Category: Pest Control

A Beginner’s Guide to Pest Control Business Start Up

Market research: Is Pest Control business start-up worth the effort?

Before you dive into the Pest Control business start up process, you’d better make sure it’s worth the payoff is worth the buy-in!

Fortunately, the Pest Control industry is thriving. Recent findings by Specialty Consultants Research indicate that the U.S. structural pest control market generated $8.175-billion in service revenue in 2016. And now experts are predicted that this sum will surpass $10-billion next year!

In fact, all Pest Control services are seeing a spike in demand:

Bed bug service revenue increased by 6.6% compared to last year, bringing total service revenue up to $611.2 million;

Mosquito control services were among the fastest-growing segments in 2016, with residential barrier treatments up 12.6% since 2016;

Service revenue from controlling rats and mice in commercial and residential accounts increased to more than $800-million.

You can get the full industry report here. But suffice to say, the time is right to launch your Pest Control business!

Learning the trade

Once you’ve decided that Pest Control business start up is worth the effort, it’s time to start fleshing out your skills and expertise. This step can be a huge headache for self-starters, particularly those with no previous experience in the field. How do you proceed? Should you bite the bullet and fork over tuition for a 4-year Bachelor of Science? How can you be sure that the certification courses you’ve found teach you all you need to know?

Financing your Pest Control business start-up

You have to spend money to make money, right? As is the case with any other business, you’ll need to get your pest control business start-up funded ASAP. But unlike most businesses, pest control business start up won’t cost an arm and a leg.

How to control pests in health care facilities

Health facilities professionals managing hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical care centers and physical or mental rehabilitation facilities, face many challenges to ensure that they meet the highest level of sanitation while caring for sensitive population

Because pests pose a number of health threats through the spread of bacteria and contamination of surfaces, medical supplies and equipment, ensuring that the facility remains pest-free is one of these challenges.

As the size of a facility increases, so do the risk factors for pest infestations — larger kitchens, more food being served, more bathrooms and more visitors, among others. Other factors include the condition of the populations housed within the facilities and the organizational complexity of decision-makers.

Risks of entry

Health facility pest problems can occur because of pests that enter from the immediate surroundings; those that are within the structure; and those that are brought into the facility by visitors or staff via clothing, food, flowers or other items. While it may be difficult to stem the entry of pests by visitors, educating all staff about prevention within the facility can reduce problems.

First and foremost, facilities professionals must implement exclusion steps to stop pests from entering via the immediate surroundings. For example, facility entry doors should be closed at all times and should be designed to reduce or prevent entry of flying pests. Likewise, windows should be properly screened and utility openings properly closed off to prevent entry points.

Cotton Pest Management Guide

The Cotton Pest Management Guide 2020-21 is the industry’s premium resource for insect, mite and weed control, disease prevention, biosecurity and spray application information. The Guide builds on the wealth of knowledge from research the cotton industry has undertaken since the publication first began in the 1980s and is an important tool for growers, agronomists and consultants alike

Importantly, when it comes to protecting the crop, growers are not alone – insects, weeds and diseases do not respect farm boundaries, so it’s important that the industry works together to manage pests.

The Cotton Pest Management Guide is published by and the industry’s joint CottonInfo team and is updated each year to incorporate the latest research and development findings and consistent improvements in industry best practice. This year, we continue our partnership with our fellow key industry organisation,

on the development of the Guide. This partnership involves a review of the Guide by a CCA Technical Review Panel, providing technical expertise to ensure it remains as useful as possible for both growers and consultants.

Pest Control

This guide brings together the varied and multiple skills and activities required of pest control practitioners, including biology, chemistry, architecture, engineering, sales, logistics, legal and accounting, presented with a primary emphasis on pest organisms at its core. This book provides information and tips on all of these aspects and: explores the business of controlling pests (including trends in the industry, pest control tools, and sustainable pest control)

covers biological information on each pest in addition to information on control and management, monitoring and follow-up; focusses particularly on globally significant pests with internationally-applicable use and guidance; and provides practical and hands-on experience, drawing on original case studies

This is a key resource for pest control practitioners, as well as in-house staff of companies or buildings involved in household or urban pest control. It is also a valuable reference for researchers, and sanitation and building managers.

