|
Heather Cantino,
Rural Action
Safe Pest Control Program
ipm@ruralaction.org
Rural Action Home
IPM Home Page
IPM
in schools: intro
Strategies
for safe home pest control
Three steps to safer pest control: Intro
for Teachers
Teacher
education poster
School kitchen
poster
Print this page in PDF format
|
GOOD NEWS FOR US!
BAD NEWS FOR PESTS!
Our school district is exploring a new way of dealing with
pests. Called IPM for integrated pest management, it uses a combination
of non-chemical and least-toxic chemical methods to solve pest
problems safely and economically.
How does it work?
THREE STEPS TO SAFER PEST CONTROL
| 1. |
Look, count, and think:
- What is the pest?
- Where is it?
- How many of them are there?
- Why is it here? What does it like about this place?
|
The school will use sticky traps (which do not contain any pesticides)
to monitor type, number, and locations of pests. Traps also help control
the problem. |
|
2.
|
Treat the problem. Spraying is unnecessary and can be dangerous.
Instead, IPM tries to keep pests away from the food, water, and
shelter they need. Key IPM strategies:
- good sanitation: proper food and garbage storage, frequent
mopping and vacuuming
- vacuuming and trapping pests
- fixing leaky pipes and roofs (which provide water for
roaches, termites, and ants)
- sealing cracks and screening drains to keep pests out
|
If chemicals are needed, the school will use baits of chemicals that
don't get into the air. Baits are placed only where pests are a problem
and where pests will find the baits. |
| 3. |
Evaluate: Did the treatment work? If not, can we guess
why not? What else can we try?
|
How you can help our IPM program succeed:
- Check lockers and desks for candy wrappers, leaky thermoses,
and other food for pests. Clean out desks and cabinets regularly;
change and clean under shelf paper often.
- Clean up spills promptly.
- Rinse recycling cans before storing.
- Keep art and pet food supplies in pest-proof, airtight containers.
- Get rid of clutter. Paper bags and cardboard boxes make great
hiding places for roaches.
- Clean pet cages at least weekly.
- Separate student coats (on chair backs if necessary) to prevent
head lice transmission.
- Report pest sightings, leaky plumbing, condensation, new
cracks, etc.
|
IPM provides opportunities for interdisciplinary, hands-on
learning and students' participation in the safe maintenance
of their school community
- Engage your students in hands-on biology, critical thinking,
and pest problem-solving sleuthing. Have students monitor sticky
traps and chart results, diagnose likely causes of pest problems,
and analyze results of different management strategies. Use as
basis for animal and ecosystem studies.
- Have students develop promotional materials--such as skits,
posters, comics, or fliers--to explain why IPM is important and
how students, parents, and staff can help make it work.
|
|
The Southeast Ohio School IPM project is funded by Ohio EPA Environmental
Fund.
For more information and curricular materials, contact
Heather Cantino, Coordinator, RuralAction Safe Pest Control Program
Phone: 740-594-3338
Email: ipm@ruralaction.org
|
|
