Product manufacturers share what’s new — and their forecasts for 2019-2025.
We spoke with five industry suppliers about their strategies, products and equipment for pest management professionals (PMPs) who want to start offering or improve their existing wildlife control services. Read on for their insights and announcements. We also want to know what wildlife management methods you’re implementing, and what you hope to add in the near future. Drop us a line at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.
PHOTO: CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE
CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE
Ben Schreiber
ActiveSense System Category Lead
RECENT INNOVATION: Squirrels, raccoons, skunks and other wild animals don’t like to announce when or where they might show up. The ActiveSense system can monitor traps around the clock — allowing you to deal with intrusive wildlife pests quickly, efficiently and humanely. PMPs have successfully used ActiveSense with a variety of wildlife traps, including cage traps, conibear traps, Koro traps and snap traps. Many states are adopting animal welfare regulations requiring daily trap inspections. Several allow remote monitoring as an acceptable alternative. Installation is quick and easy, thanks to smart hardware design and an intuitive native mobile app. Technicians can activate sensors with just the tap of their smartphones. They can access the data on any platform, from any device, to access the precise information needed to improve workflow, increase efficiency, and address the animal incursion. We’ve already tested the ActiveSense system with more than 500 real-world sites, and continue to work with PMPs to make sure it fits evolving industry needs.
PREDICTIONS: Technology will continue to innovate the pest management industry by making common practices more efficient, more predictive, and easier to complete. We believe remote monitoring is destined to become an industry standard practice; that’s why we’re continuing to invest to further enhance the capabilities of ActiveSense. We have PMPs who began experimenting with remote monitoring more than seven years ago, and are now using ActiveSense. They say the more they use it, the more they like it — and that every customer loves it.
PHOTO: PEST CONTROL INSULATION
PEST CONTROL INSULATION
Matt Paul
Chief Marketing Officer
RECENT INNOVATION: Wildlife control operators (WCOs) across the country are finding new revenue streams with TAP Pest Control Insulation, registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When used as part of an attic restoration bundled service, which includes trapping, insulation removal, exclusion work, and installation of TAP Pest Control Insulation, you can provide clients with a healthier home. TAP Pest Control Insulation is labeled to control ants, booklice, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, darkling beetles, earwigs, millipedes, silverfish, sow bugs, and termites that nest in the attic. It also enhances the home’s thermal envelope, saving clients money on their annual heating/cooling costs. TAP is backed by a lifetime guarantee. It bears the ENERGY STAR Seal and Insulate mark, which may qualify it for local, state and federal rebates. Because TAP only can be sold and installed by licensed PMPs in the U.S., thanks to its EPA distinction, we currently are working with insulation contractors in major markets who are willing to obtain their pest control license with the sole purpose of becoming subcontractors for the pest control and wildlife industry. PMPs and WCOs can sell a bundled service featuring TAP Pest Control Insulation, and then hand off the install to a subcontractor who maintains the equipment, supplies and install experience.
PREDICTIONS: One of the changes we see within the wildlife industry is a diversification of services. In an effort to grow your client base and gain a sustainable workforce, innovation in a more comprehensive approach could be just the key to “untapped” success.
PHOTO: KNESS
KNESS
Nick Fugate
International and Midwest USA, Pest Control Sales Manager
RECENT INNOVATION: Currently, we offer Kage-All (pictured), a line of live animal cages that range in size to capture everything from chipmunks to raccoons. However, we are excited to announce that we are getting ready to release Krittersense. This is our electronic monitoring device that attaches to live animal cages to alert technicians about a capture. It offers both a passive infrared (PIR) sensor and a Hall Effect, a magnetic sensor for the opening and closing of the cage door. Targets include rats, squirrels, chipmunks, possum, raccoons and more. Key benefits include the almost instantaneous notifications of triggers of either a trap door or an animal inside the trap; a reporting system for proper documentation for third-party audits; and a mapping system of where the trap was triggered, with time stamp.
PREDICTIONS: Our team sees a lot of changes coming for this segment of the industry. Electronic monitoring acceptance is growing, and with it comes more options and toolbox changes. PMPs will start to look for more of these options as they become more readily available, because the new technologies can help them save time, money, and even wear and tear on their vehicles.
PHOTO: SERVICEPRO
SERVICEPRO
Andy Deering
CEO
RECENT INNOVATION: ServicePro’s ServSensor is a 24/7 remote-monitoring solution that records and reports on activities that take place in traps and service locations. It helps predict wildlife, rodent and bird behaviors, keeping service locations constantly looked after. The sensor is easily mounted to a desired wildlife control device. Once triggered, it sends a real-time notification with precise data that will gain analytic value when using ServSuite software. Multiple chosen contacts can receive real-time notifications once the trap door has closed and an animal has been captured. Active Conditions are the criteria that make the sent notifications reliable — if the trap door has closed, and the sensor has captured movement, that means the criteria have been fulfilled and an animal has been captured. A technician (or other recipient) also can make use of the Delayed Notification feature, so as not to receive notifications in the middle of the night. ServSensor is equipped to perform automated Health Checks, so technicians and business owners would immediately know whether the device and the device connections are working properly. Another extremely useful feature for business owners is the Button Press at service locations; this can help them confirm that the location actually has been physically serviced. In addition, this button serves to check on the connectivity when performing installs, test the range, and test to confirm that the device is communicating with the gateway where it has been placed.
PREDICTIONS: Sensor technology is shaping how the industry is developing, as it greatly reduces unnecessary inspections and facilitates optimal time management. With ServSensor, a company can afford to expand a service area by adding more distant locations to their schedule — without the added expense of having to constantly check on them physically.
PHOTO: WOODSTREAM
WOODSTREAM
Mike Goldstein
Sales Manager, Professional Products
RECENT INNOVATION: Woodstream’s Victor Pro Live Cage Traps are intended for WCOs. These traps are made in the USA and incorporate high-tensile, galvanized steel mesh construction; 8-gauge body supports to keep trap square; an internal trigger rod; and wire mesh doors with patent-pending door hinge plates, plus half-inch mesh on the trap floor and sides. All traps have been validated with hundreds of hours of field testing. The VP1103 model targets raccoons, groundhogs, skunks and armadillos. It is 32x10x12 inches, and features an exclusive, patent-pending, rear-protected bait compartment and baiting access door to protect baits or lures from the weather or target animal. Holes on both sides of the removable bait compartment can carry scent to the animal. In addition, the rear baiting door allows WCOs to easily and quickly gain access to hang or place additional bait in the rear section of the trap. Two additional Victor Pro Live Cage Traps are now available for pre-order: the medium-sized VP1102 (24x7x7 inches), targeted for squirrels and skunks; and the smaller VP1101 (18x5x5 inches), with a flush-mount door targeted for squirrels. These heavy-duty traps include all the features of the VP1103, except for the rear-protected bait compartment and baiting door.
PREDICTIONS: Within the next five years, we foresee remote notification for cage traps becoming a strategic tool in the WCO’s toolbox. This will allow WCOs to check the trap’s activity on a daily basis without having to be physically on-site. In fact, the trap could be checked 24/7. Once activity is detected, the trap can be checked and serviced quickly, which would greatly minimize the stress and time spent in the trap for the target animal. This new technology is going to be a tremendous benefit, greatly reducing time and labor for the WCO while providing a more humane experience for the target animal.
*FEATURED PHOTO: ERIK CIEBIERA
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