The source of a roof rat problem in a vacant building took several weeks to smoke out.
Photo: Joe Wludyga; Wikimedia Commons/CSIRO
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) is launching a campaign to educate the public about the diseases and dangers associated with rats and mice in preparation for October’s Rodent Awareness Week. The annual event, now recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, will be held Oct. 23-29.
“Although rodents are a year-round problem, we do find that consumers report an uptick in rodent infestations occurring in the fall and winter months,” PPMA Executive Director Cindy Mannes says in a news release. “In fact, rodents invade about 21 million homes in the U.S. each winter, making them one of the most common pests.
“Pest control companies have the knowledge, first hand experience and tools needed to educate consumers on the damage rodents cause, the importance of being proactive against this destructive pest and the diseases they can carry. So, let’s get out there and spread the word! Join us during rodent awareness week to get the conversation going about rodents and why they need to be controlled with the help of professional pest control services.”
Using various media relations and social media tactics, goals for the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) focus on encouraging public vigilance to protect against health threats posed by rodents. The campaign also will promote the importance of working with a licensed pest professional in the event of an infestation.
The organization is encouraging industry members to share information about rodents on social media platforms by using the hashtag “#RodentAwareness.”
A digital toolkit — which the PPMA says will be available for download on PPMAMainframe.org in August — will assist PPMA Guardian and Contributor companies with their own marketing and media outreach efforts. The toolkit will contain a customizable press release, suggested social media content, high resolution photography, media training documents and other materials to help companies communicate to their customer base.
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