PPMA OFFICERS
Keith Hamilton
President
J.C. Ehrlich
State College, PA
John Besic
President Elect
Besic Pest Control
Transfer, PA
Marty Overlilne
Vice President
Aardvark Pest Management
Phildelphia, PA
Paul Kutney
Immediate Past President
Larksville, PA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Central Division
Gary Lesher
Governor
Perry Pest Control
Landisburg, PA
Greg Ten Hoeve
Terminix
Mechanicsburg, PA
Keith Jones
Archer Pest Control
Camp Hill, PA
Eastern Division
Marty Overline
Governor
Aardvark Pest Mgmnt
Philadelphia, PA
Mike Snyder
Township Pest Control
Warrington
, PA
Jim Nase
Moyer Indoor/Outdoor
Souderton
, PA
Northeast Division
Jeff King
Governor
The Pest Rangers
Hanover Twp., PA
Paul Kutney
Diane Lown
Ajax Environmental Solutions
Dalton, PA
Western Division
Adam Witt
Governor
Witt Pest Management
Pittsburgh, PA
Scott Grill
Bill Grill Exterminating
Verona, PA
John Besic
Besic Pest Control
Transfer, PA
Technical Advisor
Chad Gore
Rentokil North America
Carnegie, PA
AWDII Chairman
Ed Van Istendal
Coatesville
, PA
Legislative Chairman
Adam Witt
Witt Pest Management
Pittsburgh, PA
Salino Scholarship Chair
Dana Lown
Ajax Environmental Solutions
Dalton, PA
Industry Liaison
Brian Smith
Univar
Sharon Hill, PA
Executive Director
Versant Strategies
Harrisburg, PA
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| Featured Article |
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Dear Friends:
April showers may bring May flowers, but summer weather seems to be in the forecast after a dreary start to May. At the PPMA office, we understand that you are busy in the field and we are are here to help!
Membership renewal information has been sent by the National Pest Management Association. Pennsylvania member companies enjoy the benefits of joint membership between the Pennsylvania Association and the National Association. To see a listing of the state's member benefits, click
here. A membership form didn't arrive at your office? Click
here.
If we at the Association's office can ever be of assistance, please feel free to contact us at (800) 842-9090 or cwright@versantstrategies.net.
Team Versant
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The Salino Scholarship was established to recognize the life and legacy of Joe Salino. Mr. Salino was past President of the Pennsylvania Pest Management Association, Eastern Division Governor, and friend to many. Not only was he a technical expert, but he was also a lover of music and life. Each year, the Salino Scholarship Committee calls for applications from those enrolled or entering post-secondary institutions. This year, the Committee selected three individuals to receive the award.
Gina Marie Cocco is a freshman at West Chester University, majoring in Occupational Therapy. She plans to wok with trauma victims in the future. Gina was sponsored by A. Amendt Pest Control.
Kaitlyn Michelle Griffith is a high school senior at Avon Grove High School. She plans to attend Widener University with future goals of receiving a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree and working as a physical therapist. Kaitlyn is sponsored by S. Griffith Termite and Pest Management.
Brynn Elizabeth Miller is a senior at Halifax School District and plans to attend Harrisburg Area Community College, then transferring to Shippensburg University for a degree in business management. Brynn was sponsored by Hillcrest Critter and Pest Control.
Congratulations to our award recipients! To make a donation to the fund, send a check made payable to "PPMA" with Salino Scholarship noted on the memo line to the PPMA Office (116 Pine Street, Floor 5, Harrisburg, PA 17101).
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Marty Overline, Chair of PestVets, invites anyone who would like to join Rolling Thunder to their ride on May 28, 2017. The motorcycle ride and caravan to the nation's capital honors MIAs and POWs. This is the 30th anniversary run. Many riders join en route from Philadelphia. Learn more at
www.rollingthunderrun.com.
Marty Overline
PestVets, Chairman
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Nuisance Wildlife Removal
When it comes to providing nuisance wildlife removal, there is nothing I enjoy more. I like talking about it, teaching it, and most of all helping customers in eliminating a nuisance wildlife pest. I have noticed over the past years an increasing amount of wildlife that is trap shy. I am not sure if this timidness is in the areas where I provide services or if it is becoming problematic throughout the state. There are many homeowners that trap wildlife and release them. Whether they take them far enough away from the capture site or not, this animal can become quite difficult to catch again. One of my favorite tools in capturing trap shy animals is a conibear trap. Here are a few examples of how conibear traps help with these difficult critters.
During a recent raccoon removal, I had one last raccoon that would eat every marshmallow up to the trip pan on the live trap and refuse to venture any farther.
This happened for 3 consecutive nights, so I decided to add a conibear trap to the front of the live trap and the next morning, had one of the largest raccoons that I had ever captured! In this instance, I was able to use a conibear trap because the doors had been locked, keeping out people and pets.
Another situation I encountered was a call from a customer who used another company to remove a groundhog from under their front porch. This company baited a live trap and the customer had pictures of the groundhog next to the trap but no interest in going inside for food. It was March, so the groundhog would only come out during the warm weather and then den up for a few days, maybe a week. Much of this had to do with the time of year, but I have had other groundhogs not go into a live trap and I believe they were captured and released. I set up a conibear trap that was surrounded entirely by Dig Defence to prevent any unwanted pest, cat, dog or human from contacting it. I caught the groundhog and had a very satisfied customer.
