Implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program

As one school administrator asks, “What’s the difference between a pest and a pet?” (Answer: one you feed and the other you don’t.) If your school doesn’t have an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, you can take steps to turn those pets into pests, and then reduce those pests. This is an important component of Indoor Environmental Quality objectives. An IPM program means that you will use eradication chemicals only as part of a comprehensive program to reduce insect, rodent, and other pest populations while taking steps to reduce asthma triggers, which will help your overall student population. First the facilities people at your school will want to keep records on what types of pests are typical or common for each campus. Your written IPM program will list types and numbers of pests that will be tolerated, then the amount or frequency of infestations and what steps will be taken at what point in time to reduce or eliminate infestations. At your school, you’ll work to alleviate the infestations by the use of several methods. Sanitation is what you are going to use in lieu of pesticides for the first line of defense. Use common-sense strategies: caulk the building envelope, make sure doors and windows close properly, and inspect vegetation areas near entries. If excessive vegetation harbors pests, take steps to prune or eliminate the vegetation. Consider whether or not the pest is actually a pest (honeybees for example). Next you’ll want to determine the various ways to reduce or remove pests. The idea is to reduce reliance on chemicals, which can be harmful to humans, especially the medically fragile. If your school uses the calendar to schedule pest spraying, stop using the calendar. It’s too arbitrary and leads to over-use of pesticides. Consider using traps and (non-pesticide) baits to monitor pests. You’ll want to keep your school clean and reduce food sources for your pests. When pests reach a certain threshold, as detailed on your schools IPM plan, you’ll need to act. Some of the ways to keep pests from turning into pets: • Keep food out of classrooms. Keep food in the cafeteria. • Have a “no classroom pets” rule. All those class gerbils and rats eat, drink, and have bedding. Their supplies are stored in the classroom. Think about having a teacher’s meeting to determine a classroom pet policy. • Remove refrigerators and other food storage and preparation appliances from the classroom – get rid of coffee makers, toaster ovens, microwaves, refrigerators, and hot plates. • Have trash emptied daily from classrooms. • Keep classrooms clutter-free so the janitorial staff is able to clean effectively. When there is no other choice but to use pesticides, develop a list of least-toxic pesticides. Try using mechanical means first, for instance, scrub the affected area clean before resorting to pesticide application. Pesticides often need licensed applicators to apply and they can persist in the school for long-term, ongoing exposure. For chemically sensitive children this can mean repeated absences. Also explore green methods for cleaning and for pest removal. Biological controls are effective; scientists have developed traps or other methods of removing pests based on pheromone attractants. The use of diatomaceous earth is common and is effective for ant control. The sharp pieces of silica in diatomaceous earth stick in the exoskeleton of pests, then are brought back to the nest by the ants where they (the shards) persist, resulting in the death of the insect. Use predatory insects to keep pests under control – ladybugs and praying mantis can be ordered through the mail. For mice and other rodents, use traps. An Integrated Pest Management program is an important aspect of providing a healthy school environment. Writing and implementing an IPM plan is simple. There is an example IPM plan below (third link). http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.h http://www.whatisipm.org/ http://www.uvm.edu/pss/pd/schoolipm/documents/sampleplan.pdf http://www.epa.gov/pesp/ipminschools/issuesandbenefits.html