Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Source: news.naij.com

If you think the rat problem in New York City is bad, it’s got nothing on Tehran, the capital city of Iran.

In an effort to combat the city’s massive plague of mutant super rats, rats that are resistant to pesticides, the Tehran environmental agency has deployed ten teams of rifle equipped sharp shooters to take out the hard-to-kill rodents.

Sniper Teams Assembled To Control Rats

Pesticide resistant super rats, which have grown to be almost as big as the common house cat; have been running amuck throughout much of Europe and the Middle East. In order to better control these rats, the environmental agency of Tehran, Iran has deployed ten teams of sharp-shooting snipers; equipped with infra-red laser scopes and all.

In a couple short weeks, these snipers have managed to kill some 2,000 mutant super rats… but it’s far from enough. The city of Tehran is so over-run with the millions of super rats; city officials are now thinking of boosting the number of rat sniper teams from ten to forty.

After bagging a super rat, city officials either incinerate the dead carcasses, or cover them in lime and bury them.

These rat extermination efforts are all part of a multi-million dollar government campaign to control the problem rats.

Huge Population Of Mutant Super Rats

Tehran city workers exterminate almost one million rats a year, but these efforts are merely a drop in the bucket. Iran’s rat population easily outnumbers the sprawling capital’s 12 million inhabitants. Iran’s state-run media reports that the rat population is thought to be six times higher than the number of people living there. That’s scary!

It’s been impossible for city officials to determine how many mutant super rats are plaguing the city. Best estimates have their population at around 10 million, and growing.

The rat problem has been such a major issue for several years that a newspaper once ran a cartoon in which a rat tells a man: “Our numbers are more than yours, so you leave Tehran.”

Mutant Super Rats

These rats are natural born survivors. Years of genetic mutation have made these mutant super rats resistant to pesticides. It has also altered their appearance and allowed them to grow bigger; weighing as much as a cat in some instances. These changes usually take millions of years to evolve.

The primary reason the super mutant rats need to be exterminated, is because they transmit diseases to both humans and animals that can be life threatening. These diseases include: Hantavirus, Plague, Rat-Bite fever, Lassa fever, Hemorrhagic fever, and Leptospirosis.

Related articles

• Tehran suffering plague of hyper-evolved “mutant rats”
• Iran Has Dispatched Sniper Teams In Its Capital To Eliminate ‘Mutant Rats’
• Iran Deploys Sniper Teams To Battle ‘Mutant Rats’

Anthony Ball

“…But do you recall? The most famous reindeer of all…Shooter The Good Deed Reindeer!”

Err!

OK, so he may not be the most famous, but he certainly is the most thoughtful and service oriented toward rodent-kind.

Shooter the Good Deer Reindeer

Shooter, resident of the Pocatello Zoo in Idaho, was seen by zoo staff awkwardly handling his water trough. The large animal, which at times can be a bit overbearing for many of the staffers, eventually was able to dip his head and gently retrieve a rat from his barrel. Shooter then laid the distressed rodent on the floor and proceeded to nudge him with his hoof until he had the strength to scurry away into the bushes on his own power.

Shooter The Good Deed Reindeer helps his nameless friend from near death (Caters News Agency)

Shooter in the midst of his harrowing rescue (Caters News Agency)

The unknown rescuee scurried into the bushes before he could be reached for comment (Caters News Agency)

So while Dancer and Prancer and all those other reindeer are chauffeuring around the Man Up North, reindeer like Shooter are down here in more warmer climates doing the little deeds that make the difference all year round.

We salute you, Shooter The Good Deed Reindeer. We salute you.

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Image via Wikipedia

Don’t invite these pest over for Thanksgiving!

The National Pest Management Association continues to warn homeowners, that when the temperatures outside turn cooler, an estimated twenty-one million rodents will begin their search for warmth, water, food and shelter; to wait-out the long and cold winter months. Ideally, they will be looking to the cozy homes, offices, buildings and structures, across most of the United States and North America.

Pest management experts and industry professionals have identified garages and basements, as ideal targets for rats and mice, looking to invade homes and businesses. Smaller rodents like mice, require only a quarter of an inch, to enter a home, structure or dwelling. This means that determined rodents can gain entry through cracks in the foundation, air conditioner and dryer vents, pipes; or gaps in electrical wiring. In fact, some mice can even push their way through tiny openings, the size of a pencil.

Once inside a warm dwelling, it will not take long for a very serious pest control problem, to develop. Females rodent invaders can give birth to a litter of five to ten mice, every thirty days, and they breed all year-round. Furthermore, because some rats and mice are carriers of disease, like salmonella and hantavirus, the real danger comes when rodent droppings begin to collect; and must be safely removed from the home.

Using a vacuum (Shop Vac or like appliance), homeowners must collect all of the rat and/or mouse droppings they have discovered, and discard them outdoors; far away from the dwelling. Pest management officials warn that whoever will be responsible for collecting and disposing of the rodent droppings, should wear a protective mask, to avoid breathing in the associated fumes. This precautionary measure is especially important, if anyone who is coming into contact with the rodent droppings, suffers from asthma; or any other kind of related respiratory issue.

