On Earth Day, a celebration of PMPs

LOGO: EARTH DAY

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a worldwide celebration of the environment. The pandemic quarantine forced many event planners to scrap, or at least modify activities. But with much of the world sheltering in place, we’ve noticed a trend that is worth highlighting on this special day: Pest management professionals (PMPs) are in more demand than ever on local TV news programs.

Since spring traditionally brings not only increased pest pressure, but increased home and garden show events, PMPs have long been a part of local TV “morning update” programs as far as that goes. But this year’s coverage differs somewhat from that of the past, with interviewers looking to give viewers reassurance that mosquitoes and ticks have not been found to be carriers of coronavirus, for example. PMPs are able to remind viewers that they and their teams are protectors of public health, and are taking every precaution to keep both employees and customers safe while still getting the job done.

If your firm is observing Earth Day in some way, we want to know — comment below or send a note to pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net. And if you’ve recently been or are scheduled to appear on your local news program, please do the same. What follow are just a few of your colleagues putting their best feet forward in front of a receptive audience:

• Ohio Pest Management Association Immediate Past President (and PMP Editorial Advisory Board member) Kurt Scherzinger, Scherzinger Pest Control, Cincinnati, Ohio, is interviewed about what his team is doing in light of the pandemic, here.
• Corky Mizer of Corky’s Pest Control, San Diego, Calif., explains how his company has adjusted, here.
• Matthew White of The Killers Pest Control, Portland, Ore., also explains how his company has adjusted, here.
• Jennifer Savastino of Gannon Pest Control, Syracuse, N.Y., shares her company’s adjustments, too, here.
• Tulsa, Okla.’s “News On 6” program interviewed Farrah Fulps of Arrow Exterminators and Sam Dowell, Mosquito Joe’s of Tulsa, for its roundup.
• The Santa Maria, Calif., branch of Clark Pest Control, meanwhile, got a local mention because of its team’s volunteer work with a local food bank, here.
• And last but not least, Cardon Ellis of Unipest was interviewed by a Santa Clarita, Calif., radio station KHTS about how to tell the difference between a rat and mouse infestation.

Happy Earth Day, everyone!