Oregon Commercial Applicator Bundle - Structural Pest Control Part B

This course bundle is designed for the Oregon commercial applicator. The bundle focuses on structural pesticide use and safety. Commercial applicators may complete a maximum of 15 credits per calendar year. All courses are approved by the Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticides Program. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.

BUNDLE CONTENTS:

General Structural Pest Management – 3 credits
Bed Bugs: Overview and Management – 2 credits
Understanding Rodenticides and Their Labels – 1 credit
Inspecting Structures for Wildlife – 2 credits
Cage Trapping Techniques – 3 credits
Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pest Management – 2 credits
Mice: The Ubiquitous Commensal Rodent – 1 credit
Control and Management of Unprotected Birds – 1 credit

General Structural Pest Management

Course Description

As certified or licensed professionals we have legal responsibilities that we must fulfill in every job that we do. Not only do have to control pests, but we also have to do the paperwork and legwork that documents our applications. These are very important steps in the process of pest control, and following through is a must for any successful business.

As certified or licensed applicators it is so important that you can trust everyone on your team to be knowledgeable about their duties, and responsible for protecting your customers, the environment, and your business. A solid basic training program for all technicians will help you work safer and more efficiently.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Identify and calibrate different types of application equipment
Identify different common structural pests
Describe how to implement integrated pest management in structural situations
Outline the special considerations needed for specialized facilities
Outline the key pests and pest hot spots for specialized facilities

Bed Bugs: Overview and Management

Course Description

Most people visibly cringe when they hear the words “bed bugs”. Structural applicators know that managing a bed bug infestation is difficult on many levels. This course looks at the history of bed bugs, current integrated pest management approaches to preventing and managing an infestation, and several of the chemical options available when your non-chemical controls and methods have failed.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Speak confidently to clients and residents concerning chemical and non-chemical controls.
Accurately differentiate between bed bugs and bat bugs.
Positively identify the signs of a bed bug infestation.

Understanding Rodenticides & Their Labels

Course Description

Rodenticides are becoming a widely discussed and concerning topic in the pest control field. There is a growing public concern at the risk of secondary and non-target poisonings when rodenticides are used. As a pest control operator is it your responsibility to understand how rodenticides work and how to read their labels. This course discusses the common types of rodenticides, their appropriate application, the risks involved with the use of each type of rodenticide, and takes a look at specific label language.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Outline and describe the primary classifications of rodenticides
Describe the differences in toxicity and risk between first-generation and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides
Describe how to use appropriate baiting techniques and the importance of carcass removal

Inspecting Structures for Wildlife

Course Description

If you do not diagnose the problem correctly you will spend a lot of time treating something that is not there. Identify correctly and gather evidence and determine the extent of potential problems. This course will cover the basics of what to look for while inspecting a structure that has potentially been invaded by wildlife.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Discuss the different health risks associated with routine wildlife inspections.
Identify common wildlife pests and their sign.
Describe the differences between domiciled and transient wildlife damage.

Cage Trapping Techniques

Course Description

Cage and box traps play an important role in the management of vertebrate pests in urban and suburban environments. These devices capture animals by imprisoning them in a wire cage or box with solid walls. Their simple construction and perceived humaneness lead many to mistakenly believe that these devices require little training to master. This course will review the differences between cage and box traps and how to use those differences to achieve control goals. Likewise, students will learn the three main trapping sets, effective baits, safe and humane use of the traps, and how to reduce non-target captures. After this class, you will never see cage/box trapping in the same way again.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Identify the parts of cage and box traps.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of different features in cage/box traps and how retail traps differ from commercial traps.
Know foundational ways to use cage/box traps to improve capture efficacy and improve humaneness.
Understand the importance of disease safety for both the wildlife control operator and the client.

Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pest Management

Course Description

An animal with a backbone or spinal column is called a vertebrate. A few vertebrates, such as rats and mice, are common pests in urban and industrial areas. Others are not pests in their normal habitats but may occasionally become pests when they conflict with humans. Public concern for the welfare of animals and the risk to people, pets, and other non-targets from poisons used to kill vertebrates have made rules governing vertebrate pest control particularly strict. Laws and regulations at the state and local levels may be much more restrictive than federal regulations. Be sure you understand all the regulations that apply in your geographic area before attempting to control vertebrate pests.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Describe the lifecycle, inspection process, and health concerns commonly associated with vertebrate pests
Distinguish the different types of lethal and non-lethal options for managing vertebrate pests
Describe the various types of traps and baits used to control vertebrate pests

Mice: The Ubiquitous Commensal Rodent

Course Description

One of the challenges with house mice is that clients don’t take house mice seriously. It’s amazing how people will move heaven and earth when rats are around, but when it comes to mice they will simply say “oh, it’s just a mouse!” This course will help educate applicators on the risks of allowing house mice to remain in a structure.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Identify preferred habitats of mice
Describe several IPM methods for controlling mice
Describe the differences in mouse traps and outline which trap is best in a given situation
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using rodenticides

Control & Management of Unprotected Birds

Course Description

Unwanted birds can pose a problem for applicators and their clients. Some people love to feed the birds and spend hours watching birds. Once birds have become established in an area they can be difficult to control or deter. Though this course will focus on the control and management of unprotected birds, some of the techniques covered will help with the management of protected birds when a permit is issued.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Identify birds not protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
Discuss different forms of deterrents available and when best to use each method
Discuss the different forms of toxicants and when they would be appropriate