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What is a pest?

Last Updated: June 24, 2011

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Simply stated, a pest is an unwanted organism. These organisms may compete with humans, animals, and plants for food and water; injure humans, animals, plants, structures, or possessions; spread pathogens; or annoy humans or domestic animals. So a pest may be a weed or an insect, or rodent, or other organisms that are unwanted.

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