Baiting and the Environmental Impact

Most pests that get into homes and businesses do so to find food and shelter. They’ll eat our leftovers and pretty much anything that’s left lying around, from pet food to rubbish. They also like to find a nice place to shelter. That’s what makes baiting and baiting stations so effective. But what’s the environmental impact of baiting?

Why is Baiting So Effective?

To understand the potential impact of baiting, let’s look at why it works and how it works. So pests come into buildings to find food and shelter. Baiting works because bait is mistaken for food and bait stations can seem like a shelter. Once the pest ingests the bait, it begins to work.

How Safe is Baiting?

When bait is used properly, it can be very safe. Here’s why.

There’s a low amount of active ingredient

Baiting is generally safer than methods like spraying because baits contain lower amounts of active ingredient (Generally between 50mg and 2.0g per kg of bait).

Bait is selectively toxic and target specific

Handling bait is quite safe because baits are not particularly toxic to humans and other mammals. Some are selectively toxic towards the target pest. This prevents non-target species from being harmed.

Baits are selectively placed

This immediately makes them safer than other treatments like sprays, because sprays are used across a larger area.

Does Baiting Have an Impact on the Environment?

While conventional methods of pest control do much to rid our homes and businesses of pests, their use has to be weighed against potential negative impacts on health and the environment.

The misuse or careless handling of pesticides can destroy biodiversity and cause health problems like headaches, breathing issues, and chemical burns.

Yes, conventional pest control chemicals can be used on a large range of pests and are effective at eliminating them.

But at Contego, we know that pest management is not just about eliminating pests, it’s about preventing recurrences of infestation, and reducing the use of chemicals.

That’s why baits are one of our treatments of choice. Baiting is carefully managed by inspections and it’s more environmentally-friendly due to its low toxicity. It allows us to treat hard to reach areas as well as those where chemical use may not be appropriate such as schools, hospitals, or food preparation areas.

Baits are popular with our customers because they have no odour and leave no stains or residues. They are also more cost-effective than some other treatments.

Got Questions About Pest Control?

If you need pest control for your home or business but you’re concerned about the health or environmental impact, get in touch and let us put your mind at ease.

We know that modern pest management is about much more than using heavy-duty chemicals to kill pests. Effective management of pests requires a strategy that makes use of prevention, monitoring, and treatment that’s appropriate for the situation.

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