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PCOs in the Northern United States know that the winter months often generate an excess of calls regarding rat infestations. The Rat Zapper 2000 is a clean, effective control method for rodents seeking unwelcomed residence inside businesses and homes, according to its manufacturer, AgriZap Inc.

The Rat Zapper is an electronic mouse and rat trap that kills with a deadly shock, similar to a stun gun. New to the trap is the Rat Pack, an improved power supply designed to detect the rodent and energize the chamber. Previously powered by four AA batteries, the enhanced Rat Pack requires 4 D-cell batteries, an improvement that ultimately reduces the amount of maintenance for the trap.

According to Weingarden, the Pack is simple to install and use. A PCO inserts two "dongles," (AgriZap's name for the battery-like inserts that go into the existing battery compartment) then inverts the Rat Pack and straps it on top of the Rat Zapper battery compartment.

The Rat Pack has been received well by the industry since its introduction in the fall of 2000, said Michael Weingarden, operations manager, AgriZap Inc. "A lot of our regular Rat Zapper customers were looking for ways to reduce the amount of maintenance associated with them," he said. "Now most of our new customers automatically ask for the upgraded model. "Similar to those who buy the 'turbo' model of a sportscar, many want the 'turbo' model of the Rat Zapper right from the start."

One of Rat Zapper's popular selling points is its distinction from other rodent control methods. "Many snap traps and glueboards create 'trap shyness' in rodents, and there is visible, audible and scent trauma associated with a death in a snap trap or glueboard," said Weingarden. "Our product kills the rat instantly and leave it completely in tact."

Also, the increased use of integrated pest management (IPM) throughout the pest control industry makes the Rat Zapper easier for PCOs to sell to customers, Weingarden said. "Because they don't see any blood or guts, many people favor the device over snap traps or rodenticides," he said.

PCOs using IPM will also benefit from AgriZap's MP-8 remote monitoring system, which can monitor eight Zappers in a building from another location. In addition, Weingarden said the Rat Zapper could also be cross-sold because it works on ground squirrels and chipmunks.

Copyright © 2001 [Alan Luke]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/20/12. Home