EUREKA uses community approach to rat control

Author’s Note: This project was funded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The contents may not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the State of California.

At Pestec, our mission is to empower communities by taking smart, safe and humane approaches to pest management. Yet, despite decades of effort from companies that share our commitment, the news headlines remain unchanged: There continues to be a “War on Rats.”

As a family-owned business operating since the 1980s, we’ve seen how persistent urban rodent problems can drive demand. But we believe in a customer-forward model — one that allows us to feel proud of our work while giving back to our clients and communities. 

That’s why, five years ago, we began asking deeper questions about urban rat ecology. These inquiries eventually led to the creation of the Effective Urban Rodent Ecology Knowledge Alliance (EUREKA). 

Over the last few years, we have come to realize that rats aren’t the root of the problem. Instead, society needs to look in the mirror. The provision of overabundant harborage and lack of cohesive exclusion in urban infrastructure are leading to a war that can never be won. Have we been waging war against the wrong thing? Should we declare war on human behavior instead? 

A collaborative approach

With support from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), we’ve built a dedicated team to tackle the problem through rodent surveillance, pathogen monitoring and collaborative research with scientists from multiple institutions. There has been so much interest that we have attracted commitment from international researchers. 

Over the next two years, we’re going to be exploring alternatives to traditional rodent control products and techniques. One embodiment of this collaboration is our effort to collect actionable data during routine operations. For decades, citizen science has flourished in areas like backyard bird monitoring. Yet, to our knowledge, no one has built a science-industry partnership that leverages volunteer data in this way. 

Unlike backyard bird monitoring, rather than generating data solely for academic use, we’re curating insights that also inform business decisions and peer training. Our first peer-reviewed paper from EUREKA details this approach. 

We’re also helping develop scientifically validated assays — tests that can be replicated across regions. These same assays may soon be used to test other integrated pest management (IPM) alternatives, bringing rigor to innovation. 

Eureka’s current project implements an Internet of Things (IoT) network with sensors and smart traps in target neighborhoods, enabling:

– Real-time monitoring of rodent activity through advanced sensor networks
– “Adopt-a-Trap” online platform for community participation
– Digital application for standardized pest management data collection
– Searchable data repository for industry, researchers and policymakers

Join the movement

We don’t yet know what the future holds, but we’re staying alert for opportunities. One promising direction involves evaluating the impact of urban construction on rodent behavior. Globally, only one paper has structured control operations to quantify such effects. Our team is eager to design formal tests that assess rodent activity before, during and after construction. 

We envision EUREKA as a long-term platform for collaboration. We’re actively seeking new partners — companies, researchers and regulators — who want to help solve the problem of urban rats. If you’re interested in learning more or contributing, we invite you to reach out.