PWIPM Minnesota, Girl Scouts Join Forces for Bug-Filled Adventure

Editor’s note: the following article was contributed by Julie Baskerville of Adam's Pest Control, co-chair of PWIPM-Minn.

EAGAN, Minn. - The Minnesota Chapter of Professional Women in Pest Management (PWIPM-MN) joined forces with Girl Scouts River Valley at the Ecolab Schuman Campus in Eagan, Minn., on Jan. 6 for a bug-filled experience to earn a Brownie Bug Badge.

Imagination and Architectural Design. It was a buzzing hive of creativity as young Girl Scouts unleashed their artistic talents to  create bug art and design bug homes. Guided by experts, the girls discovered the  importance of bug habitats and the role they play in sustaining insect populations. This  hands-on building activity instilled a sense of environmental stewardship in the young  participants.. 

Bugs in Action. Thanks to live demonstrations by Ecolab’s Entomologists, the scouts marveled at the  behaviors and characteristics of various insects, gaining valuable insights through  interactive and engaging demonstrations and even holding Madagascar Hissing  Cockroaches! 

Meeting Baxter. The Bed Bug Sniffing Dog. Baxter, the bed bug sniffing dog from Adam's Pest Control, showcased his impressive  skills alongside his handler Doug Seeman. The duo demonstrated the incredible  olfactory abilities that dogs possess, particularly in the detection of bed bugs. Unlike  humans, who have approximately six million olfactory receptors in their noses, dogs like  Baxter boast up to 300 million. Additionally, the part of a dog's brain dedicated to  analyzing smells is about 40 times larger than that of humans.This heightened sense of  smell allows dogs to excel in various scent-related tasks, including the precise  identification of bed bugs, making them invaluable allies in pest control efforts.