Pulling Out All The Stops

As demand for rodent control continues its upward trajectory in most geographies, pest management leaders are optimistic about revenue growth, with 65 percent of PMPs telling PCT they expect rodent revenues to be up year-over-year in 2025. That’s probably a good bet, given rodent services accounted for 24 percent of total revenue for the average pest management company in 2024, and more than half of survey respondents (56 percent) reported it has become a more significant portion of their business over the past five years.

Recognizing rodent work’s growing business potential, company leaders are investing in new solutions and strategies. Some operations, such as Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix, Ariz., have even built dedicated rodent teams.

“It’s a matter of putting client needs first — of responding to rodent challenges faster and with a high level of expertise,” said Burns Technical Director Jeff Keller. “For the past five years, our rodent department technicians have managed about 90 percent of our rodent calls, while our regular technicians focus on insects and indoor pests. The rodent team handles our large bait station accounts, carbon dioxide programs and trapping programs with 10 or more devices.”

David Turner, assistant general manager at National Exterminating Company in Newport News, Va., agrees that tough rodent infestations require specialists. “Controlling insects is a chemical and mechanical process; it’s usually fairly easy to figure out where ants are coming from and then treat them, for example. Rodent work is different. Our rodent technicians go through intense training with upper management, and many have been in the field for 20 years or more. They know how to look for rodents, find their entrance points, document what’s happening and put a plan into place.”

Burns Pest Elimination also has exclusion specialists on staff, who this year began performing smoke tests to check for plumbing leaks. “You have to go in with your whole arsenal. The clients will dictate what they want for cost purposes, but if you don’t come in sealing, looking for entry points and using multiple baits, you’re not likely to be successful,” Keller said.