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The brown rat, or perhaps more commonly known as the Norway rat, has been successful in populating all continents across the globe, with the exception of Antarctica; and is considered the dominant rat in Europe and much of North America. This makes it the most successful mammal on the planet, after human beings. Indeed, with rare exceptions the brown rat lives wherever humans live, particularly in urban areas.

It is believed that the English naturalist and author John Berkenhout, is most likely responsible for popularizing the name “Norwegian rat.” Despite the fact that no brown rat had entered Norway at the time, Berkenhout believing that this rodent had migrated to England from Norwegian ships; in 1728. Circa 1850, a more correct understanding of the rat’s origin began to develop, when others began to question and challenge the common assertions. The British novelist Charles Dickens acknowledged the assumed name in the June 2nd 1888 edition of his weekly journal, All the Year Round, writing:

“Now there is a mystery about the native country of the best known species of rat, the common brown rat. It is frequently called, in books and otherwise, the Norway rat, and it is said to have been imported into this country in a ship-load of timber from Norway. Against this hypothesis stands the fact that when the brown rat had become common in this country, it was unknown in Norway, although there was a small animal like a rat, but really a lemming, which made its home there.”

Although the assumptions about the origin of this pest control problem have not been entirely correct, by the 20th century it was widely accepted by naturalists that the brown rat did not originate in Norway. Instead, it was established that this species of rodent came from central Asia and (likely) China. Despite this revelation, the species’ common “Norway rat” name, is still used today.

Do Electronic Pest Control Devices Work?

I just got this story from Grandpa Ballantyne which has much wisdom in it, so as a wise old man once said…

In a nutshell, it isn’t that the ideas of people are done with bad intentions (often, at least), it’s just that they don’t work. My grandson put a bunch of fruit in a cookie tin yesterday, explaining that it was “for Santa.” It was very thoughtful of him, but because I love him, I explained that while it was thoughtful of him, it would not work. Yes, like so much that is proposed by well-intentioned people, it was thoughtful, but, no, it will not work. We should all at least do as I did with my grandson, and point out what is obvious to us. Many will ignore us, but some will actually see the logic. Meanwhile, we will have done what we should do, and sometimes this all we can do.

Why wouldn’t a tin full of fruit for Santa work?

Perhaps because today is the 2nd of December and fruit left in a tin for Santa to eat on the 25th would only spoil and be wasted. Perhaps the grandson was wanting to hide the tin, which would only mean a stinky banana in the home for his poor single mother to clean up months later. Yuck.

What this story is about is being realistic with a child and taking a moment to teach the child despite his good intention.

How does this relate to Electronic Pest Control Devices?

Quite simply, electronic pest control DOES NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY. It doesn’t matter what you call it, ultrasonic pest control, electronic pest repeller, electronic spider control, electronic insect control, pest devices, or pink barking poodles, none of them provide effective lasting pest control. They are not effective at pest defense or offense. Now I know that you may be saying, “He’s just a pest control company trying to hold back technology that he sees as a threat to his livelihood.” But I am not the only one saying this. Try reading the Federal Trade Commission’s report warning consumers of fraudulent electronic pest control device claims.

“Staff of the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Enforcement today announced that they have sent warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers and retailers of ultrasonic pest-control devices, stating that efficacy claims about those products must be supported by scientific evidence.

…that any reaction by rodents to ultrasound would be temporary at best because rodents become accustomed to ultrasound and will return to their nesting or feeding areas even in the presence of an ultrasonic device. Furthermore, previous FTC complaints alleged that ultrasound devices do not control insects.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices”

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/05/fyi0128.shtm

Further, Bulwark Exterminating supports advancing technology and society. If electronic devices worked we would happily embrace them and find a way to sell them, service them, and stay in business. Our customers want the safest most effective pest control service. We recognize that electronic devices would be cleaner and greener. And if they worked then they would be potentially less toxic then even tap water. But customers want both safe pest control and effective pest control. A fly-swatter is considered a safe pest control device, but it’s not an effective roach control device.The only semi-effective electronic pest control device that Bulwark will acknowledge are the blue glowing zappers that mesmerize bugs into their ultimate destruction… I love hearing mosquitoes get zapped.

If you think that pest control companies are afraid of electronic pest control devices then Bulwark and  pest control companies everywhere should also be afraid of the Do It Yourself pest control stores.  If you want to a Do-It-Yourself pest control solution then visit www.PestProJoe.com, see not afraid of them.  Bulwark caters to individuals that want a guaranteed hassle free pest control service. Yes, service is the keyword there. Consumers want the safest most effective pest control solution.  If a pest control company does not provide an effective service then they will struggle to stay alive.

Morale of the story…

Electronic Pest Control devices may be a good idea and have really good intentions, but its similar to a grandson putting fruit in a cookie tin for Santa,… its just fruitless.

P.S. If super sonic electronic pest control devices do become effective at some future date then Bulwark pest control will gladly support them.

For further reading and reviews on Electronic Pest Control devices can be found at EcoSmarts blog:
http://blog.ecosmart.com/index.php/2008/08/28/electronic-pest-control-reviews-and-ratings

Read what Universities are saying about whether electronic pest control devices work or not…

Considering Ultrasonic Pest Control Devices? Save Your Money -
http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/ultrasonicdevices.shtml

If you are considering electronic pest control devices for Christmas this year then perhaps you should consider a Charlotte pest control service instead.

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Image via Wikipedia

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