? Share your stories with us!
The Times of India reported severe damage to their most sacred Hindu temple, Pashupatinath. The damage was inflicted by mice and the structure is said to be in jeopardy of collapse if action is not taken immediately.
The temple is said to have been built in 1459 AD and reportedly renovated twice since then. The temple walls are coated in silver, but the wood beneath it is being gnawed away by the mice infestation. The pillars surrounded by gold and copper are thought to be hollowed out, and thousands of mice scurry around interrupting prayer. What pests!
Mice chew their way through wood and other materials in order to keep the length of their teeth under control to prevent starvation. These rodents have caused extreme damage to this sacred temple all to keep themselves well fed!
Pests do not consider others, such as home and business owners or religious followers when they want infest a cozy place.
Most people are concerned with cleanliness (or lack thereof!) when mice infestation is upon them, but many don’t think of the physical damage that can be done. It is very important to be on the lookout for these pests because their damage can cost you!
According to the Wall Street Journal, the EPA is on track to ban various rat and mice pellet poisons. Although many consumers swear by these over-the-counter products, and merchants profit from their sales, this decision holds great promise for protection of families and businesses.
These products are sold in pellet form that can result in spillage around the area. In addition, if the rodents are not hungry, they store the pellets in walls and other areas for future consumption.
The storage of these materials in other areascan result in children and pets coming in contact with them which can result in harmful non-target exposure.
These stored products leave room for other potential pest problems. When the stored products are left in walls, etc. throughout a home or business, the wet rodent bait becomes a breeding and gather area for other pests and insects.
Who wants greater activity of unwanted pests? You probably don’t!
The ban of these pellet poisons could be a positive move on behalf of the EPA.
Here at JP McHale Pest Management Inc., we use a block form of this product which extinguishes the ability for mice and rats to relocate the material. The block is concealed in a bait station which forces the rodents to feed at the site and eliminates the possibility for storage in other areas. The banning of the alternate pellet form could decrease negative effects you may encounter through use of the product in your home or place of business!
We encounter a wide variety of pests year-round, but our customers’ phone calls have provided us with a list of the top 5 pests they are encountering right now.
Be on the look-out for any of these pests…they’re proving to be fairly popular right now!
1. Carpenter Ants: One of the largest ant types, typically seen in black. Although they do not eat, they hollow out wood which can inflict severe damage to your home. They are attracted to areas that include moisture and rotting wood. Be sure to follow our do-it-yourself methods to protect your home or business from these crawling insects.
2. Carpenter Bees: Similar in action to carpenter ants, carpenter bees hollow out wooded areas such as the structure of your home, playgrounds, or decks. Take action against these flying pests before they cause a great economic strain on you and your family.
3. Stink Bugs: That’s right, they do smell! Stink bugs have scent glands which release an unpleasant odor. Once these pests have made their way into your home, they tend to help themselves to your fruits or vegetables you may have out on the counter. If you come across a stink bug, make a point to find the entry way to prohibit future visitors. If you are unable to locate the entry point right away, conceal all fruits and vegetables for the time being so these pests do not eat them before you get the chance to!
4. Yellow Jackets: Although sometimes called underground bees, these are actually a type of wasp that become easily agitated when the nose from above disturbs their underground nesting place. Underground bees reuse burrows or holes from moles or mice to build their nests. They are distinguishable from other yellow jackets by size…they are much smaller, but still as mighty!
5. Mice: A pest that is bothersome year-round, but we are currently receiving mass phone calls to help combat them! Mice do not cause much physical damage, but they spread various diseases such as Salmonella and tapeworm through the droppings they leave behind. Make sure to implement proper sanitation methods in your home or place of business to decrease activity levels of these rodents.
A few days ago, CBS news as well as other major news hubs began showing this video of a rat that was spotted on a NYC subway. The rat crawls around and eventually climbs up a sleeping passenger’s legs and onto his face! This video went viral on YouTube and now you can even buy clothing because of this incident! The MTA repeatedly tells us that they do a lot of rodent control in the subway system. Clearly they do not do enough. Watch below and let us know what you think.
As many New Yorkers can tell the temperature is falling drastically and it’s time to start turning up the heat as well as grabbing the jackets, hats & gloves. While in these winter months household will see a decrease in summer pests such as wasps, carpenter ants and mosquitoes, there will be an increase in rodent activity such as rats and mice in homes.
Mice and rats are always looking for a warm place to live, and homes especially in Westchester County are a perfect area for them to live. These little critters can fit through holes and crevasses ¼” small! It is imperative that these be sealed, so rodents cannot enter in the winter months. Garages and attics are the most common entrances and must be inspected on a yearly basis. The two pictures below are examples of do it yourself sealers to keep rodents out of your garage.
For current customers on our Home Pest Prevention plan, we will come out and prepare your home for the winter to keep these rodents out of your home. Please note, many times we receive calls here about a “scratching” in attics. Many times this is a squirrel or other type of wildlife. JP McHale Pest Management is not licensed to deal with wildlife. Please call our customer service representatives to assist you in determining your pest problem at (800) 479-2284 or live chat with us!
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