Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a non-chemical and environmentally friendly approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices, knowledge, behavior and life cycle of the pests and a systematic approach to pest control methods that will minimize pest damage and their presence.

IPM utilizes a combination of different methods to ensure that success is achieved in alleviating a customers pest concerns. The strategies include:

• Pest Identification – Inspecting the affected location and identifying the pest along with the understanding of its behavior and life cycle provides the pest control professional with the ammunition to implement a strategy.

• Education - “Knowledge is Power”…educating a customer about the pest, their behavior and life cycle will help in making the strategy successful.

• Exclusion – Preventing the pest from gaining entry to the premises will more than likely minimize pest damage and/or their presence.

• Sanitation – The removal of food, water and shelter which attracts the pest will also lead to a reduction of their population.

• Monitoring – Using glue boards to monitor pest activity will aid in pest identification, help to determine pest population or provide warning of a new concern.

• Physical Control – Changing the environment or natural habitat of a pest can help to eliminate and control pest population.

• Follow up – The success of any program is dependent on the level of quality controls that’s put into place to ensure that the problem does not reoccur.

Residences:

• Make sure your gutters and downspouts are cleaned once every six months and are free from debris. This will help to minimize the moisture around your roof structure so that it doesn’t attract carpenter ants.

• Make sure that the soil around your foundation is graded away from your home so that water does not accumulate against your foundation. This will help to minimize the level of moisture around your home and will reduce the pest population.

• Always remove the old mulch before adding the new. Insects live within the mulch beds and adding new mulch on top of the old provides an additional moisture barrier for them.

• Do not leave the garage door opened for an extended period. Rodents and other animals will be attracted to your opened garage door and soon your home will also be their home.

Commercial Businesses:

• Ensure that grass and weeds on the lawn and fence area are kept real low. High grass and weeds will attract rodents.

• Garbage Bins and Compactor areas should be free of boxes and other loose garbage as this condition will attract rodents.

• Storage racks should be at least 18 inches off the ground and should not be against the wall.

• FIFO…first in and first out should always be followed when storing food.

• Door sweeps should be installed on doors that have a wide gap beneath them.