Teaching Safety, Stewardship, and Respect —Outdoors, Business and Life
A few Saturdays ago was a long day, completing a nine hour Hunter’s Safety Course with my youngest son, Soren, and a day I’ll remember for a long time. My 11 year old completed the course under the guidance of the legendary Richard Raby, a decorated and respected hunter safety instructor. My son didn’t just receive a certificate. He obtained instruction in responsibility, respect, ethics, and the knowledge to be a safe and conscientious hunter.
As someone who’s been an outdoorsman since I was a kid, I’ve always believed in passing on good sportsmanship, respect for wildlife, and ethical standards to the next generation. That’s why this day meant so much. It’s much more than knowing the three basic parts of a firearm, the definition of carrying capacity or the ten commandments of firearm safety; it’s about teaching a deep connection to the land, the animals, and conservation principles. Courses like this help support preservation efforts. They help keep hunting sustainable and ensure Nevada’s wildlife remains healthy. They also protect our wild places and preserve them as sources of learning and enjoyment for future generations. We are both hunters and stewards of the land. Hunters help fund wildlife and habitat conservation by paying license fees, taxes on hunting gear, and buying duck stamps, contributing billions of dollars each year. No other group provides more resources to protect our public lands and wildlife.
And although this is a pest control business blog, there’s a natural bridge between what we do in the vast public space of Nevada and how we help people manage pests. Let me explain.
From Classroom to Work: Wildlife, Balance, and Respect
1. Understanding Ecosystems Helps Us Understand Pests
In Nevada, wildlife is unique and diverse. Insects, rodents, birds, reptiles — every species plays a role. When you gain familiarity with local wildlife and their needs, you better understand what “normal” looks like. That helps us as pest control professionals distinguish between a transient incursion and a deeper ecological imbalance.
During Saturday’s field training, Richard emphasized preservation of our public lands, habitat, wildlife food sources, desert plant life and ethics. That same mindset applies to pest control: don’t treat blindly, disobey laws but observe, diagnose, and act intelligently.
2. Conservation and Preservation Are Not Just for Big Game
When people hear “conservation,” they often imagine protecting deer, elk, or small game. But conservation and preservation principles also apply to the smallest inhabitants — insects, reptiles, and other “pests.” Responsible pest control means:
Targeted applications, rather than impulsive, broad, indiscriminate treatments — solutions designed to safeguard your home while protecting the environment
Choosing methods that minimize harm to non-target species and beneficial insects (pollinators, predators, decomposers).
Restoring balance, so that pests don’t rebound faster than nature can compensate.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife’s outdoor education programs emphasize that hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing are vital parts of our heritage, and that becoming an ethical practitioner in those fields helps build a sustainable future. https://www.ndow.org/learn-discover/outdoor-education/ I see that same idea in pest control: we serve clients, yes, but we also operate in nature’s domain and must act as stewards, not aggressors.
3. Ethics, Sportsmanship, and Respect
In hunter’s safety courses, ethics come up constantly: taking only clean shots, acting as stewards of the land and its wildlife, leaving land better than you found it, respecting seasons and limits. These principles don’t belong only in the forest — they must translate to every business that works outdoors, including pest control.
For us, ethics means:
Honesty with clients — what they need, what they don’t need, what methods are safest.
Safe practices — for people, pets, and the environment.
Respect for property and surroundings — We honor your home and yard by watching out for companion animals, loved ones, securing gates, and minimizing any disruption to your day.
And I want my son, employees or young people I mentor, to carry that sense of dignity and responsibility into their daily work or any path they choose.
A Father’s Reflection (and a Business Lesson)
Watching my son navigate the course — the classroom work, the outdoor training, the tests — reminded me of something I often tell clients: doing the work right takes patience, attention, and respect for details. You can cut corners, but eventually you pay for it.
At nine hours, the course tested an eleven year old’s endurance. Yet every hour was worth it: the accumulated instruction, the stories, the field scenarios, the mentorship from Richard Raby was all worth it. I saw in my son’s eyes the shift from “I want to get this done” to “I want to internalize and live this.”
That same growth happens in pest control. We don’t just “splash and dash.” We plan, observe, monitor, adapt, and follow through until balance is restored. Smart pests require smart service. Choosing Anderson Pest Control is a smart choice.
Lessons from the Clark County Shooting Complex
The training took place at the Clark County Shooting Complex, located at 11357 North Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89131. It was inspiring to see two Eagle Scout projects completed there for the Nevada Department of Wildlife — one enhancing the vehicle section and another improving the boat safety area of the field training section of the course. As an Eagle Scout myself, the experience brought back memories of my own project: creating a bike path that provided students and neighbors with a safe route to and from school and a way for those with disabilities to travel a busy road safely too.
These experiences remind me how powerful it is to put community first — to build something that benefits others long after the project is finished. That’s the legacy I want to pass on to my son and to my team at Anderson Pest Control: the time-tested values of the Scout Oath and Law — to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Aldo Leopold once said, “Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching, even when doing the wrong thing is legal.” That quote captures what we strive for every day: in the outdoors, in business, and in life. (Source: Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 1949)
Closing Thoughts
That nine-hour training day under Richard Raby’s guidance was not just about passing a test. It was about instilling values, discipline, knowledge, and a deeper bond with the land. Those lessons carry over into all I do, including pest control.
My hope is this: that every client sees in our work a respect for life and the environment, even as we solve nuisance issues. I also hope that in raising my son, I help cultivate a generation that loves the outdoors, is a productive steward and serves it well.
When it comes to protecting your home, trust matters. Choose a reputable company that values safety, ethics, and the environment as much as results. At Anderson Pest Control, we safeguard what matters most — your family, your health, and your home. Call TODAY and receive $100 off!