Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Wilkins.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Fired at 9. In Business by 11.
On August 9, 2017, at 9 a.m., I was fired. By 11 a.m. that same day, I had started my own business and had my first client. That is how Wilkins Wildlife & Pest Solutions began.
Nine years later, that two-hour turnaround is still the shortest version of my story. The longer version is everything it has taken to grow a business that started with just me into a company with a team, specialized services, and customers throughout Delaware and Maryland.
In the beginning, I was the business. The work depended on me, and so did the responsibility for earning the next customer’s trust. There wasn’t a company reputation to fall back on. I had to build one through the work itself.
That experience shaped how I approach this industry. When someone calls about an animal in their attic or pests in their home, they want someone who will take the situation seriously and explain what needs to happen. They are trusting us with their property, their money, and often a situation that has them worried or frustrated. That trust has to be earned.
As the company grew, I kept pushing beyond simply removing an animal or treating a pest problem. With wildlife, capturing the animal can be only one part of the job. We also need to determine how it entered, identify damage, and address the conditions that allowed the problem to happen. That focus on wildlife control and damage management became a defining part of our business.
It is also why we say, “We Don’t Dabble. We Specialize.” To me, that means knowing the work, understanding the limits of what you can promise, and being accountable for what you deliver.
Over the past nine years, we have expanded into pest management, termite protection, bat exclusion, and other specialized services. We also developed Wilkins Wildlights, our holiday lighting business. Those services have broadened the company, but they have also required better organization, clearer expectations, and people who can take ownership of their responsibilities.
I still have plenty I want to accomplish. After nine years, my focus is on strengthening the company, developing our people, and making sure the quality of our work supports the reputation we have built.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest changes has been moving from being the person doing everything to being responsible for a team. Today, our company includes wildlife and pest management leadership, field staff, and office support. Growing into that structure has meant learning how to communicate what I expect, establish consistent processes, and hold people accountable—including myself.
There have been hard lessons along the way. More work brings more responsibility, and growth exposes weaknesses you might get away with when you are working alone. Scheduling, training, equipment, customer communication, and managing costs all become part of delivering the service you promised. I have had to keep learning as the business has changed.
What makes me proud is seeing something that began with one person and one client become a company that customers rely on and people come to work for. Our Seaford headquarters is home base, and we continue building our presence in the communities we serve across Delaware and Maryland.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wilkins Wildlife & Pest Solutions Inc?
Wilkins Wildlife & Pest Solutions is headquartered in Seaford, Delaware, and serves communities across Delaware and Maryland. We specialize in nuisance wildlife control, wildlife damage management, and pest management for homes and businesses.
Our services include wildlife removal, exclusion and entry-point repairs, bat exclusion, bird management, pest control, termite protection, and mouse management. We also offer targeted programs for problems involving mosquitoes, ticks, deer, geese, snakes, and moles. Through Wilkins Wildlights, we provide custom holiday lighting, including design, installation, seasonal maintenance, takedown, and storage.
What ties those services together is our approach: understand the situation before recommending the work. A noise in an attic does not automatically tell you which animal is there. Catching an animal does not repair the opening it used. Treating pest activity without considering the conditions supporting it can leave a customer dealing with the same frustration again.
We look at the animal or pest, the structure, and the surrounding property to determine an appropriate course of action. Sometimes that means removal and repairs. Sometimes it means an ongoing management program. Sometimes we need monitoring to establish what is happening before moving forward. We want our recommendations to be based on evidence, and we explain what a service can reasonably accomplish.
Our tagline, “We Don’t Dabble. We Specialize,” expresses the standard I want this company to represent. Wildlife damage management requires knowledge of animal behavior, building construction, exclusion methods, and seasonal conditions. Pest management requires identifying the problem and choosing a treatment or management approach suited to the property. Those details matter.
We also recognize that customers have different priorities. For example, we offer physical and mechanical mouse trapping options for people seeking an alternative to rodenticides. Having options allows us to discuss what fits the situation instead of assuming every customer needs the same service.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Wilkins carries my family’s name. That makes the work personal. Our name is on the trucks, the uniforms, and the service we deliver. I want it associated with people who know their work, communicate clearly, and take responsibility.
There is personality in our brand, too. “If You Gotta Critter, We’ll Gitter” is memorable, and our wildlife and pest characters give us a recognizable way to educate people. We can have some fun while helping customers understand the animals and insects around them.
What I want readers to know is that we take their concerns seriously. Whether someone has wildlife entering their home, an ongoing pest issue, or wants their property decorated for the holidays, they deserve a clear explanation of the service and a team that follows through. That is the reputation we are working to strengthen every day.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice is to find someone whose work you respect, especially someone who has already handled the challenges you are facing. They do not have to be in your exact industry, but they should have experience you can learn from and be willing to tell you when your ideas need work.
Darin McMahon was my mentor in business until his passing on September 9, 2023. His guidance, experience, and willingness to challenge my thinking had a lasting impact on me and the way I approach business. He understood the importance of combining sound business practices with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to continual improvement. I am grateful for the lessons he shared and the example he set.
I want a mentor who will challenge my thinking. Encouragement is helpful, but someone who can explain where your numbers do not work, where your expectations are unrealistic, or where you are creating your own problems can save you from many expensive lessons. You also have to be willing to hear the answer. Asking for advice means very little if you only accept the parts you agree with.
I also credit the NWCOA—the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association—for its ongoing support, training, and mentorship of me and my staff technicians. The organization has provided valuable opportunities to learn from experienced professionals, improve our skills, and stay current in this specialized industry. Just as we have benefited from the mentorship of others, we believe in returning that support by sharing our knowledge and mentoring other wildlife control operators.
That commitment to education, professionalism, and service contributed to my receiving the prestigious Wildlife Professional of the Year award in 2022. I view that recognition not only as a personal achievement, but also as a reflection of the mentors, colleagues, staff, and professional community that have helped shape my career.
When you reach out, respect people’s time. Ask a specific question, explain what you have already tried, and show that you are willing to do the work. Then follow up and let them know how you used their advice. Mentorship is most valuable when it becomes an ongoing exchange rather than a one-time conversation.
For networking, my approach is to let people get to know the person behind the company. Be interested in their work, share what you know, and follow through when you say you will do something. A useful introduction, an honest conversation, or an opportunity to help someone can mean more than a sales pitch.
Building Wilkins has reinforced how closely my name and my company’s reputation are connected. Every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen that reputation. My advice is to focus on relationships you can maintain, promises you can keep, and knowledge you can share. The strongest businesses are built not only through individual effort, but also through mentorship, professional relationships, and a willingness to help others succeed.
Pricing:
- General Pest Control starting at $48.88 per month
- Wildlife Control Stating at $159
- Wildlights installation start at $988
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Wilkinspest.com
- Instagram: @WilkinsWildlifePest
- Facebook: @WilkinsWildlifePest
- LinkedIn: @WilkinsWildlifePest
- Twitter: @WilkinsWildlifePest
- Youtube: @WilkinsWildlifePest
- Yelp: @WilkinsWildlifePest
