History

Green Screen Wildlife Deterrent products had been manufactured by Lakeshore Enterprises (LE) since 1981. Development of the business was inspired by a former LE employee, Linda Fineout. Mrs. Fineout owned an orchard and resolved her deer browsing problems by painstakingly filling hand-made cotton bags with bloodmeal. Bloodmeal, or tankage, was long known in the fruit farming community for its effective deer repellent qualities. When hung in bags from fruit tree branches, the odor of bloodmeal discourages deer from browsing and damaging vegetation.

Mrs. Fineout presented the idea of developmentally disabled adults filling cotton drawstring bags with bloodmeal and retailing the products to fruit growers in the region to LE management in late 1981. The concept was well received and without delay, LE began manufacturing a non-toxic, pesticide-free wildlife deterrent product.

In 1986, the deer repellent line expanded. Research conducted by Michigan State University (MSU) Wildlife damage control Specialist, Dr. Glen Dudderar, revealed the effectiveness of another interesting wildlife deterrent product, Dial soap. After successful field testing on local fruit trees, LE added bars of soap to the deterrent product line. The soap bars were hung from tree branches in either a cotton drawstring bag, from a bent wire or a twist tie.

The addition of soap bars offered farmers greater production from deer browsing. Research indicated that deer would eventually become immune to the scent of any repellent. The availability of soap bars enabled customers the option of rotating the use of LE repellent products and enhancing deer control measures.

From 1986 to present time, Margie Peacock established an active, positive relationship with MSU specialist, Dr. Glenn Dudderar. Dr. Dudderar has contributed significantly to the progression and strength of the LE deterrent project. His expertise and advocacy has been a valuable asset. In 1987, Dr. Dudderar recommended adding a very high heat unit of capsicum (red pepper) to the bloodmeal. This, he found, discouraged not only predators from carrying away the bloodmeal bags, but repelled rabbits and raccoons as well.

During the winter of 1988, Mr. Bruce Wildie, Pesticide Specialist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture, visited LE for a “product establishment inspection.” Mr. Wildie met with Margie Peacock and George Ott expressing his concerns about a LE “repellent product”. According to Mr. Wildie, “someone had phoned in a complaint.” Additionally, Mr. Wildie shared, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required federal registration for products claiming repellent properties. He advised LE to refer to the product as “deterrents.” This he stated would resolve potential EPA violations and omit EPA product registration.

Business, marketing and sales records for the deterrent products from 1981 through 1987 are incomplete or unavailable. Sales and advertising during this period were directed to fruit growers in the State of Michigan only. In 1988, LE created a marketing position in hopes of expanding and progressing this and other LE businesses. From 1988 to the early winter of 1998, Margie Peacock was the processor of this challenging responsibility.

The following is a synopsis of the events that have influenced the direction of LE wildlife deterrent products, Green Screen, from 1990 through the present time.

1990-1993: market analysis of deterrent products completed by Ferris State University, Green Screen (GS) tradename chosen (Ingemar chose), trademark secured for Green Screen (by Charles Kaplan, Patent Attorney), logo designed for the product tradename (artist, Jim Dewildt), cylinder package designed (artist Jim Dewildt), brochures created (Margie Peacock and Print Masters), manufacturing area enclosed with plexiglass and ventilation system installed (WSSP staff), Midwest, followed by national advertising of products initiated in “bulk” and cylinder package. Sales Representative, Penny Iverson, was added to the project and a minimum of two regional or state trade shows were annually attended. Green Screen initiated a “team” approach to guiding the project. A professional (consultation purposes) relationship with Rich Wolin, Project Manager for Northwestern Michigan College Center for Business and Industry Research Services and Mark Berstrom from WSCC was established in 1990.

1994-Present: Team decided to investigate EPA registration for the product. In August 1994, Ingemar received a referral for a consultant, Dr. Edgar Butts, based in Fairfield, Connecticut and initiated a relationship with him to secure EPA registration of Green Screen products. Dr. Butts offered his services for the fee of $1.00, generally a $1,000+ service. Dr. Butts first recommendation was to eliminate Dial soap bars from the product line. He felt it was a legal risk to resale the product as a repellent. His recommendations were observed. In October 1994, M. Peacock gave a presentation to the Meijer, Inc. lawn and garden buyer, Jerry Knuth, in hopes of initiating broader distribution of the Green Screen products. The presentation was successful, GS products were included in Meijer’s 1995 line. Additionally, sales were gradually expanding/increasing nationally.

From April 1995 until EPA registration was finalized on March 19, 1996, Green Screen products could be legally sold. During this 11 month period, a new product package was designed, updated MSDS were compiled for the ingredients (meat meal and cayenne pepper), sole distributorship of raw meat meal was established through Dale Alley Company in Missouri, an Advisory Team was created and met quarterly, PR, advertising and other marketing-sales tactics were investigated, created and/or expanded upon.

An Efficacy Report, several national distributors, bulk product labels, fine tuning of EPA registration (individual state registrations), statistical damage control info. Lawn and garden market analysis, trade association networking……. all were completed, organized or investigated during 1996-1997.