Bell Labs’ range of Tier 1 rodent stations ensure that bait is locked away safely, excluding non-target pests, children, and even the most forceful dogs.
As part of Bell Laboratories’ commitment to advancing the rodent control industry through on-going training, Bell’s Australian territory manager, Ken Parry, has conducted a series of workshops around the country on best practices for rodent control. These presentations are an opportunity to educate the industry on the importance of using tamper resistant bait stations amongst other relevant topics.
“Bell’s Rodent Management Programs are great opportunities to meet with professional pest managers and technicians, and to inform them of the importance of using secured bait stations,” said Mr Parry.
Professional pest control distributors and operators concerned with providing customers the highest level of bait station security can look to Bell Laboratories’ line of tamper resistant rodent bait stations as their solution. In Australia, Bell offers four bait stations that meet the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established Tier 1 distinction.
The ‘tier’ system ranks bait stations according to their level of tamper-resistance for children, dogs and weather resistance – from Tier 1 at the highest level down to Tier 4, the lowest. The Protecta LP, Tier 1 Mouse, Protecta EVO Ambush and Protecta EVO Circuit bait stations (pictured above) pass all requirements necessary for Bell to certify as a Tier 1 station. To receive this prestigious distinction, stations must pass EPA established protocols that demonstrate resistance to children and dogs, and possess performance features for weather resistance.
“Our weather-resistant Tier 1 stations were kid tested, dog tested, and passed with flying colours,” said Mr Parry.
EPA protocol 1.229 requires that a station be tested with at least 50 children to ensure they are unable to open the station or reach inside and access the placebo bait. Bell’s Tier 1 bait stations passed this test with 50 out of 50 children unable to open the station or access the bait.
Due to the strength of a dog’s jaws, creating a dog resistant station is far more difficult than creating a child resistant station. EPA protocol 1.230 requires that six dogs be denied access to the bait for up to two hours. Bell felt that this protocol would (and perhaps has) allowed some companies to ‘game’ the test by choosing passive dogs, thus achieving a pass without ever actually challenging the integrity of the station. Bell worked with the EPA to design a more rigorous test. Bell’s EPA approved protocol requires 12 dogs to actively interact with the station within the first 15 minutes of exposure or the dog is disqualified. Even with the more rigorous protocol, Bell’s Tier 1 stations passed all 12 dogs without a single failure.
Keeping rodent bait away from children and dogs is critical, especially when pest managers are servicing homes, apartments and other residential accounts.
Bell Laboratories’ Mr Parry has customers that use Bell’s EVO Ambush (amongst other stations) across many accounts throughout Australia. From feed mills and storage facilities, to commercial and residential accounts – the EVO Ambush has proven to be a functional bait station.
One customer, Southpest Pest Control in Sydney, relies on the EVO Ambush for their accounts because of its strength, durability and ease-of-use.
“We use the EVO Ambush, personalised with our company logo, for so many of our accounts; we secure them in place on site and the strength of the station means they stay there,” said Michael Bell, director of Southpest Pest Control. “The technicians love the easy opening key for fast service, and the removable tray means it’s a breeze to clean up.”
For more information about Bell Laboratories, and our complete line of tamper resistant bait stations, visit the Bell Laboratories website or contact your distributors.
