TBRTC Ratastic News – The Cost of Exclusion.

David Bennett

When we talk about implementing exclusion as part of your rodent IPM, perhaps many

balk at the cost!

The cost of seal and repairs to a home, public housing unit, restaurant, warehouse,

storage facility, business etc. The cost of labor and rodent proofing materials like copper mesh, sealants, vent guards, chimney caps, door sweeps, etc. That’s understandable.

Last week’s quiz question: While you might never think a rat could be an endangered species, there are seven types of rats that are. What are three of them?

Answer:

Rattus burrus (Miller’s Nicobar rat)
Rattus hainaldi (Hainald’s Flores island rat)
Rattus Lugens (Mentawai Archipelago rat)
Rattus montanus (Sri Lankan mountain rat)
Rattus ranjiniae (Ranjini’s field rat)
Rattus simalurensis (Similar Archipelago rat)
Rattus vandeuseni (Van Deusen’s rat)

This week’s quiz question: Which rat was the host for the plague- carrying flea in medieval times?

Brown rat?
Black rat?
Kangaroo rat?
Gambian rat?

Consider the cost of NOT implementing exclusion—which may be significantly more. Ultimately the pest

control costs reflect how much time and effort it will take to get rid of any unwanted animals in your home or business. To account for this, some pest control companies charge by the hour for rodent removals. Others have set-rate packages based on what animal has taken roost and how severe the infestation and damage is. Rodent damage costs American homeowners and property owners (of businesses and public housing complexes) millions of dollars in damage each year. That’s right. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. In fact, according to a 2013 study published by the University of South Florida, “In the US, the economic cost of rat damage was estimated at $19 billion/year; many times greater than any other invasive animal species (Pimentel et al. 2000).”

After the initial removal of a rodent problem, if the property owner has to keep calling pest control, it can seem that the company is incompetent to the customer (we know that’s not true—and we know as pest professionals that we can never truly eradicate an invasion—we can only control it).

If as a property or business owner, manager, maintenance department, have been hesitant investing in exclusion targeted repairs to seal holes other entry points by rodents because of the initial cost, you may wish to consider the alternative:

Doing little to no exclusion means being vulnerable to rodent damage (chewing wires, walls, insulation, foundations which erode stability of structures, etc.) The longer the rodent problempersists, the more damage the little blighters will do, and the more it will cost you in pest control repeat visits, electrical damage, (with resulting fires), and structural damage. As you can see, rodent damage can destroy your home—chewing through wires and causing fires or causing so much structural damage that the house or complex can become unstable. Rodent damage caused a multi-story apartment complex to collapse in India. View the video and you’ll see first-hand what rats are capable of! Not paying for exclusion can literally threaten the lives of your tenants—and that’s no good for business.
If you’re counting on your homeowner’s insurance to cover the damage related to rodents or the cost of mouse or rat extermination, you will likely be disappointed. Very few homeowner’s insurance policies in the state will cover the damage caused by rodents, leaving you to foot the bill from wires that have been chewed through, surfaces that have been contaminated with rodent urine or feces, structures that have been damage, or even medical bills related to illnesses caused by rodents. Some of the most common types of damage that occur in rodent control situations include electrical damage, structural damage, insulation damage, health problems, damaged HVAC systems, and odor problems.
You’ll pay more in repeat visits from your pest control professional to keep combatting invasion after invasion—which can cost up to 250.00 an hour. By installing exclusion products , where pests have point of entry, for example rodent proofing strips that are impervious to chewing (and thus, keep rodents out), you can reduce that cost significantly.

Pest control companies can benefit not only adopting, encouraging the installation exclusion measures

as part of their service, a parodic inspection schedule under contract will generate incremental annuity revenue stream. Pest control companies can sustain positive customer relationships and pick up profits by setting up contracts for monthly inspections after installing exclusion products, in conjunction with an integrated pest management plan,

In reference to door sweeps, According to PCTOnline.com, “Products will inherently vary in their ability to withstand pests. However, a critical point to consider is that items sold for weatherization are not suitable for rodent exclusion (but may help against crawling insects). Indeed, most door sweeps sold at hardware stores can be overcome by a single rodent. On the other hand, high-density brush sweeps or rubber encased steel fabric sweeps can be used to keep rodents out. Pest pressure will dictate which type of sweep you select: areas with large rodent populations, or those with rats, will want to use rubber-encased, steel fabric sweeps.”

Consider the costs and quality of materials utilized, not all keep rodents out, contributing to costs of NOT doing exclusion, benefits, including cost of exclusion are considerably lower than not doing so. Over time, pest control companies will benefit through a sustained, profitable relationship with customers who have installed the recommended exclusion services and products, are happy because the rodents aren’t coming back and continue to stay out with regular inspections making profits long term, rather than short term. Customers (homeowners and property managers) save money in structural costs with the added benefit of safety for residents, and tenants are happy because they aren’t seeing rats and mice (or dealing with their poop and pee and resultant odor and health risks) in their home.

To learn more about RodeXit proofing strips visit our RodeXit page or if attending PestWorld2019 engage visit us, see a door sweep mounting demonstration. Booth #’s 140 – 142.

Meet Bjorn Von Ryberg co-founder and co- inventor of RodeXit Proofing Strips, a wealth of knowledge on effective innovative solution for exclusion of Mice and Rats