Plunkett’s Pest Control teams with Hamline professor for pest study

In a unique collaboration that merges science, fieldwork, and social understanding, Plunkett's Pest Control has partnered with Dr. David Davies, an anthropology professor at Minnesota's Hamline University. Together, they're undertaking a fascinating research project to better understand the intricately involved relationship between humans and pests, and how pest control methods affect – and are influenced by – our daily lives.

This research goes beyond the typical scope of pest control. It's not just about removing unwanted creatures. Instead, it's a closer look at how humans coexist with their environments, what pests mean to them, and how pest control workers negotiate their methods and attitudes in dealing with human clients, infestations, and environmental factors.

An Unusual Beginning: From Mouse Encounter to Full-Fledged Fieldwork

The inspiration for the study was surprisingly personal. Dr. Davies had a mouse in his office – a comparatively minor event that spawned a much broader idea. He began to wonder not just about the mouse's presence but about the broader implications of how humans respond to pests in their homes and businesses.

What do they tell us about our relationship with nature? 
How do people react emotionally to pests? What are the social and psychological processes that kick in when hiring pest control services?

These questions led Dr. Davies to a decision rarely seen in academic circles: he became licensed as a pest control technician. He wasn’t content with observing from the sidelines—he wanted to step directly into the shoes of a working professional in the field. He partnered with Plunkett’s Pest Control, a well-established company with over a century of experience in pest management.

Dr. Davies spent a number of months shadowing technicians, going along on service calls, observing interactions with customers, and participating in pest removal processes. His approach was anthropological and immersive, and he attempted to come to terms with the behaviors, terminology, and culture of the pest control industry and how these interact with the general public.

Pest Control Through a Cultural Lens

While pest management is typically a scientific or technical field, this study identifies the human element that is usually overlooked. Pests do not exist in isolation—they live with us in our homes, workplaces, and public spaces. And how people react to them can be vastly different based on their culture, life experiences, and even temperaments.

Dr. Davies' research dives into these kinds of human elements. He observes how technicians adapt their strategy depending on the type of client or pest problem. Some clients, for instance, care more about cleanliness or stigma, while others care about safety or long-term prevention.

In addition, the study looks at the terminology and metaphors people use to explain pests—e.g., "invasion," "infestation," or "taking over"—that reveal underlying anxieties and psychological connotations. These findings explain why pest control is not just an issue of extermination, but also one of providing reassurance, knowledge, and communication.

What This Means for the Industry

For pest control companies, this type of research yields practical knowledge. An understanding of client behavior and emotional responses can be used to improve service delivery and client relationships. For example:

• Communication Strategies: Technicians' communication with clients can be modified to build greater trust and comprehension.
• Service Customization: Understanding different customer priorities can lead to more effective and tailored treatment approaches.
• Training Improvements: Anthropological findings can be integrated into technician training programs, which would make the staff more culturally aware and compassionate.

In appreciating the human element in pest control, companies can improve their practice to cater to the physical and psychological needs of their clientele.

Plunkett's Contribution to Linking Science and Practice

Plunkett's Pest Control provided more than just an opportunity for field experience. They opened their operations to Dr. Davies and encouraged open, collaborative research. That is a testament to their general commitment to learning and growing in an evolving industry.

Though Plunkett's has traditionally been associated with technical proficiency, this project demonstrates an increasing recognition within the industry: science and sociology need to go hand-in-hand in order to address contemporary pest problems. Pest control is no longer about quick solutions—it's about developing long-term, people-oriented solutions.

Plunkett's is not alone in this attitude. Across the pest control business, more and more companies recognize the value of research, innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. But their partnership with Dr. Davies represents one of the few examples of where academic fieldwork intersects directly with everyday service work.

A Broader Shift in Pest Control Philosophy

This study is part of a budding trend: pest control workers are thinking beyond traps and poisons. They're beginning to consider their job as a part of a system that includes human psychology, social norms, and the environment's balance.

In the past, eradication at all costs was often the goal. Today, the goal is shifting to one of coexistence, prevention, and sustainable control practices. Research like Dr. Davies' adds depth to this evolution, showing how workers can be not just killers, but teachers, problem solvers, and collaborators with the community.

Looking to the Future: How This Study Might Shape the Future

While the study is ongoing, early findings already point to potential changes in industry practice. Companies can begin incorporating more behavioral science into their training. Universities can begin teaching more interdisciplinary courses combining public health, anthropology, and pest control. And consumers themselves can begin to see pest control as not a last resort, but as a normal component of shared environment management.

Also, this type of work opens doors for more collaboration between academia and industry. It shows that when researchers and technicians work together, they can uncover more profound truths about how we interact with the natural world, even the parts we generally try to keep out of our homes.

Conclusion

The partnership of Dr. David Davies and Plunkett's Pest Control is more than a research project—it's a rethinking of what 21st-century pest control can look like. In highlighting the human side of the business, this research compels companies, customers, and researchers alike to approach pest management with greater awareness, empathy, and understanding.

As the boundaries between urban life and nature continue to blur, studies like these remind us that pests are not just pests—they are mirrors of our environment, our lives, and our adaptability.