Infested

There is a series of Infested! programs on the Animal Planet channel this evening. It includes both mammal and insect invasions. It might be worth watching, just to see how some of our customers thought processes go.

It's obvious the folks in Canada with the coon problem had very little thought process going. Anyone who gets ZERO response from the landlord in multiple attempts regarding such an issue should have taken aggressive measures to get the problem dealt with. Maybe Canada has some very lax regulations for landlords.... but in the US the owner would be forced to take immediate action or have the entire complex shut down by DPH. I've seen it happen with bats.

No one capable of rational thought would remain in those conditions. Period. The landlord is responsible for the safety and well-being of renters..... and ignoring such an issue is a direct violation of law. I've seen many of those exact type of situations over the past 20+ years in this business, and the landlord is ultimately the one responsible.... including paying for alternate living arrangements (hotel/motel) during the time the situation is addressed.

About the show premise..... very good to see these stories, as so many people have no idea these type of problems actually exist. Certainly makes a case there is a need for the type of service we provide.

Ron, I was thinking the exact same thing as you typed. Around here the landlords would have been in deep doo doo if they didn't get something done real quick.

First I have heard of those type ants in the one place. Them must be some tough buggers to get rid of.

The house up north with the snakes would ahve been a good one to deal with. But moving out wouldn't have needed to be an option. The water contamination would have been hard to deal with though, if it was directly related to the snakes.

we have some very good professional trappers up north. We do have laws and regulations that echo your own legislaion. It all depends where you live. Unfortunately most folks have no clue when it comes to dealing with Raccoons or the problems that they bring with them. We spend a good portion of our time educating the general public.

Absolutely the most important step in most wildlife control jobs: Educate the client FIRST.

Exceptions may be predator control, mole contracts for large properties, muskrat and beaver work for municipalities or corporations.

Problems at a residence almost always require a quick "critters 101" course for the homeowners. They are usually extremely interested, plus it shows you understand the animals and the problems they can create.

Picked up a job today for that very reason. She asked a few questions, I answerd and also gave her the "101" about squirells in her attic. She hired us to do the job because she felt comfortable with us and our knowledge of the problem.

There is another epesode on this evening at 7:00 PM CST.
Infested!
Bedbugs, Rats and Scorpions
TV-PG, CC

A dream home becomes a battleground as a family goes to war against bedbugs, a single mom defends her home against an army of rats and a family in Arizona discovers their new home is a have for deadly scorpions.

I watched the show last nite. Good general information for the public to become more exposed to real life typical scenarios.However nothing new to seasoned professionals like us.Hopefully it wont increase our welfare work for free calls. LOL

Looks like the show wants to feature a skunk job that Ive been working on for season 3. Has any fellow NWCO's done the show? I do like this particular show eventhough it is highly dramatized. If anybody has infact done the show I would very much like to hear your thoughts about your experience.

I got a call from Animal Planet last year. A woman from London called several times and wanted to feature a job I did but my customer declined so it never happened. I thought it was interesting that they contacted me.

the producers are based out of the U.K. I have given my statement and so have my customers. I get to use the "Infested" and "Animal Planet" logos on my website but they wont allow me to wear my uniform or anything with my logo during the interviews. I still think the show will be good for my image considering that my customers didnt have to move out.

Ned Bruha (The Skunk Whisperer) has a write-up, Questioning Reality TV- The Good, The Bad,and The Ugly, in the May-June issue of WCT.

There are a couple of threads on TRAP TALK on the subject too.
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...tml#Post3145916
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...tml#Post3131448

Infested is the best show that has ever been for us . I've had countless customer tell me how it's a better and cheaper to just hire a professional . And how people just make things worse by doing it there selfs . We should pay this show so it has more air time . Shows like billy and turtle man just make us look like we're no better . The show animal extractors I really liked .

im still looking for spiked shoulder pads and wrist bans... everyone wants to see me dressed like Billy... problem is.. i dont have enough hair to spike...

I am going to get my own look, maybe a kilt, ballet slippers and a fairy wand to make the problems just go away.

