Two-Day Training Course in Rodent Management for Pest Management Professionals
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service IPM Experience House is offering our three-day, intensive rat control training course for pest management professionals.
Purpose
The goal of the Texas Rodent Academy is to provide a highly focused and standardized approach to managing rodent populations through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). After completing this course, graduates will be able to manage rodent populations more effectively, because they will have a better understanding of the biology, behavior, and habitat of rodents, contributing factors to infestation, effective ways of evaluating site-specific responses and strategies, and effective communication strategies with the public to achieve lasting change and improvements.
Who Should Attend?
This course is intended for pest management professionals, universities, public schools, and others involved in the rodent control/management programs.
Curriculum Content (In classroom learning)
The topics will include:
- Health significance of rodents
- Rodents and allergens
- Biology and behavior of rodents
- Overview of Integrated Pest Management
- Pesticide labels and federal regulations
- Exterior bait boxes – what, where and how?
- Alternative tools & techniques for rat control
- Mouse Integrated pest management in apartment/private homes
- Rodent control
Curriculum Content (hands-on outdoor learning) 2021rodentacademyagenda
Participants will be broken into small groups for each class days hands-on learning exercise
- Site specific inspections — what to look for
- Bait station, snap traps, exclusion
Speakers:
Dr. Niamh Quinn, Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, South Coast Research and Extension Center
Niamh Quinn is University of California Cooperative Extension Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine. Her focus is directed on the coordination of Cooperative Extension programming regarding human-wildlife conflicts, particularly within the residential and industrial areas within Southern California where significant human-wildlife conflicts are occurring. Her research and education focus on everything from mice to mountain lions, but she mostly focuses on rodents, their management, and the pathways and effects of rodenticides on non-target wildlife.
Dr. Claudia Riegel, Director, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite & Rodent Control Board,
She earned an undergraduate degree at Purdue University, a Master’s at the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. As director, she provides technical support for the City of New Orleans and the pest control industry. She conducts independent research and collaborates with the pest control industry to enhance existing products and test of new products. She also collaborates with government organizations and universities on a variety of research projects involving rodents, mosquitoes, termites and a variety of other urban pests.
Mr. Tim Madere, Rodent Specialist, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board,
Tim Madere is a Mosquito and Rodent control Specialist for the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Rodent, and Termite Control Board. Timmy has worked on research studies and urban pest issues concerning everything from termites and bedbugs to coyotes and raccoons; but his primary focus is on commensal rodents and urban rodent control. He also writes a column on urban rodent control for the National Wildlife Control Operators Associations’ quarterly newsletter. Timmy has a BA in History from the University of New Orleans and is considered one of the leading rodent control experts in the country.
Ed Dolshun, Technical Director, VP Business Development, APG (Catchmaster)
Dolshun works in product specification development and periodic review. New market development of a variety of products. Atlantic Paste & Glue is the worlds leading manufacturer of adhesives and related products for the Pest Control Industry. Ed’s specialty is developing protocols for rodent trapping.
Nina M Dacko, Vector Control Supervisor, Tarrant County Public Health
Collaborates with others at Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) department in making changes and/or major decisions in regard to the West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance program. Develops SOPs for WNV surveillance including trap setting, spray recommendations, mosquito identification and mosquito control. Trains others in mosquito identification, trap setting, scouting and mosquito control. Develops arboviral response plans. Identifies insects brought in by public. Reports data to TCPH and cooperating incorporated cities. Neutral party for hotel bed bug inspections. Bed bug consultant for public/others working in government. Educates public and others working in vector control in matters involving WNV/SLE Surveillance, mosquito biology and mosquito control. Enjoys public speaking/presenting. Developed arboviral response plan encompassing West Nile virus, St Louis Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika and how these responses would differ. Developed and maintains a morphological dichtomous key for mosquitoes found in Tarrant County, Texas. Was elected onto the board of the Texas Mosquito Control Association TMCA. Added surveillance for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the light of the possibility of Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue viral introduction utilizing BG Sentinel traps. Built and sample mosquito resting boxes to survey Culex parity at local level. Developed educational material for mosquitoes and the diseases that they carry.
Janet Hurley, ACE, Senior Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Ms. Hurley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from Texas Woman’s University and Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ms. Hurley was hired by AgriLife Extension in 2001 to oversee the Texas School IPM program. Ms. Hurley coordinates school IPM coordinator training for public schools in TX and oversees the statewide effort to educate schools about their Integrated Pest Management programs. Hurley is also known for her work on the National School IPM Workgroup, which helps coordinate efforts amongst states to offer quality training and education to those interested in IPM. Hurley has also been a long-standing committee member of the International IPM Symposium and has been cochairman of the Awards Committee for the IPM Symposium. Primary focus for Extension is understanding the laws and rules that impact schools and pest control businesses. Secondary focus is on vertebrate pests (rodents, bats, wildlife) as well as most structural pests of concern.
Ms. Hurley’s background in public health and administration. Her position with AgriLife Extension has been assisting school districts with their IPM programs. Rodent management has been an ongoing focus for Hurley.
We will have a discussion around the rodent monitoring systems and how to use those and game cameras to enhance your program.
Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate for the field, you will be outside each day of the workshop.
Tuition: $200 is to cover the cost of materials and meals during the training
Class Size: To ensure quality and good instructor-to-student interaction, the Academy can only accommodate approximately 50 students this session. It’s first come first serve so sign up early.
Location: Class will begin each day at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75252 Water & Land Resource Building
Course Pre-requisites: Academy students must have a basic understanding of rodent control principles (biology and behavior, rodenticides, traps, etc.). It is suggested supervisors, managers, and owners attend the Academy and teach their employees.
Student Involvement and Expectations: The Academy is not a ‘sit back and listen’ seminar. This is a working Academy, intended for pest, city and building professionals wanting to receive in-depth training in rodent Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Academy Completion Certificate and CEU Credits
To Receive a Certificate of Academy Completion
- Students will be expected to participate in class activities, hands on exercises, and classroom discussions.
- All students must also pass a final exam.
Video or audio taping of any session of the Academy is prohibited, except with the express and prior permission of Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension
Continuing Education Credits
Structural Pest Control Credits will be given for those participants who request them.
Enrolling and Attending
If your company is interested in the Rodent Control Academy, complete and submit the online registration form. https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ keyword: rodent