Orkin Unveils ‘Pests Are Smart, Orkin Pros Are Smarter’ US Campaign

Orkin, a leader in the pest control industry, in partnership with their creative agency DDB Chicago, is kicking off the pest season with a bold new national campaign, “Pests are Smart, Orkin Pros are Smarter.” The campaign highlights the surprisingly clever way pests sneak into our homes and businesses-- and the even smarter Orkin Pros who stop them in their tracks.

Pests are smart, but Orkin Pros are even smarter is the driving insight behind the campaign’s narrative. From beer-loving cockroaches to fearless backyard mosquitoes, each spot of the campaign, featuring Wes Anderson team’s handcrafted-designed puppets, taps into real entomological facts to show how cunning pests can be – until they run into an Orkin Pro. Armed with more than 160 hours of training and unmatched expertise, Orkin Pros are always one stop ahead.

Using the handcrafted puppets and insights from Orkin’s team of entomologists, the campaign brings pests to life in an unexpectedly lifelike and cinematic way. The unexpectedly charming puppets are voiced by a talented lineup that includes Brian Huskey, Hugh Scott, and Chris Candy, son of comedy legend John Candy.

“With this campaign, we wanted to spotlight just how smart and well-trained our Orkin Pros really are,” said Cam Glover, vice president of marketing at Orkin USA. “So, we mixed real pest facts with a little puppet magic to bring each scenario to life. The result? A fun, memorable way to show how Orkin delivers serious know-how—and serious peace of mind—to every home and business we serve.”

With the onset of warmer weather, the campaign is strategically timed to reinforce Orkin’s expertise during the most active pest season of the year. In the four 15- to 30-second spots, Orkin and DDB Chicago developed a handful of seemingly likable pests, each with a unique personality. However, these pests aren’t cute--they’re smart, sophisticated adults with a chip on their shoulder, frustrated that their plan to move in has been outsmarted by the presence and knowledge of the Orkin Pro.

“Working closely with Orkin’s team of entomologists allowed us to develop a campaign rooted in scientific accuracy, while bringing a distinct, creative, almost human-like edge to how we portray pests,” said Colin Selikow, CCO at DDB Chicago. “The result is a visually striking and unexpected take on pest control that balances credibility with imaginative storytelling.”

The campaign launched today and will run through the end of September 2025, with major placements during the upcoming NHL playoffs and championship games. Click here to watch the spots.

For more information on the campaign and to schedule an inspection, visit Orkin.com.