When people think of pest control they often think of anything that will get rid of the problem at hand. Some consumers look for ecological practices when getting rid of pests and others simply just want the problem brought to an end. Pest control itself is defined as the regulation or management of a species that is considered a pest and has an adverse impact on human lifestyle. With this in mind, most pest control measures are performed within an integrated pest management strategy that each company defines for themselves. Here we will discuss common pest control management strategies and why video surveillance should be integrated within them.
Common Pest Control Strategies
When it comes to urban and rural living spaces, most species that are considered to be a pest are things such as rodents, birds, insects, squirrels, raccoons and opossums. All of these share their environment with humans and sometimes this means they will get in each other’s way, potentially becoming a problem. When pest control companies address pest issues in or around people’s homes they often use one or more of the following methods which include exclusion, physical removal or where necessary, chemical means. Other methods can also come into play depending on the practices of the company.
The term exclusion means to deny pests access to spaces in or around a home or business that could potentially become a problem. Oftentimes, this means that a technician will come to a home, assess the property and conclude what entry points pests are gaining access.. After a full inspection, any access points will be sealed to prevent pests from coming or going. Physical removal of pests is a method which typically includes some form of bait and/or traps. Once the pest is caught, it is disposed of or released as needed. Some homeowners don’t want invading pests to be harmed in any way which is where physical removal of pests will be the best method of choice since they can be caught and then released back into their natural habitat. Chemical methods, on the other hand, are often used to eradicate the pests such as ants, wasps, bed bugs, etc.
Why Video Surveillance Should Be A Part Of Pest Control Strategy
When a pest technician comes to inspect a property for pests they will most likely assess the outside perimeter of the home as well as the crawl space. This allows them to see if there are any signs of pests and what particular pests may be invading a home. They often look for things such as entry points, fecal trails, ant hills, debris around the home, nesting grounds and damage done in or around the home that would signal there is an intruder. A quick, visual inspection is common practice for most pest control companies; allowing them to define the problem and then come up with a solution. What if, however, a simple visual inspection misses key information that could drastically change the assessment of the inspection? What if there were important signs of a pest intruder that went unnoticed during the initial inspection? This is where video surveillance comes into play and is a key benefit in dealing with a pest problem.
Video surveillance ultimately allows the pest control technician to see things they could have otherwise missed. Strategically placing cameras around points of the property where the intruder is suspected to be roaming will allow the technician to see exactly where they are coming from and where they are going to. Not only is this vital information in dealing with an unwanted intruder, but it’s also an opportunity to catch something that could have gone unnoticed. For example, finding out that there is a squirrel problem instead of a suspected rat problem can completely change the course of action when it comes to how the pest will be removed. If a home is treated for rats where bait is set out to eradicate them but they have squirrels instead, the squirrels die unjustly whereas they could have been dealt with by physical removal. By integrating video surveillance into pest control management strategies, visual checks go from basic inspections to confirmed assessments so one knows exactly what they’re dealing with and how they can solve it.
Setting up video surveillance is an extra step that some companies may not choose to implement but for those that do, the consumer and some pests will reap the benefits. By pest control companies integrating video surveillance into their pest control strategy methods everyone, even including some of the pests, will live happier.
