Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection Practice Exam

___________ are specially trained to use their highly developed sense of smell to help locate infestations of termites, wood-boring beetles, and carpenter ants.

1. Termite dogs

2. Some birds

3. Raccoons

4. Catfish

The correct answer is: Termite dogs

Termite dogs are specially trained canines that possess a highly acute sense of smell, allowing them to detect the pheromones and chemicals associated with wood-destroying organisms such as termites, wood-boring beetles, and carpenter ants. Their training includes positive reinforcement techniques to ensure they can accurately locate these infestations in various types of structures. The effectiveness of termite dogs stems from their natural abilities; dogs have a sense of smell that is significantly more sensitive than that of humans, which enables them to sniff out hidden pests that may not be readily visible during a traditional inspection. This method of detection is increasingly popular within pest control and home inspection industries due to its efficiency and accuracy. The other choices, while they may have certain skills related to scent detection, do not specialize in finding wood-destroying organisms like termites or carpenter ants. Therefore, termite dogs are uniquely suited for this task, making them the correct answer to the question.