Cook Museum hosts beetle event, Cook’s Pest staffer earns BCE

Beetle Bombardment Fun Day allowed attendees to learn about beetles at the Cook Museum of Natural Science. PHOTO: COOK MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

The Cook Museum of Natural Science hosted a Beetle Bombardment Fun Day on Sept. 24.

Guests of all ages were given the opportunity to learn about the abilities of beetles, see live beetles, play beetle-themed games and receive a craft project to take home.

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state-of-the-art natural science museum in downtown Decatur, Ala. It provides hands-on, immersive experience where kids can explore, interact with and learn about nature.

The roots of this non-profit 501 (c)(3) museum can be traced back to 1968, when John Cook Sr., opened his professional insect collection to the public by appointment; the collection was first begun for use in employee training at Cook’s Pest Control.

Cook’s announces BCE

Savannah Duke

In other Cook’s Pest Control  news, the Decatur, Ala.-based firm announced that Technical Specialist Savannah Duke passed the Entomological Society of America Board Certified Entomologist (BCE) exam for urban and industrial specialty.

A former Alabama Department of Public Health entomologist, Duke currently assists Cook’s Pest Control with quality assurance, continuing education, district support, troubleshooting and insect identification.

“My job combines my two loves of getting to be outside and getting to work closely with people,” Duke said in the news release.

Born and raised in Brandenton, Fla., Duke earned her bachelor’s degree in horticulture and master’s degree in entomology from Auburn University. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her fiancé doing activities such as gardening, hiking, fishing and playing with her two Labrador retrievers, Macon and Rev.

About Cook’s Pest Control

Cook’s Pest Control was founded by John L. Cook in 1928 as “North Alabama Termite Control.” After his death in 1950, his son, John R. Cook, took over the company and changed the company’s name to Cook’s Pest Control. John R., a Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer (Class of 2015), helped Cook’s Pest Control become the eighth-largest pest control company in the U.S. at the time.

Cook’s Pest Control serves homeowners and businesses across the Southeast. The company offers services in pest control, termite control, mosquito control and bed bug removal. All Cook Pest Control technicians and inspectors receive comprehensive computer-based, classroom and field training. In 2015, the company opened an employee training facility in Decatur, Ala.

In 2016, Cook’s Pest Control opened a new office in Pensacola, Fla., which is the company’s first office in Florida. The company now serves customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee with 40 offices.