Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Industrial, Institutional and Structural Pest Control - Rodent Control Certificate

All persons using pesticides professionally in Connecticut must possess an up-to-date certificate issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

An applicant for a rodent control certificate is expected to possess a working knowledge of the operations performed by a commercial pest control operator and the reasons for performing them. Outlined below are areas in which an applicant should be proficient.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is of primary importance and an applicant should:

  1. be able to identify all common rodents found in the region to include:

Deer Mouse (field mouse) Norway rat
House mouse Roof rat
   
    2.  know the biology and habits of the species listed;
    3.  recognize evidence of infestation, such as damage, tracks, droppings and trails;
    4.  be aware of conditions such as availability of food; and 
    5.  recognize harborages that favor infestations, such as improperly stored refuse and food, 
        openings near utility pipes and foundation walls.

Treatment

Having determined the needs of a given situation, the applicant should be able to prescribe and apply the proper treatment. This requires a knowledge of:

  1. whether or not pesticides are to be applied;

  2. the pesticides used, their properties, such as effectiveness against certain pests and their toxicity to man and other warm blooded animals. These should include, but not limited to:

    Vengeance, Fastrac – bromethalin RoZol - chlorophacinone
    Top Gun - bromethalin Talon - brodifacoum
    Maki, Contrac - bromadiolone Final and others –warfarin
    Ditrac, Liqua-tox - diphacinone Generation-difethialone
    Terad3 – cholecalciferol   
    Zinc phosphide  
    Tracking powders – diphacinone, zinc phosphide
  3. dosages and timing involved;
  4. how the pesticides are to be mixed;
  5. the various types of methods of application;
  6. proper storage and transportation;
  7. state and federal pesticide laws and regulations;
  8. state nuisance wildlife regulations; and
  9. health concerns associated with rodents-Hantavirus, Lyme disease.

Operational Practice

The applicant should know:

  1. basic safety and handling rules for pesticide use;
  2. how and when to use common types of protective equipment;
  3. early signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning;
  4. first aid which can be used in the event of pesticide poisoning;
  5. precautions to be taken to protect workers, the public and the environment; and 
  6. the proper disposal of pesticide containers and surplus pesticides.

Permitted Activities

Outlined below are responses to some questions which have arisen concerning what activities are permitted with the indoor (general pest) and outdoor (custom ground) certificates.

  1. Generally, any spraying indoors is permitted with the indoor certificate although controlling pests on plants indoors is permitted with the outdoor certificate.
  2. Spraying outdoors with an indoor certificate would be permitted in situations such as:
    1. for termite or rat control if the certificate holder holds a termite or rodent certificate;
    2. for control of indoor pests that enter from the outside, such as clover mites or earwigs, on the outside foundation of the house and on grass in the immediate vicinity of the foundation; and 
    3. for wasps if the nest is in the immediate vicinity of the house.
  3. Spraying outdoors with an indoor certificate would not be permitted for insects that are only casually a pest outdoors. For example:
    1. if a heavy flight of aphids is bothersome to people on a porch, an indoor certificate holder would not be allowed to spray the plants in the yard from which the aphids came; or
    2. if wood roaches are coming to lights on a porch, an indoor certificate holder would not be allowed to treat outside areas.

  4. An outdoor certificate holder could treat for clover mites or earwigs on the outside foundation of the house, but not within the house.

Reference Material for Rodent Control Examination

  1. Required and Additional Study Materials for Pesticide Supervisors

  2. Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations - Fourth Edition
    Available from: Continuing Education Business Office, Room 110, Stewart Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

  3. Pesticide Applicator Training Manual - Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health, Subcategory - Structural and Rodents
    Available from: Cornell University Cooperative Extension 

  4. Handbook of Pest Control by Arnold Mallis
    Available from:  Franzak and Foster Company, Cleveland, OH 44143

  5. Common Sense Pest Control (Least Toxic Solutions for Your Home, Garden, Pets and Community by William and Helga Olkowski and Sheila Daar.  The Taunton Press, 1991.  
    (This book is currently available at Barnes and Noble bookstores or can be ordered for you by other bookstores.  Your local library may have a copy.)

For more information, please contact deep.pesticideprogram@ct.gov or call the Pesticide Management Program at (860) 424-3369 or write to:

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance
Pesticide Management Program
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127

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Content Last Updated on November, 27, 2018