The Landlord and Tenant Guide to Pest Management

Property Managers and Landlords

While routine pest management may be an integral part of maintaining rental property, landlords and property managers should be aware that their use of pesticide is regulated by the State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL Article 33 §33-0905). When landlords and property managers become aware of a pest infestation, the first thought may be to exterminate the pests. However, the Environmental Conservation Law says that a person may only apply pesticides to the individual dwelling unit (e.g., house or apartment) in which they reside, unless they are a certified commercial applicator.

A landlord can treat property that is occupied by a tenant, only if (s)he is a certified commercial pesticide applicator. Pesticide applications should not be done in an occupied dwelling unit by an unlicensed landlord, property manager, or building superintendent. To obtain information on becoming a certified applicator, refer to the section entitled

This requirement applies to the use of any pesticide, including general use products and restricted use pesticides.

Managers and landlords can take steps to minimize the use of pesticides and comply with environmental laws

Inspect the property often. This will help you identify what, where and why pests are active and determine how to fix the problem.

Treat the property. Pesticides should be used only as a last resort. If non-toxic methods fail or are impractical, use a pesticide that is effective for the intended pest and least likely to affect people and pets. Only trained and qualified specialists should handle or apply pesticides.

Monitor and Evaluate the property for pests to ensure that once actions are taken or an area is treated, the pests do not return.

Tenants

The Environmental Conservation Law says that tenants may treat their own living space with a general use pesticide, but may not apply a product in common living areas (e.g. hallways, doorways, or stairwells in multi-unit housing).

If a pesticide is used, always:

Read the label first.

Product labels contain important instructions on proper application and the amount to use. Applying more than the recommended amount is dangerous and illegal, and does not improve results.

Buy only pesticides that have an EPA Registration Number on the label and are in their original container.

Never purchase pesticides from street vendors. They may be dangerous and illegal. Some illegal pesticides appeal to children because they resemble candy or other familiar objects. A child may eat or touch the product and get sick.

Never transfer the contents of a pesticide product into another container.

This can lead to accidental ingestion.

Choose a pesticide that is specific for the pest you have.

If the label indicates that a product should be used outdoors, it should never be used indoors. If a product is designated for crawling insects, it should not be used on flying insects.

Types of Squirrel Species to Hunt

Fox squirrels and gray squirrels are the two species that absorb most of the hunting pressure. The fox squirrel is found throughout much of the eastern two-thirds of the country, though there are large swaths of territory in this range, most notably in the Northeast, they don’t inhabit. Grays range from the Atlantic Ocean to Texas and North Dakota, and along the West Coast and part of Arizona.

Grays are agile, streamlined squirrels weighing 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. Fox squirrels are chunky and squat, slower moving, and usually much larger, weighing up to 3 pounds. Both species may occupy the same areas, but fox squirrels are typically found in more open woods, usually near the forest edge. Grays prefer dense stands of trees in deeper woods.

The species also differ in activity periods. Grays are most active at first light; fox squirrels arise a bit later. Hunters should be in gray squirrel woods at dawn and hunt the first two hours for best results. The third Squirrel – grayhour is somewhat productive, but midday usually offers poor hunting. A little activity can be expected most of the afternoon, but there’s no worthwhile peak.

When hunting strictly for fox squirrels, you can stay in bed an hour later and find best results the second and third hour after sunrise. The first hour is OK, but again, afternoon activity is minimal. Top hunting in woods harboring both fox and gray squirrels is during the first three hours of daylight.

Squirrel Hunting Methods

One of the best things about squirrel hunting is it is relatively simple to do and it doesn’t require a lot of equipment to get started.  Knowing where to go and what to look for is half of the battle, and having a few simple items can help keep you comfortable and in the game this squirrel season.

The first thing that you need to know is that there are really two main ways to effectively hunt squirrels.

Passive Squirrel Hunting – You can passively hunt them, which typically involves going to an area that has plenty of food and plenty of nest trees and sitting in wait for the squirrels to show themselves. Passively hunting squirrels is very similar to sitting on stand in wait of that big buck.  It can be very relaxing and productive if you are in the right location.  Often, when passively hunting squirrels utilizing a squirrel call, like Knight and Hale’s 4 in 1 is very effective and can help draw the squirrels out into view or trigger a call back and give you an opportunity to make a move.  Passively hunting squirrels during the early summer months can be very effective, just be sure to have your Thermacell close by to keep the early season bugs off of you.

