The reality of rodent control: Stories from the front line

Have you ever wondered what our experts see on the front lines every day? As part of our 100-year celebrations, we’ve been talking to our technicians around the globe to get a better insight into the reality of tackling one foe in particular, one that was repeatedly mentioned as a common pest, no matter what the continent or country: rodents.

Our technicians had some shocking tales to tell about the unusual places they’d discovered rodents in, and we couldn’t wait to share them with you. Join us as we uncover some of the most dramatic and surprising rodent stories they had to tell.

An unforgettable first impression in the US

For US technician Angela Miller, her first major rodent challenge came sooner than she expected and on a scale few could imagine.

“I had an account that was infested with rodents,” she recalls, and what she found was far more than a couple of mice causing mischief. Instead, the case pushed the definition of an infestation to its absolute limits.

“When I say infestation, I’d put that at the max,” she says. The sheer scale of the problem became clear as the service progressed, and Angela says, “There were over 200 rodents.”

While many of us are repeatedly warned about the speed at which a small pest problem can escalate into a major infestation, Angela’s story is a powerful real-world example of just how bad it can get if left unchecked.

An unforgettable odour in Thailand

Angela was faced with the challenge of a live infestation, but sometimes, the lingering consequences can be just as bad, as Preetibud Tangwattanasontron in Thailand discovered.

For any business in the hospitality industry, reputation is everything. An issue that might be a minor nuisance elsewhere can be a critical threat to a restaurant, where the guest experience is paramount. This was the exact high-stakes situation that Preetibud was called to resolve.

“One time I helped a customer remove a dead rat from a ceiling void,” he explains. “It was a restaurant, and they reported a strong odour.”

A mysterious, unpleasant smell is one of the worst problems a food establishment can face. It requires discreet and immediate detective work to trace the source without alarming customers. After a careful inspection of the premises, Preetibud pinpointed the location. “We discovered the carcass and helped remove it immediately,” he says. The swift and professional resolution was crucial, addressing the problem at its source.

Reflecting on the job, Preetibud adds, “Everything went well in the end, but it’s definitely a day I’ll never forget.”

A discovery in a zero-tolerance zone

Some commercial environments face even stricter restrictions when it comes to pests, with no margin for error. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is one such example and technician Glessie Fernandez from the Philippines recalls one of his most memorable rodent stories from the zero-tolerance sector.

"Without a doubt, the most surprising place I’ve ever discovered a rodent was inside the production plant," Glessie says.

"Given the strict hygiene standards required in pharmaceutical manufacturing, encountering any pest within such a critical area is a significant issue," he explains.

A discovery like this is memorable for the sheer surprise of finding a pest where it should never be.

Not for the faint-hearted

Pest control technicians often arrive at a site with only partial information, ready to use their training to assess and solve a problem. But sometimes, a situation confronts them with a raw, visceral reality that no amount of training can fully prepare them for. This was the case for Nurlisa Binti Zulkifli in Malaysia, during what she describes as her most unforgettable moment.

“I attended a call-out for a commercial premises, not even knowing it was for a dead rodent,” she begins. The physical constraints of the job immediately presented a challenge. “The ceiling didn’t have much access; there was only one way in.”

What happened next was a sudden and overwhelming shock to the senses. “When I opened the access, the rotten rodent was right in front of me. The smell was very bad and strong,” Nurlisa recalls. “I was very shocked at first and tried very hard to hold my breath, but after that, I threw up.”

When pests get personal

What happens when our technicians’ work follows them home? For Tamir Luvaton, one of his most surprising stories didn't happen on a job, but in his own house.

"One of the surprising stories I have," Tamir says, "is that I found a rat inside my own laundry basket."

The discovery of a pest in a personal space is always unsettling, but the irony of an expert finding one in their own home brings a unique perspective. It reminds us that pests don’t discriminate and are opportunistic survivors that will take advantage of any shelter they can find, no matter whose home it is.

Watch the video below to hear Tamir tell his rodent story.

The unwanted passenger

For Colin Beirne in Ireland, one of his most important early lessons came from a very unexpected place.

“When I first started as a pest control technician, I did a treatment for a vehicle that had rodents inside,” Colin recalls. “I’d never come across it before, and it opened my eyes to where rodents could be hiding and nesting.”

While it’s common to find pests in buildings, a vehicle presents a unique challenge and the story shows just how adaptable rodents are. “In this particular vehicle, a fairly large rodent had nested in the glovebox of the car,” he says. “That was quite surprising when I opened the glovebox to do the treatment and saw the rodent.”

An expensive lesson in prevention

Sometimes, the most memorable pest encounters aren't just about the surprise of the discovery, but about the clear and costly consequences of a lack of prevention. Edson Flores recalls a call-out to a well-known retail store that perfectly illustrates this point.

The team discovered five rodents nesting inside a bookcase on the shop floor. While a surprising hiding place, the immediate financial damage was easy to calculate: ten t-shirts, valued at $80 each, had been completely destroyed.

What makes this story so significant is that the problem was entirely preventable. Two months prior, the technicians had provided the client with recommendations for preventative measures, including pruning nearby vegetation that was in contact with the building's structure. The advice was not followed, and the rodents found their way in.

A century of expertise in action

From a 200-rodent infestation in the US to a single, critical discovery in a pharmaceutical plant in the Philippines, the tales of our technicians show what 100 years of service looks like on the front lines: a global team of experts ready to handle any challenge, anywhere.

Take a look at what we’ve been up to to mark our 100 years.