TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Twenty-five years ago Detroit metropolitan-based chimney sweep Kevin

Critter Control’s founder and CEO Kevin Clark receives a 25- Year Anniversary gold watch at the company’s annual meeting held February 10th.

Clark received a call to remove a raccoon from a chimney. The caller said they had phoned all over town to everyone they could think of to help solve their problem, but nobody dealt with marauding wildlife. Clark began calling pest control companies and animal control officers in the metropolitan Detroit area, and confirmed the caller’s predicament.

Seizing the opportunity, Clarks' Critter Control was born. Five years later Critter Control, Inc. was incorporated and began franchising the concept. Wildlife damage complaints in urban areas were increasing all across the United States, and the company added an average of one new office a month over the next decade. Today, Critter Control is North America's largest wildlife pest control firm, with over 100 offices coast-to-coast. Critter Control ranked 21st on PCT’s Top 100 list in 2006.

Clark shares the credit with his franchisees, who've helped grow the business. "We have dedicated people, who are passionate about protecting people, property and wildlife," he said. "Franchising was the perfect way to grow the concept and share the dream", he notes, and adds that "it's been extremely satisfying to pioneer an industry, and in the process create over 400 jobs."

And, it looks like there is no end in sight to future growth potential, according to Dr. James Armstrong. Armstrong is the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service wildlife scientist and Auburn Professor of Wildlife Sciences. He recently headed up an international team of wildlife biologists studying issues associated with human/animal interactions, and says, "These types of challenges will emerge as one of the world's major environmental issues within the next few decades."

Clark says Critter Control will be there to help meet those challenges.