Active Squirrel Hunting – The second and probably more common way to hunt squirrels is to actively hunt them. This tactic involves getting out and actively searching for squirrels.  This is a great tactic to get youngsters out and involved in the hunt.  Noise is not really a factor when actively pursuing squirrels, though you don’t want to be downright loud, you don’t necessarily need to be quite, which makes this method a great way to involve kids in the sport.  Its low risk and high reward! Just be sure you and whoever you are hunting with have some solid hunting boots before entering the woods.

Squirrel Hunting Basics: Best Tactics and Guns

Many hunters start out by chasing squirrels, only to be lured away by larger and more glamorous game. However, as the leaves begin to change and the temperature drops, squirrels seem to appear in the limbs and crotches of every tree, reminding us how much we used to enjoy hunting them.

1. The Restless Hand

Squirrels have a natural inclination to remain still when predators approach. If you find yourself sitting in an area that should be productive–namely, beneath an oak tree–drop your hand into the litter and stir the leaves at random intervals, repeating in a broken pattern. The sound of your hand moving in the leaves imitates the sound of a squirrel that has started feeding, encouraging all the other squirrels in the area follow suit.

2. Up a Creek

You’ll often find abundant, unpressured squirrels along creeks and streams bordered by hardwoods, particularly oak, hickory, sycamores, and ash trees. If you minimize movement in your canoe or kayak and keep your eyes open, you can have fast shooting on squirrels that don’t expect danger to come from the water. If you are with a buddy, mandate that only one of you shoots at a time, and only from a sitting position.

3. Spot and Stalk

Squirrels are most active during daylight hours, and a morning or evening stalk through the woods can prove very productive. The first step is to scout areas where squirrels are likely to be found, which is anywhere the mast crops they eat—mainly acorns, beech, and hickory nuts—are present. With the sun at your back, practice walking very slowly, taking two or three steps at a time. Keep your eyes peeled and be ready to pick off the squirrels that didn’t hear your approach.

4. The Right Dog

Allen Franklin’s mountain cur squirrel dogs hunt by sight and scent, treeing squirrels and then sounding the location with a series of short “chop” barks until the hunter arrives. Squirrels instinctively flare to the side of the tree opposite a predator, and a circling dog encourages the squirrel to move around the trunk and branches, offering the hunter a shot. Additionally, dogs catch wounded squirrels that fall from the tree, preventing lost or wounded animals.

GETTING STARTED

Squirrel hunting is convenient, with a long season, abundant opportunities, and easy access to public lands from nearly any community in Missouri. If you’re a seasoned hunter, but haven’t hunted squirrels in years, grab a beginning hunter and become a mentor.

To find public lands open to squirrel hunting near you, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ZNc or contact your local outdoor education specialist.

Missouri is home to three species of tree squirrels:

• the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
• the eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)
• the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys Volans)

Of the three species, only the gray and fox squirrels are legal to hunt.

Squirrel behavior and activity change throughout the year as they respond to weather patterns and food availability. For example, a mulberry tree full of fruit could be a hotspot in June, but by October, squirrels feed on nuts and acorns. Popular squirrel foods include:

Spring: tree buds, mushrooms, seeds of elms, maples, and oaks

Summer and fall: mulberries, hickory nuts, pecans, acorns, corn, walnuts, wild grapes, and hedgeapples

Winter: nuts, acorns, bark, corn, and buds

How to Hunt Squirrel with These Tips

I learned squirrel hunting early and as a boy, it was the first animal I ever hunted. Naturally, a small-caliber rifle like the .22 was ideal for my size.

It made little noise and had very little recoil. My father and grandfather also wanted to teach me the basics of hunting.

There was no better way than to hunt squirrels. One of the best aspects of squirrel hunting is the needed skill.

Your aim has to be accurate to hit a squirrel’s head from 20 to 30 yards. The accuracy becomes even more important when you use open sights.

Squirrel hunting also taught me stealth and how to clean an animal after the kill. Overall, it was an excellent foundation for the other animals I would hunt over the years.

Breaking: American Gun Association Elects New Chairman Tim Larkin.

Squirrel hunting is not just for boys or those learning to hunt. I still do it several times each year. Unlike hunting other animals, you need to know some scouting.

There are several public hunting areas near my home fine for firing squirrels. The squirrel hunting season is long, and we are always looking for ways to put more meat in the freezer.