WSPMA Holds Rodent Control, Management Workshop

SEATTLE - The Washington State Pest Management Association and the King County Health Department, responsible for the city of Seattle and the surrounding cities, held the Pest Coast Workshop that focused on rodent control/management.

The meeting consisted of a split between pest management professionals and State, county and city health officials. The wide range of expertise gave everyone a new appreciation and understanding of what each other does and how we can better work together to benefit our communities, customers and the environment. 

© WSPMA

Dr. Bobby Corrigan (left) spoke on all things rodents and did a deep dive into control strategies. Kurtis Brown, ACE, spoke on IPM and rodent control and gave us glimpse into rodent control in Canada, Dan Baldwin, B.C.E. REHS/RS spoke on the importance of exclusion and sanitation. Dr. Bree Dell spoke on Zoonotic diseases and monitoring in King County.

Attendees broke up into groups ensuring each group had a PMP and health department staff to learn what each other looks for when out in the field. This offered a new perspective and formed new relationships that will hopefully be cultivated and used as a tool to get better outcomes for the communities we serve.

The field visits took place at the site of the 1962 Worlds Fair, many may know this as the location of the Space Needle and the area around it. Attendees even got up close and personal with rats that even had Dr. Corrigan a little excited.