Rodent infestation in Dubai hotel curbed with non-toxic Bell products

Not even luxury hotels in Dubai, a world-class tourist destination in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), can escape the nightmare of rodent infestations. And, "nightmare" is exactly how Agricultural Materials Co. (AMC), a Bell distributor in the UAE, and its customer, Kendah Pest Control, described what they found at one of the city's famous hotels last fall.

"It was a challenge to us especially since the rodent problem was very high with a mix of infestations between rats and mice," reported Dominador Pauig, service manager for Kendah Pest Control, a franchise of Truly Nolen International. "The customer was suffering for a long time, about six months."

Widespread Dropping, Gnaw Marks, Odor
During the inspection, technicians discovered that the problem was widespread with rodent droppings and gnaw marks throughout the hotel and in surrounding shops. They even detected the distinctive odor. Areas with food and drink, such as the hotel kitchen, bar and shops, were heavily infested, as was the receiving area and dumpsters in the back of the hotel. Rats were living and travelling in the hotel ceiling, while mice concentrated on the ground level, nesting in cupboards.

In Dubai, rodent activity increases in autumn and winter, when temperatures drop to 15-18 degrees C., but the hotel infestation was "bigger than usual," noted AMC branch manager, Sami Miqdadi, who along with AMC Engineer Yaser Al Tamimi, worked with Kendah on this job.

Part of the problem at the hotel stemmed from a failure to thoroughly inspect incoming goods, but rodents had other entry points, including holes around the electrical cables and utility lines. "There was no good sealing," Miqdadi recalled. "The location needed professional and effective rodent control devices so the first and credible option in our mind was Bell Laboratories' products."

Because food and drink were present, most of the control devices used were non-toxic - PROTECTA Bait Stations, TRAPPER 24/7 Multiple Catch Traps, TRAPPER?Glue Boards, TRAPPER T-Rex Rat Snap Traps, and PROVOKE Rat Attractant.

Technicians placed glue boards on the false ceiling tiles, adjacent to walls. Approximately 300 T-Rex traps and glue boards were discreetly used in, behind and under cupboards and other spaces, away from public view. TRAPPER T-Rex traps were also fixed to pipes.

Where food was not an issue, such as in utility rooms and the receiving dock, technicians placed bait in PROTECTA Bait Stations. Besides control measures, technicians recommended that the hotel seal holes to keep rodents out, keep bar counters and pantries clean, and properly dispose of leftover food to avoid crawling insects and to discourage rodents.

As an added service, Kendah mobilized one technician exclusively to the hotel for a month to monitor activity and to service all control devices.

Manageable Control within Three Weeks
Their efforts paid off. During the first two weeks, they caught between 10 and 15 rodents every other day on TRAPPER Glue Boards and T-Rex Snap Traps, according to a report prepared by AMC Eng. Yaser Al Tamimi and Kendah site manager, Ariel Espirtin. After the inital knockdown, the infestation level had been reduced to the point where the technician needed to check traps less frequently. By then the number of rodents captured on the traps was down by two-thirds.

Most of the rats and mice were caught in the bar, storage plant room and the receiving area. Within three weeks or so, the infestation was under manageable control.

Today Kendah Pest Control continues to provide routine maintenance services to the hotel with TRAPPER T-Rex Rat Snap Traps as the primary control for any future unwanted hotel guests.

Agricultural Materials Co. (AMC), a Bell Laboratories' distributor, is one of the UAE's leading companies in the pest control and agricultural sectors, including public health. Registered in Dubai since 1973, the 73-year old company maintains 60 branches and showrooms in more than 44 countries. Its pest control division provides control services, pesticide and equipment supplies, technical support, and consultation for rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs, and other pests.

AMC and Kendah Team in Dubai (l to r): Eng. Reynaldo Curpuz (Kendah Technical Supervisor); Warren Gabule (Kendah Finance Manager); Eng. Yaser Al Tamimi (AMC Public Health); Sami Miqdadi (AMC Dubai Manager); Dominador Pauig (Kendah Service Manager); & Darwin Durola (Kendah Technical Supervisor).