Dr. Robert (Bobby) Corrigan is one of the world’s most renowned urban rodent experts. He is president of RMC Pest Management Consulting based in New York City, USA and has more than 30 years experience working within the industry.

In this far reaching interview, Bobby begins by discussing the effects of the current Covid-19 pandemic on rodent behavior, the role of Integrated Pest Management and the power of quality data. Looking to the future he shares his opinions on the rapidly increasing use of remote rodent monitoring technology and concludes by prophesying what pest control, and those working within it – who he refers to as “observational biologists” – will be like in the future.

In the current situation, Bobby first comments on the effect Covid-19 has on rodent behavior. He explains that it is hardly surprising their behavior has changed – deprive them of food for several days, reduce the number of people on the streets and then we wonder why are we surprised to see disorientated and frightened rodents out in daylight.

Discussing Integrated Pest Management, Bobby says clients understand good housekeeping and proofing and are keen to be seen spraying and baiting but forget all about monitoring. “This is a service that will carry itself long into the future,” says Bobby.

The new digital technology using remote sensors coupled with good database management will allow us to not only treat the pests but to profile their population – to prove how pest populations have reduced. He forecasts that remote monitoring won’t threaten technicians, it will enhance their role, it will make their activities more meaningful and so inspire them – to make them “observational biologists.”

He explains how pest control has basically followed the same work pattern for hundreds of years, but feels the tipping point of accepting this new technology is very nearly upon us – using the example of how the industry swung from spraying for cockroaches to baiting for cockroaches.
Certainly interesting times ahead and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.

We look forward to catching up again with you in a few months time.