Before Critter Control, there were not many options for wildlife control and removal. Some pest control companies offered animal trapping services. There were even less that offered exclusions and remediations. Critter Control pioneered the industry.
The Beginning of Wildlife Control
Critter Control was founded in 1983 by Kevin Clark. The business evolved from Kevin’s father. He was a teacher who cleaned chimneys during the summer. Loaned a top hat and a few wire brushes, Kevin started working at Clark’s Chimney Service.
Customers called often about birds or raccoons stuck in their chimney. Kevin started offering animal removal from chimneys because of trapping experience from high school. The first animal removal job was on January 17, 1982. He removed a raccoon from a chimney, installed three homemade chimney screens, and cleaned the fireplace and chimney.
Clark’s Critter Control
Mr. Clark shifted gears from chimney cleaning to wildlife removal services. Word-of-mouth spread naturally. A recurring theme was “we have called everybody, and nobody can help us.” Clark’s Critter Control was featured in Wood and Energy Magazine in April 1982. Clark’s Critter Control was born in 1983.
Clark’s Critter Control expanded services to include attic work. From 1984-1985, branches were opened in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida. Critter Control joined national associations like National Pest Management and Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators.
Incorporated in 1986, Critter Control started franchising in 1987 to help more customers. Critter Control provided training, support, equipment financing to franchisees to help get them started. Critter Control averaged one new office per month over the next decade.
Download: The Critter Control Concept Approaches of a Firm Specializing in Nuisance Wildlife Control
Lynn Braband, Kevic Clark, 1987
The Critter Control Brand Grew Rapidly
During the 1980s, the need for wildlife control was only increasing. At the 1988 Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences, the experts focused on nuisance wildlife.
“Wildlife damage complaints are increasing throughout the United States. Continuing population expansion, spreading urbanization, and increasing wildlife populations are factors in the trend.”
-Dr. Lee Stribling, Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science, and Dr. Nicholas Holler, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Auburn University
“Damage concerns involved not only agricultural and forestry interests but also urban and suburban residents and the resource managers to whom they turn to for help and advice.”
“These types of challenges will continue to emerge as one of the world’s major environmental issues within the next few decades.”
-Dr. James Armstrong (AL Coop Ext. Wildlife Scientist, Auburn Professor of Wildlife Sciences) recently headed up an international team of wildlife biologist studying issues with human/animal interactions.
Critter Control was there to help. As a nascent industry, Critter Control created and defined best practices. Franchise owners helped develop training programs and standard operating procedures to safely perform wildlife removal.
Critter Control recruited people like Sean Carruth, Mike Dwyer, and Joe Felegi with degrees in wildlife related fields. Dr. George Rambo, Dr. Michael Godfrey, and Drs. Chris and Marijo Christensen were members of the Vertebrate Control Committee and all opened their own franchises. They contributed greatly to our expanding knowledge base of pest and animal control.
“Hundreds of Millions of Dollars are spent annually in the USA dealing with nuisance wildlife control.”
-The Wall Street Journal
Growing the Critter Control Brand
Critter Control started getting recognized as the industry leader. Industry trade magazines like Pest Control Technology and Pest Management Professional featured Critter Control. In fact, Pest Control Technology Magazine credited Critter Control with creating the “Category of Wildlife Control”.
In 1990, Critter Control had ten offices in four states. There was a call from a Houston, Texas property management company to do a bat removal job in Little Rock Arkansas. Tom Brungardt , the owner of the Kansas City franchise, traveled to Little Rock to complete the job.
On their 25th anniversary, Critter Control commissioned Franchise Business Review to perform a satisfaction survey of their franchisees. Critter Control earned a top 25 franchise ranking, 83% of franchises saying their business was exceeding their financial expectations! In the first Pest Control Technology Top 100 Pest Control Companies release, Critter Control ranked #27. In 2015, Critter Control climbed to #14.
Over the years, Critter Control earned top rankings such as:
- “Best of the Best” from Entrepreneur Magazine
- A Franchise 500 company every year starting in 1996
- #1 Pest Control Franchise
- A Top-100 home-based franchise
Acquisition
Rollins acquired Critter Control in 2015 and continued to invest in the business. There are over 120 Critter Control offices helping solve nuisance wildlife issues across the country.
Critter Control taglines:
- The Nation’s Leading Wildlife Control Firm.
- Protecting People, Property and Wildlife.
- Get Them Out. Keep them Out.®
Critter Control in Pop Culture
- In 2002, USA Today featured Critter Control on the front page.
- World Greatest TV in 2014 as the World’s greatest Wildlife Control Company
- In 2015 Critter Control was parodied in an SNL Skit.
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