Pine Island Pest Control celebrates 25 years
Pine Island Pest Control is celebrating 25 years of serving Pine Island and the surrounding areas
Jim Downer, original owner and founder, started the company as a “one-man, one-route” operation in Bokeelia in 1991 and officially incorporated in 1994.
“Pine Island Pest Control has remained island-owned, operated and staffed, since day one,” Downer said. “We even copyrighted the motto ‘EAT, SPRAY, LOVE’ to reflect the owners favorite things.
“In the early 1960s, my grandfather would have his apartment building in Sarasota treated for bugs,” Downer said. “At that time all of the tenants would have to leave the building for hours and complained. Back then, it was a sight to see; people would watch the show. And the smell, holy cow, no one would want to be inside with that odor, anyway.”
Downer moved to Pine Island 30 years ago and managed several properties. One was a restaurant.
“The pest control company wouldn’t come out at night, so the owner set me up with chemicals and a hand sprayer and that’s where my interest started,” Downer said. “From those humble beginnings Pine Island Pest Control was born.”
Downer has seen chemicals come and go – from the “old days” when the industry didn’t have a full understanding of its impacts on the environment, to how it operates today with a healthy respect and co-existing relationship with the environment.
“Pine Island Pest Control began with a general household pest and rodent control,” Downer said. “We then began to include termite and other wood destroying organisms. Eventually we expanded to complete lawn and ornamental tree and shrub management, plus herbiciding for weed removal in xerioscaped and paver areas.”
In 2009, PIPC expanded to include structural fumigation, and most recently became qualified for landscape palm management.
“In this business, the techs get to be detectives, problem solvers, researchers and be able to play with all of the new, cool, toys such as our handheld thermal imaging detection devices,” Downer said. “This often eliminates the need for tenting and today tenting is a last resort. Thermal imaging, and radar, are able to point out where the pests are, and training, training and more training to determine the best way to attack the problem with the best possible solution.”
Today, Pine Island Pest Control, and its fleet of bright white trucks and well-trained technicians, are a common sight on the island. They serve the outer islands and neighboring Cape Coral, and continue to expand their services to meet the needs of the community. From small patios to large commercial sites, Pine Island Pest Control responds to the call of Pine Islanders.
Downer likes to say, “You can bug us.”
Pine Island Pest Control is at 10502 Stringfellow Road.
For additional information, call 239-283-7463.