Landscape Architect Articles

Making Green through Green Pest Removal08-12-13 | News

Making Green through Green Pest Removal

A non-poisonous, chemical-free, trap-free method for ridding an area of burrowing rodents, such as gophers and moles, can be a new source of revenue for landscape companies.

It's a problem that can put landscapers in the hole. After long hours and thousands of dollars spent to manicure lawns, place and tend flowers, plants, and trees, burrowing rodents can make a shambles of it all.

Getting rid of gophers, ground squirrels, moles and voles, traditionally has been handled by poisonous bait and trapping but these techniques can be time-consuming, ineffective, and not favored by an increasingly eco-minded public.

Proactive landscape maintenance professionals are turning to greener, more effective means of eliminating burrowing pests to minimize grounds damage and labor costs, as well as the associated risks and liabilities of handling poisons and traps in inhabited areas. And they are making money at it.

We're finding that a non-poison, chemical-free method is helping to save our landscapes and labor while bringing in new business," says Mark Lynch, president of Legendary Landscapes, of Salisbury, Md. "We got ROI within two weeks when we treated about 50 houses with it, and business is growing by word-of-mouth without advertising."

The method that Lynch is referring to is a device developed by Meyer Industries that delivers a precision underground shockwave to the targeted animals while also collapsing their tunnel systems to prevent re-infestation.

Named the Rodenator Pest Elimination System, it works by inserting a wand into a burrow hole, and forcing a mixture of oxygen and propane gas into the hole for sixty to ninety seconds, depending on the type of animal. Then a button on the wand is pressed, igniting a spark into the mixture. The ensuing shockwave instantly kills the burrowing rodent while also destroying the tunnel.

"The concept is not only effective but also an easy sell as an add-on service," says Lynch. "There's no waiting for results, and minimal return visits. By avoiding the repair and replacement of landscaping, we could save tens of thousands of dollars a year. Since the process takes just minutes with no residual dangers, homeowners love it."

Because the mixture is consumed immediately and completely, it leaves no chemical residue behind. The collapse of the tunnel system eliminates handling and disposal of the carcass, and prevents re-infestation of the tunnels by neighboring rodents. Crews can monitor and handle rodent problems during regularly scheduled weekly or bi-weekly visits, instead of having to bait and trap two to three times a week, saving a company money.

New features of the system are wired detonation up to 25 feet from the source, and 20 percent more power to eliminate bigger pests.

More information about adding this service to your business can be found at www.rodenator.com