The Idaho Pest Management Association (IPMA) hosted the 2025 Idaho Pest Exposition, held at the Galaxy Event Center, Meridian, Idaho. December 9 & 10, 2025.
Cascade Pest Control was attended by Ashley Risting, Sakhom Thien, Kevin Peterson and Kurt Treftz. The Idaho Pest Expo this year covered topics such as small fly control, mosquito treatment methods, ant pest management and distinguishing between Boxelder bugs and Elm Seed Bugs.
Ant Control Session of Note
There was a great session called “Ants—Understanding Ant Behavior and the Chemistry You Use”, presented by Santa Brandon-Kettler. Ants are an extremely persistent pest in the greater Boise area, with sugar ants (technically called odorous house ants) very bothersome in the cities of Eagle, Meridian and elsewhere.
Rodent Control Presentations
There were two presentations on mouse and rat control that held particular attention, mostly because the greater Boise / Treasure Valley area—after years rat-free are now experiencing rat populations and infestations like never before.
Rodent Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
The rodent courses were presented by Jim Shaver of Catchmaster and Timothy Madere, an urban rodentologist from New Orleans. Between the two speakers serious rodent control topics such as rodent IPM, rat and mouse behavior, structural problems that invite them, baiting and trapping methods and more were covered.
And, besides covering rats, mouse control was also emphasized which is critical because Boise, Eagle, Meridian and the whole Treasure Valley has a very well-established field-mouse problem that has long “plagued” homes in the area.
Ashley Risting of Cascade Pest Control with Ann Bates of IPMA
Kevin Peterson of Cascade (left), Timothy Madere, Urban Rodentologist (center), and Sakhom Thien of Cascade Pest Control (right)
