Pest patrol

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The weather from December to February was the warmest on record and after three months of historic highs, pests are coming out much earlier than normal. And the regular winter kill-offs didn’t happen, says Chris Malcom, operations manager of Ramey’s Yard Care and Pest Control in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

“What we do have are increasing in numbers everywhere,” he says.

This unusual weather means pest control operators will be treating earlier than normal, says Jeff Taylor, manager of Martz Brothers Lawn Care in Kansas City, Kansas. “We’re going to see how it goes and adapt,” he says. “We’re ready for everything and anything.”

Here are three tips on how to deal with pesky pests this season:

1) Focus on your technicians as much as your products.

Crenshaw Termite & Pest in Tampa, Florida, puts technicians through a five-day classroom program to get the basics. Then they have to ride with a certified pest control operator for at least 10 days and head back to the classroom for another four to five days.

“When we turn a technician loose, we don’t want someone going out there not knowing what they’re doing,” says owner David Crenshaw.

2) Educate your customers.

Ramey’s Yard Care and Pest Control carries labels for every product on the truck, so if a customer voices concern, the technician is able to show people that it’s labeled for use in this situation, whether it be a daycare, a nursing home or a house with pets.

“I can show them to put them at ease so they know what I’m telling them is true,” Malcolm says.

3) Be proactive.

Martz Brothers makes sure to inform customers when the job is sold that they don’t over-apply. If a customer is still concerned, they will provide safety data sheets, although Taylor says that if someone is really worried, they’re not typically the type of person to have treatments put down.

“We reassure them we’ve come a long way in this industry,” Taylor says. “We used to spray everything, but now we’ve gone into selective stuff where needed. I’ve been in the business for 30 years and seen a big switch since I started.”