PCT EXCLUSIVE EVENT: Rodent Summit Review

A diverse group of rodent experts met in Chicago March 13-15 for the PCT Rodent Management Summit.

A diverse group of rodent experts — including pest management professionals, scientists, product specialists and health and government officials — met in Chicago March 13-15 for a unique experience.

The first-ever PCT Rodent Management Summit (co-sponsored by Bell Laboratories) was an opportunity for a wide array of rodent management specialists to learn from one another and work together to find better rodent management solutions. Bobby Corrigan, president of RMC Pest Management Consulting, Richmond, Ind., said the diversity among attendees — which included numerous practitioners — made the rodent summit a one-of-a-kind event. “It was well represented by those professionals in the field day in and day out, as well as those who are out there training those in the field day in and day out,” Corrigan said. Corrigan explained how and why the PCT Rodent Management Summit was developed: “In traveling throughout the country and talking to PCOs, entomologists and technical specialists they all said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could have two whole days just on rodents and go into a lot of detail?’” Corrigan said.

In addition to Corrigan, who opened the summit with a seminar titled “The House Mouse and its Health Significance,” Dr. Stephen Frantz from the New York State Department of Health, Peter Martin from Bell Laboratories and Bob Richardson from General Mills were among the varied speakers who gave their perspectives on rodent control.

The sold-out summit included a panel discussion among representatives from various inspection agencies who discussed food-plant rodent control programs, and concluded with a review of the results from the Copesan/RMC Pest Management Nationwide Food Plant Pest Management Research Project with Corrigan and Dr. Jim Sargent of Copesan.

In addition, Copesan Services presented Pi Chi Omega, the national fraternity for pest management professionals, with a check for $2,125 during the PCT Rodent Management Summit. Copesan Corporate Entomologist Sargent presented the check to Pi Chi Omega lifetime member Dr. William Jackson during the two-day summit. 

Editor’s note: To listen to audio recordings from the Rodent Summit and for more coverage, CLICK HERE.