Flea Forecast: More of the $ame

Most PMPs (65 percent) expected the percentage of revenue generated from flea control services at their locations to hold steady in 2022, found the PCT State of the Flea Control Market survey.

“I don’t expect any factors that are going to increase or decrease it,” said Trent Johnson, Ja-Roy Pest Control.

Trey Howard, president of Bug Out Pest Solutions in De Queen, Ark., likewise anticipated flea control revenue to stay constant in 2022 with wildlife issues the potential wild card.

“In the last 20 years, the amount of wildlife that we encounter is a lot more,” said Howard. Critters carry fleas, which infest yards and homes when the animals find their way into and under dwellings. With fewer hunters and more homes being built in natural areas, encounters with flea-ridden wildlife will increase, he said.

According to the PCT survey, 27 percent of PMPs anticipated flea control service revenue to increase, while 5 percent expected it to decrease.

Charles Fyfe of Envirocare Pest Control was planning for less flea revenue this year. Even the rise of pandemic pets didn’t increase flea work for the company.

“In fact, it started to drop off, and my theory is that people were confined to their homes and spending more time cleaning,” he said. Regular vacuuming helps minimize indoor flea infestations, said PMPs in follow-up interviews.

August 2022
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