Donovan's Pest Control, Inc. Comparative Summary

When it comes to pest management, many people are concerned about the impact chemical spraying will have on the health of their family, employees and pets. Redwood City’s Donovan’s Pest Control uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to managing pests. “We’re a family-operated business,” says president and founder Jim Donovan. “We provide a service based on customers’ wants and needs. We care about the environment, and we care about our customers’ living, working and playing environments.”

When hired for a job, Donovan’s Pest Control doesn’t immediately start spraying chemical pesticides. Its first step is conducting an inspection to identify the exact type of pest and the extent and locations of its population. Often, this means mechanical or physical controls may be the best solution. Such steps include using dehumidifiers (to reduce the air’s humidity to a level at which pests can’t survive), sealing structures or removing tree branches and stacked firewood from the sides of a building. For mice or rats, traps may be preferable to poisons.

“If we do use pesticides,” says Mr. Donovan, “we start with solutions that have low toxicity levels. ‘Pesticide’ simply means ‘pest-killer,’ and, depending on the type of pest, products like Eugenia oil or other food additives can be effective. We primarily use botanicals and low-impact products.”

Donovan’s Pest Control believes in educating clients about the biology of pest organisms and showing them how they can inhibit pests’ life cycles while minimizing the use of chemicals. “We don’t start out with the idea of using chemicals,” says Mr. Donovan. “We provide a common sense, preventive approach that’s based on science and an inspection of the type and extent of the pest problem.”