Patent Number: 7308867
Docket Number: 7804
Serial Number: 11059016
Date Patented: 12/18/2007

Technology Description:  Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Texas have developed a device that prevents birds and squirrels from eating bait from an ARS-patented (USPN 5,367,983) “4-Poster Deer Treatment Bait Station,” which is designed to reduce the risk of Lyme disease in humans by preventing adult blacklegged ticks from feeding on white-tailed deer.  When the “4-Poster Deer Treatment Bait Station” is opened only at night, deer and perhaps raccoons are allowed to feed from the device and become treated with a topical tickicide-breaking the life-cycle of the ticks and reducing related human Lyme disease problems.  The existing device, which is licensed to American Lyme Disease Foundation in Somers, NY, includes only the feeding mechanism and not a mechanism to time and control the corn flow.  This new device is designed to retrofit the plastic commercialized version of the bait station, and prevent feeding by non-target animals during daylight hours.  It is also designed to prevent a major usage and damage problem for ‘4-Posters’ in areas of high squirrel populations.  It prevents corn kernels that are broken by squirrels from soaking up moisture, molding, and emitting foul orders, which prevents deer from using the device.    The pest control industry and companies that manufacture bait stations and treatments would be able to develop the technology into a commercial product.  Homeowners’ associations, deer ranchers, parks, campgrounds, military, individuals, and others wishing to reduce free-living blacklegged and lone star tick populations would benefit from this invention.    ARS is seeking a commercial partner to manufacture and install the device, after re-engineering it with the existing technology, to simplify the manufacturing and installation process.   Reference: Please refer to S.N. 11/059,016 (Docket #0078.04), “A Mechanism for Prevention of Diurnal Feeding from Wildlife Treatment and Feeding Device,” which was filed on February 15, 2005.  Foreign rights are not available.        Inventors:   Joe Mathews Pound Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects   Research Laboratory Kerrville, TX  78028 Phone: (830) 792-0342     Fax: (830) 792-0345 mat.pound@ars.usda.gov Gary R. Earl U.S. Livestock Insects Laboratory Kerrville, TX  78028-9184 Phone: (830) 792-0349    Fax: (830) 792-0337 gary.earl@ars.usda.gov John Allen Miller (Same as first inventor) Phone: (830) 792-0321    Fax: (830) 792-0302 allen.miller@ars.usda.gov Randy Wayne Ryan U.S. Livestock Insects Laboratory Kerrville, TX  78028-9184 Phone: (830) 792-0349    Fax: (830) 792-0314 wayne.ryan@ars.usda.gov