PPC116 | Meet the tech

Stuart Blair works for BPCA member company Graham Pest Control and attended the first-ever Rodent Academy in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Here, we talk a bit about his career in pest management and what he learned during his trip. 

PPC You’ve been working in pest control for some time now. How did you first enter the industry? 

SB After leaving college, I worked as a draughtsman in the construction industry. Unknowingly, this gave me a good start in pest control, as I had some knowledge of building and structural issues that pests could exploit.

Later, I was working as a temporary worker with a local authority. Due to a callout for black ants within the office, I happened to have a conversation with one of the council pest control technicians, who told me all about his working week.

As a young man, I was interested in the outdoors and country pursuits, getting involved in the sports and activities within this area. I have always had an interest in that way of life. From then on, I wanted to find out more. That was the start of me researching a career in pest control.

PPC What first attracted you to pest control? 

SB I think, at first, it was the excitement of working outdoors, escaping the office environment and knowing that each day would be different.

The problem-solving of large infestations of rodents and insects continues to give me that same buzz.

"...it was the excitement of working outdoors, escaping the office environment and knowing that each day would be different."

PPC You seem to specialise in dispatching rodents with air weapons – like a pest control sharpshooter! Would you say that’s accurate?

SB Yes, to some extent, but I have a strong interest in all methods of non-toxic pest control. Shooting and trapping are huge parts of that.

I got into shooting when I was nine with my grandad (aka Pop Tosh). He was a major influence on me. He gave me the opportunity to experience the benefits of outdoor pursuits and spend time with Mother Nature. He also gave me my first air rifle, which I still have to this day.

Nowadays I can use my shooting skills as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. When dealing with a major infestation of rats, the most appropriate solution for removing them must be chosen.  

First and foremost, you must get the customer on board with your recommendations, such as rotating waste stock and gaining access to voids and areas where rats are nesting. Environmental management helps remove the sources of food and habit, solving the problem long term.

PPC You’re quite well-travelled, having been to Washington and Florida on trips where you collaborated with other pest controllers. Can you tell us about each of those trips and how you got in touch with international pesties?

SB Yeah, I have been on a few trips to America. I have been out with Scott and Angie Mullaney, who run a pest control company called UNIQUE Pest Management. They specialise in using specially trained and certified canine teams to provide rat detection and abatement, mouse and bed bug detection services.

I have known Scott for many years. He and his wife, Angie, have been very supportive of me over the years. 

This year, I received an absolutely unbelievable invitation to attend a conference in the USA where Scott Mullaney and Bobby Corrigan presented non-toxic solutions to rodent issues. I also headed to the streets of Boston to carry out rat removal with his canine pest detection team. 

Florida presented an amazing experience. While on a pest control job using air rifles in and around the Miami suburbs, I made contact with a couple of YouTubers called Raj the Iguana Man and Iguana Ninja.

I also run a YouTube channel dedicated to pest control using air rifles and night vision/thermal technologies to remove rats from appropriate sites where this type of treatment is possible.

Consequently I spent a whole day driving around Miami dispatching iguanas from golf courses and the storm drainage systems throughout the city limits.

PPC The Rodent Academy with Bobby Corrigan must have been really interesting. We’ve had him on a BPCA Forum before and he’s a fantastic speaker. How was the conference?

SB Spending time with Bob Corrigan was absolutely brilliant! The knowledge that man has and was sharing regarding rodent behaviour was truly amazing. 

City management is key to urban rodent control. They understand that the government and local authorities must have a long-term strategic plan to tackle rodent problems. Pest management is being taught to all levels of city and university staff to better understand why proofing and waste management are very important.

We discussed why we should focus more on non-toxic solutions like trapping, carbon dioxide gassing, and canine detection and removal teams alongside the conventional use of rodenticides.

"We discussed why we should focus more on non-toxic solutions..."

I came away feeling like everyone was willing to help each other achieve a better solution to city issues.

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