My last example involves gray squirrels and these seem to be on the rise for being trap shy. This appears to be the most targeted animal captured and released by homeowners. Whether they are trap shy or not, it is at times much quicker and easier to use a conibear trap. One of the preferred ways I like to do this is by using a mountable, one way door in which I cut out a small section to allow for the spring and another small section to allow for the trigger release to function and not get bound up. The use of cable ties at both ends of the conibear trap will hold it in place but function perfectly. These can be mounted on some of the more difficult squirrel entry points and allow for squirrels to be captured regardless of whether they are inside or outside when you set the conibear trap. I have had very good success with this system mounting it to soffits, dormers, and even mounting it straight down the wall.
In comparison, I prefer the conibear traps over one way door traps. One way door traps only work if the animal is inside, so you would need to add additional traps on the outside in case some animals are out foraging. Mounting one way door traps to some entry holes can be very difficult-not only does the one way door trap need to function properly but it also needs to keep the animal from escaping.
Many nuisance wildlife people are hesitant to use conibear traps due to a lack of experience working with them. Not every job is as easy as setting a live trap and removing the target species. Some jobs require a little ingenuity.
I was asked to trap for squirrels at a college, but they wanted this to be done without anyone knowing that it was being done. I made wood boxes with a conibear trap in the middle of each of them and mounted them over holes. All of the squirrels were removed and no one at the college saw any signs of them being captured.
The wood boxes allowed the squirrels to enter and exit without hesitation. On this occasion, live traps were not an option.
Before using a conibear trap, keep in mind the following criteria:
- Safety. It is extremely important that no child or family pet have access to the conibear traps. The cage system that I designed around the traps has served me well. For squirrels, placing them in the attic or up high in the soffit or gutter area keeps the catch limited to the target species. Placing them on roofs where no one can see them is extremely effective. I use alert monitors for these traps.
- Visibility. Will the animal be visible to the public? A squirrel dangling from a gutter or other section of the structure visible by neighbors, etc. is not good public relations. The traps need to be secured. Conibear traps are killer traps and not every catch is perfect, so secure the traps and place them where they will not be seen.
For squirrels, the 110 square conibear trap or the 3.5 inch round conibear trap have proven effective. For raccoons and groundhogs the 160 conibear trap works well. This trap can require a trap setter and safety mechanism if you are new to these traps. I also like the Koro trap which I place inside a box with a wire back. This is a great trap for gray squirrels in attics and on roofs when baited.
If after trying other methods of trapping and removal you find yourself struggling with a trap shy animal, I would strongly suggest the use of a conibear trap.
I hope you find this article helpful and as with everything I do I am more than willing to help you out if I can. Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Jim Nase
Moyer Indoor Outdoor
Jim.nase@emoyer.com
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News from NPMA
EPA Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee Meeting
Recently, NPMA staff participated as members of EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). The PPDS is a policy-oriented committee that provides policy advice, information and recommendations to EPA. PPDC provides a public forum to discuss a wide variety of pesticide regulatory development and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and policy issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides.
The Wednesday's meeting included agenda topics included:
- Pollinator Protection: Neonicotinoids Review, Labeling, and Update from the Pollinator Protection Plan Metrics Workgroup (NPMA staff participate on this workgroup)
- Biotechnology and Pesticides: Federal Roles, Techniques, GE Mosquitos and Risk Assessments
- 21st Century Toxicology: Update on OPP's Efforts on Non-Animal Alternative Testing for the Acute 6-Pack
- Updates from Office of Pesticide Programs Senior Leadership Team
- Worker Protection Standard Rule Revisions Pesticide Applicator Certification Rule Revisions
- Resistance Management
- Synergy
- Endangered Species
- Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication
- Pesticide Incidents Workgroup Report Out (NPMA staff participate on this workgroup)
- Vector Management: Zika Update; IPM as a Strategy; Status of Human Health Reviews for Mosquito Control Pesticides
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Upcoming Meetings
The
Meetings and Events section of the website is always the most up-to-date resource for happenings of the Association. Be sure to check it out!
The Eastern Division continues to hold its monthly meetings with varying topics of discussion on the second Thursday of every month at the Crowne Plaze in Trevose. For more information on monthly topics and speakers, contact Sue at (215) 331-1121.
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The information below represents legislative activity (including bill introductions) that has occurred since the last newsletter. For a full listing of legislation that Versant is tracking for PPMA, please contact us at (717) 635-2320 or cwright@versantstrategies.net. Activity marked HCO or SCO indicates a co-sponsorship memo which precedes the actual introduction of legislation and is designed to secure the support of other legislators prior to introduction as a bill.
The legislature has been back in town recently, working towards completing the Budget for 2017-2018. With revenues coming in much lower than projected, the state must find ways to balance an already large deficit.
HB 1014 - Keller, Fred -
Amends the Unemployment Compensation Law, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in contributions by employers and employees, further providing for relief from charges; in compensation; and providing for applicability.
The bill was discussed in a public hearing in the Labor and Industry Committee.
SB 242 - Baker, Lisa - Amends the Underground Utility Line Protection Law further providing for definitions, for duties of facility owners, for duties of the One Call System, for duties of excavators, for duties of project owners, for penalties, for enforcement.
The bill received first consideration in the Senate and is expected to be voted on soon.
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| 05-08-2017 |
Caterpillars, mosquitoes and flies: Valley preps for pests
Springtime means creepy-crawly season, but that doesn't mean we have to take the insect invasion lying down. We're not talking about beneficial insects. We're talking pests: gypsy moth caterpillars that defoliate forests, mosquitoes that carry diseases and flies that won't stop bugging you -- or worse.... - Easton Express-Times |
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