PEST MANAGEMENT
An increasing number of pest management professionals are turning to sanitation, exclusion, harborage elimination, non-chemical control devices and least-toxic pesticides as control alternatives. Removing the food, water and shelter of pests has a significant impact on controlling pest populations. When integrated with appropriate chemical control measures, sanitation provides a longer lasting level of control. Each pest management job must be analyzed separately, and five basic steps are involved:
1. Inspection
2. Identification
3. Recommendation
4. Treatment
5. Evaluation
Pest management should be considered as a systems approach, principally because of the complex interaction of human and structural factors that distinguish urban and industrial environments and their pest situations. System elements include inspection, determination of pest thresholds, application of pest management procedures, and monitoring pest populations and management programs. Inspection and identification provide the basis on which the strategy can be founded, in conjunction with an evaluation of all structural, human and regulatory factors affecting the program.
Insect Management
In certain situations where structural modifications and sanitation are no longer effective, insect management may include the use of insecticides that come in a variety of forms: baits, granules and liquids.
We use the tools we have to effectively manage and eliminate many types of insects. Given the social nature of ants, crickets, and cockroaches, it is most effective to use a slower acting insecticide rather than an ‘instant kill’. Slower acting insecticides are taken back to the colony and transferred without them knowing, eliminating the nest completely.
Although sprays can be effective, certain locations can benefit from granulated insecticides. Areas with excessive moisture and high heat can break down the active ingredients of sprays making them less effective, but a granule can be used instead. Granules are not bait but a type of concentrated. insecticide that reacts with the already existing moisture in the area to control the targeted insect.
Baiting can be done in areas where sprays and granules are not effective. Baits are placed in cracks, crevices, and areas likely contributing to the infestation such as water meter boxes and sewer caps. There are various baits for all types of insects; this can possibly lead to an increase in sightings as the target pests will have to go to the bait to bring it back to their colony.
Small populations of insects might occasionally be tolerated, and total eradication is often not necessary. The introduction of chemicals into the ecosystem can change the balance, destroying certain species and allowing other species to dominate.
Rodent Management
Structural modification such as exclusion or the sealing of entry points and proper sanitation practices may solve most rodent problems. A common way of managing large populations of rodents is placing bait stations throughout the property. Bait stations are made from dense plastic and are tamper-resistant to protect any non-target animals, adults, and children from accessing the bait inside. These stations are staked to the ground, deterring movement and are meant to remain stationary. Each station is monitored regularly and is labeled with our company information as well as the active ingredient of the product inside in accordance with state laws and regulations.
Ground Squirrel Management
Similar methods of management for rodents are used for ground squirrels. Ground squirrel stations are placed strategically for optimal feeding; however, this may be problematic if residents have bird seed feeders or outdoor pet food bowls, giving rodents easy access to an alternate food source. Education and sanitation are critical for the success of ground squirrel management.
Gopher Management
Successful trapping, baiting, and burrow fumigation require accurate location of the gopher's main burrow. We use a gopher probe to locate the burrow. Gopher probes come in many shapes and sizes, but essentially need to be long and durable enough to allow us to identify gopher tunnel systems through 4 to 12 inches of hard soil. Burrows and mounds are knocked down or disturbed to distinguish new activity from old.
Once gophers have been controlled, the area must be monitored for new activity. Timing is important when managing gophers; it is easier, cheaper, and less time-consuming to control one or two gophers than to wait until the population builds up to the point where they cause excessive damage to your property.
