It’s a fact of life that many of us will have to deal with pesky critters in our homes and businesses. Since these bugs and rodents can be a real pain, there’s quite an industry built around getting rid of them, which is pest control services. It might not be the first industry that comes to mind when you think of major business growth, but pest control services are highly profitable. Here are three statistics that help explain why this business is booming.
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1. Over 14 Million US Homes Had Roaches in the Past Year
There’s one big reason pest control is booming. Many people have pests. Over 14 million US homes had roaches in their residence within the past year. That’s a huge number! Now think of all the various pests that might potentially take over our spaces, such as ants, roaches, mosquitoes, rodents such as mice and rats, termites, bed bugs, and so on. Whether you’re in a city apartment in a town like Baltimore Highlands or out in the suburbs, odds are you’ll at some point cross paths with one or more of these unwelcome visitors. This universal requirement for pest control generates a constant demand for professional services. Considering also that the majority of people would prefer not to deal with these problems themselves, calling in the experts makes plenty of sense.
2. Pests Cause Billions of Dollars in Damage to Property and Food
Yet another reason why the pest control industry is so profitable is the financial threat pests can pose. It’s not just being grossed out by seeing a spider web in the corner. Many pests can do serious damage to property and require expensive repairs. Termites are a classic example of this category: They quietly munch on the wood that makes up the structures of buildings, which can do thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to the building without anyone realizing that they are in it. Rodents can gnaw through electric wires, which can spark a fire. Food supplies can even become contaminated by much smaller pests, such as certain types of ants. In the US, it has been cited that there are billions of dollars worth of damage that are being incurred by termites annually. When you start to add up the cost that other pests take on homes, businesses, and agriculture, it is easy to understand why people would want to spend money on a licensed pest control operator to protect their property and avert those costly problems.
3. Diseases Spread From Pests Cause More Than 700,000 Deaths Worldwide
The growing concern related to health hazards caused by pests is another factor fueling the pest control market. A lot of pests are not only damaging, but they can also harbor and transmit diseases. Mosquitoes are a famous case in point and can spread diseases like the West Nile virus, as well as the Zika virus. Cockroaches can be powerful allergen sources and may cause asthma. Rats can spread disease through their droppings and urine. Bed bugs are not believed to transmit diseases but can leave itchy and unpleasant bites that interfere with people’s sleep. As consumers are made more aware and concerned about these health threats, the more they will seek the help of professionals to rid their home or workplace of pest problems and to provide peace of mind in a healthy setting. Public health issues, particularly with respect to vector-borne diseases, which are the diseases spread through contact with insects and other arthropods, are responsible, in large part, for the need for effective pest management services, as they cause more than 700,000 deaths each year worldwide.