Reply author: Lawrie
Replied on: 04 Sep 2006 14:50:21
Message:

As MD of Green Shield, we import and distribute a solely electromagnetic device for which we have lab tests (in the UK and US) as well as reference sites. I agree that ultrasonic devices are not effective, and we will not entertain selling them.

You will see adverts for ultrasonic pest controllers in many places as there is a ready market for the unknowing, and they are usually cheap enough to be bought and discarded when they don�t work without worrying about the cost. This is to say nothing about some units that exceed the maximum power output allowed by the European Union for ultrasound and which will be damaging hearing.

You should also know that there is a directive from the Advertising Standards Agency regarding the advertising of these products, what may or may not be claimed, but many resellers appear to pay no attention to it, and are happy to make grandiose claims without substantiation, and pay the consequences (if there are any) later. We however have embarked on a process of selling effective devices only, claiming only what we can substantiate, and have invested in R&D; to further refine the devices. I should point out that over 4 million of the domestic units have been sold in the States, with very few returns.

We looked at the devices being made in China, and spoke with manufacturers over there, but they are not at all interested in whether the devices work or lab testing, only what new gimmick can be added to make more sales and we despise such blatant cynicism.

Why aren�t pest controllers using them? Well, on the contrary we do have a number of pest control companies using and reselling them. We have sold the units into hotels, restaurants, coffee bars, schools, and theatres, all with great success. We sell domestic and commercial versions, but the commercial versions are only sold after a proper survey and testing of the reach of the field, and always come on a 30-day trial period to ensure they are positioned properly. The domestic versions are sold with a 60-day money back guarantee, as we cannot do a survey and there are some circumstances where the wiring and layout of the building may not be suitable. We sell the domestic version to pest control companies at a greatly discounted price to sell on to the public as further protection for them after a visit and also as an additional profit stream.

Regarding your point about a chicken farm, we have done an informal trial with our units on a turkey farm under the auspices of an independent biologist and it did reduce the incidence of rats, according to the workers there and the simple sandtrap measurements made.

As for the new build housing, we have not been in contact with many builders, but this is a good idea.

There is a lot of confusion about what works and doesn�t, and it is easy to say you tried it and it didn�t work, therefore nothing works. We believe we have a device and a protocol that when properly deployed works well. Those people selling magic bullets that solve all problems will only shoot themselves in the foot, unfortunately harming all of us in the pest control industry.

We have only tested our units with rodents and can make no claims about other pests, although we have anecdotal evidence about our units and other pests. This is not good enough to shout from the rooftops about how effective the units are, and as a professional company we would not do so, so for the time being, they are to prevent rodents only.

Regarding the point about leaving debris around, we have found that our devices are only another weapon in the fight against rodents, and normal housekeeping procedures must still be adhered to. Our devices disturb the rodents so that their feeding (and breeding) behaviours are affected, and after a period of time, they leave. Rather like your entering a haunted house � you wouldn�t like it but if the reason for being there was strong enough, you would put up with it for a time. Similarly, it is necessary to ensure that attractants for rodents are reduced, and also access points are blocked up. As we say, the device will not stop the inquisitive rodent, but will stop them nesting and re-infesting.

We have been elected members of the British Pest Control Association, and are keen to work with pest controllers as partners and to some extent have been successful. We are the only supplier of these devices to have ever been elected to the BPCA, and take our membership seriously. Many in the pest control industry (including the market leaders) are very conservative, but with the increasing European legislation against poisons, it is time to use fresh eyes and see us not as a threat, only as another arrow in the quiver.

Many of the devices on the market either do not work or work poorly � rodents can be habituated to the signal being given off in other devices but tests show that no habituation occurs in our devices. Our independent UK pilot study showed that the eating behaviour of a rodent was affected very clearly, and if you care to contact me directly, I can send you some information.

Regarding your challenge about a genuine �field trial�, we are currently looking for a site that is accessible to the independent biologist, who lives near Basingstoke, as this is the next step after the pilot study. If you have a site down there, please get in touch.

I would be delighted to help rid Britain of rodents and live in a cleaner world, and as for your question of where will they all go, as with all ecological niches, when the niche shrinks, so does the population.

Lawrie Siteman, MD Green Shield. 0800 0 811 817