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Pest control: how clean up tracking powder

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woge...@jqpx37.cotse.net

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Jul 16, 2013, 11:19:24 AM7/16/13
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A few years ago, the pest control company we use for our house decided to use "tracking powder". (They did that one visit only.)

Anyone have an idea how I can safely remove it? It'd be nice to just use a vacuum, but I'm worried that would spread the powder.

Oren

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Jul 16, 2013, 11:28:36 AM7/16/13
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On Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:19:24 -0700 (PDT), woge...@jqpx37.cotse.net
wrote:

> It'd be nice to just use a vacuum, but I'm worried that would spread the powder.

What makes you think the powder is harmful?

If he used flour to track pests, there is harm to be done.

Nate Nagel

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Jul 16, 2013, 12:06:33 PM7/16/13
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On 07/16/2013 11:19 AM, woge...@jqpx37.cotse.net wrote:
> A few years ago, the pest control company we use for our house decided to use "tracking powder". (They did that one visit only.)
>
> Anyone have an idea how I can safely remove it? It'd be nice to just use a vacuum, but I'm worried that would spread the powder.
>

If your vacuum has a HEPA filter, it'll probably pick it up without
spreading it around.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Oren

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Jul 16, 2013, 1:02:36 PM7/16/13
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On Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:06:33 -0400, Nate Nagel <njn...@roosters.net>
wrote:

>
>If your vacuum has a HEPA filter, it'll probably pick it up without
>spreading it around.
>

I'm curious of the powder. Boric acid to kill insects is safe to
vacuum.

"Tracking" a mouse, it may be ordinary flour.

OP- sound off

woge...@jqpx37.cotse.net

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Jul 16, 2013, 7:18:17 PM7/16/13
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On Tuesday, July 16, 2013 1:02:36 PM UTC-4, Oren wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:06:33 -0400, Nate Nagel <njn****@****.net>
<snip>
> I'm curious of the powder. Boric acid to kill insects is safe to
<snip>

No, it's neither something inert like flour, nor something relatively less toxic like boric acid. It's one of those "superwarfarins", like most rodenticides.

They call it "tracking powder" because the stuff sticks to the rodent (hence "tracks" it, I guess), then the rodent later licks it off.

My gut feeling is the amounts present aren't that dangerous to humans, because we're so much larger than a mouse, but in principle the stuff is pretty nasty.

hrho...@sbcglobal.net

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Jul 16, 2013, 10:48:29 PM7/16/13
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On Tuesday, July 16, 2013 10:19:24 AM UTC-5, woge...@jqpx37.cotse.net wrote:
> A few years ago, the pest control company we use for our house decided to use "tracking powder". (They did that one visit only.) Anyone have an idea how I can safely remove it? It'd be nice to just use a vacuum, but I'm worried that would spread the powder.

I would try wet-mopping it with a disposable mop head, or just some rags on a stick.

Oren

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Jul 17, 2013, 11:26:28 AM7/17/13
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On Tue, 16 Jul 2013 16:18:17 -0700 (PDT), woge...@jqpx37.cotse.net
wrote:

>They call it "tracking powder" because the stuff sticks to the rodent (hence "tracks" it, I guess), then the rodent later licks it off.
>
>My gut feeling is the amounts present aren't that dangerous to humans, because we're so much larger than a mouse, but in principle the stuff is pretty nasty.

It may not even be active now, after a few years.

The suggestion to wet mop and clean it is a good idea.

Let us know how it turns out.

bregaladth...@gmail.com

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Nov 14, 2014, 5:26:07 PM11/14/14
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Contrary to what most of these replies stated, tracking powered can indeed be harmful. At least one type (ZP tracking powder) contains phosphine which is released as phosphine gas when it hits water or acid (in a stomach or mouth). It is not intended to track where rodents go, but for them to track through it and then ingest it during grooming.

Oren

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Nov 15, 2014, 2:17:43 PM11/15/14
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On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:25:59 -0800 (PST),
bregaladth...@gmail.com wrote:

>Contrary to what most of these replies stated, tracking powered can indeed be harmful. At least one type (ZP tracking powder) contains phosphine which is released as phosphine gas when it hits water or acid (in a stomach or mouth). It is not intended to track where rodents go, but for them to track through it and then ingest it during grooming.

Hornswoggle.

Tracking powder is a simple as using ordinary flour from your pantry.
Locating the traffic pattern, where "they go". Be it a rodent, a
lizard, a snake (sidewinder), it does not need to be "harmful".

Fluorescent Powders and a UV back light will find the trail to the
hide out, sanctuary, rodent bunker...too.
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