Here we go. Tonight is my prime time debut lol.

http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/infested/videos/skunk-house.htm

Awesum Dude!!!

Very nice. I might actually have to turn the tv on tonight. Haven't watched tv since I got back from California on the 5th.

9 months?!

I encourage all of you to go on any TV show that wants you. You're not going to have a series anyway, unless you can lie to yourself and everybody else, so just be yourself and do it. They'll just edit the heck out of it and you'll come out smelling like roses. I haven't seen one of you guys embarrass our business yet. Give it a shot.

Not worth the risk.

Tonight on Animal Planet- Infested! - Feeding Frenzy- Filthy neighbors leave rats in their wake; a dream house is plagued by a horrific stench.
Friday January 25, 2013- 8:00PM – 9:00PM CST
Friday January 25, 2013- 10:00PM – 11:00PM CST
Saturday January 26, 2013- 3:00AM – 4:00AM CST

What risk, Dave?

I think I can understand the risk factor. I went into this knowing they could do whatever they wanted to the story. They made me look like just some guy with a dog. The way it turned out was okay, I do wish they would have made me look more professional. The real story took place in the middle of winter and I dont drive an suv to jobs. I dont cover my face with my shirt when doing major clean up and dead animal removal. I wear a tyvek suit and resporator. I am gratefull about them calling me a "specialist" and mentioning my experience level. I was also happy that the showed the truth in the fact that I solved the customers problem and they didnt have to move out (like in other episodes) All in all with the fact that I can use the "Animal Planet" and the "Infested" logos in advertising and the positive outcome I am happy with it overall.

mchitwood, It took forever for the insurance money to get the floor put back in. That is what ended up taking so long.

Jake,

We thought it was an entertaining piece and having never met you I wasn't sure when the first guy pulled up, but thought you were younger!

Then I saw the dog and remembered you had one you take on the job.

Thought it was great that you did show being able to locate and remove the dead skunk, as you say, many of these end in people moving on
because they don't find the right person, or the situation is beyond their budget.

The dog was a great part of the story.

About my only issue with infested and yes I'll come off like an anti here, but here goes anyway, these folks do an excellent (and therefore horrible)
job of demonizing critters. Infested being a word most of us would grow up associating with rats, mice, roaches, etc... for dramatic purposes is used
to say that any wildlife entering a dwelling is an infestation.

While many dictionary definitions list it as being overcome by parasites, others list it as being "overrun" so I suppose that definition if you have 10 skunks or 15 opossum in your crawlspace is accurate.

No knock to your story of course, I thought what they edited in for you put you in a good light, the dog helps the PR too!

One thing I always notice about the lead in to each story on these shows is "the smiths moved out to the country, a place where it was beautiful, they could enjoy nature and go hiking, etc..."

Too funny as in every case that beautiful scene is ripe with critters that feel the same way till those darn humans show up!

Living in the desert, I've just been thrilled to not become "infested" with scorpions! The story this year and the one last year on there were something that would have me moving out!

And screaming like a girl while doing so!

Justin

P.S. Again good job Jake! Also good job on the program you having coming up in CO, wish I could make it up there, you are the closest thing for me to attach to for good program this year. Plus my old boss is one of your guest speakers, a guy who was a phenomenal mentor and just a great human being in general.

Jake...you nailed my thought on risk. There is other risk as well. As I think about everything that can go wrong...the potential rewards...and my long term business strategy...I have to pass on these opportunities.

Perhaps there have been some of you that have been shown in a bad light or were completely unhappy with your interview, film. or printed story. I don't believe that there are any awards for writers, TV anchors, or broadcasters, to make us look like the bad guys.

I have been on all the major networks, my son made the front page of our largest paper, and we've even had practicing attorneys call in on talk radio, to praise our company. We are not in the business of making enemies, so why should we even consider being shown in a situation that would make perspective customers think twice before hiring us.

I guess that perhaps, living in Wisconsin, I see the world through rose colored glasses. May it always be so.

P.S. We have never received a single phone call that was negative. ( And if you guys try to break that string, I WILL track you down! )