Pest Control Vancouver is the process of protecting plants, animals and humans from unwanted organisms. The purpose is to reduce the number of pests below harmful levels using physical, biological or chemical techniques.
Rodents are a big problem for people as they chew on wires and carry diseases like Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Leptospirosis, Plague and Salmonellosis.
Accurate pest identification is the first step in a successful pest control program. It allows you to determine basic information about the pest, such as its life cycle and the environment in which it thrives. Having this knowledge will help you to develop an integrated pest management (IPM) plan that is effective without the use of harmful chemicals.
A good starting point for pest identification is a local insect field guide with color photographs. Your commodity or industry organization, Cooperative Extension agent, or State land grant university may have guides specific to the crops you grow. These guides also often include tips on insect scouting and identification.
Other excellent resources for plant pest identification include MMPC’s Pest ID Center and the National Identification Services (NIS). NIS is a team of expert biologists who provide high-quality, nationwide plant pest identification in support of USDA’s regulatory programs. These experts, stationed at a variety of locations throughout the United States, are highly trained in the fields of botany, entomology, malacology and mycology and serve as the final taxonomic authority for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine’s (PPQ) identification programs.
Vertebrate pests can also be a challenge to identify. MMPC has developed an online tool to assist with this process. It narrows down potential vertebrate pests by comparing physical characteristics and behavior to known pests. It will also give you an overview of the biology of that species and management options.
It’s also a good idea to keep a file of labelled digital images of your samples for future reference, especially if you are using an IPM approach. This will allow you to better predict which insects may be a problem in the future and what steps might need to be taken to prevent their spread.
Preventing pests is a great way to save money, reduce risks to people and collections, and minimize the use of harmful chemicals. If you can tell what kind of pest is a problem, then it’s easier to recommend control tactics that target the pest and not everything else in the area.
Prevention
The goal of prevention is to prevent pests from causing damage or creating problems. Preventing pests can be a challenge and requires an integrated approach including inspections, monitoring, scouting, and proper use of control tactics. The tactics include physical, biological, and chemical controls.
Physical controls include traps, screens, barriers, and fences. Devices that alter the environment also may help, such as radiation, heat, and refrigeration. Chemical controls include sprays, baits, and insecticides. The choice of controls depends on the type and severity of the pest problem.
A well-maintained yard and garden is an effective way to reduce pest populations. Keep the lawn free of weeds, brush, and debris, remove fallen fruit from trees and shrubs, and keep bird feeders and baths far away from the house to minimize rodent and insect activity. Clearing crawl spaces, sealing wood piles, and fixing leaky roofs, plumbing pipes, and screens can also help reduce pest activity around the home.
Open doors and windows provide easy access for pests to enter the house. Fixing screens on windows and doors can help, but not completely solve the problem. The most important step is to prevent pests from finding food, water, and shelter in the first place. Keep food in sealed containers and store garbage in tightly closed trash cans. Remove rotting fruit from the yard, dispose of compost properly, and regularly clean the birdbaths and feeders to eliminate attractants for rodents.
Monitoring and scouting may be sufficient to manage some pest problems, especially if the pest population is low or if the damage caused is minimal. For example, seeing a few wasps flying around the house every now and then probably does not warrant action, but noticing increasing numbers of wasps and their nests near the house may be a sign that they are coming closer to the home.
Threshold-based decision-making focuses on monitoring and scouting to identify the number of pests and the damage they are doing, and on determining whether or when a pest control tactic is needed. The threshold is defined by the amount of damage or risk that is unacceptable. For example, there is usually no tolerance for bacteria in operating rooms and other sterile areas of health care facilities.
Treatment
Pest control uses a range of techniques to manage unwanted pests in and around your home. These techniques include preventative measures, removal and exclusion, and pesticide treatment. Chemicals are often used in combination with physical traps and baits. Pesticides are poisonous substances that kill or repel a target pest. Qualified pest control technicians have access to and are trained in the safe use of these chemicals. They can also give you information about the safety of your family and pets, and how to reduce the risk of exposure.
Generally, the aim is to keep the pest population below an acceptable level with as little harm as possible to non-target organisms. Prevention is the first step in this approach, followed by suppression and eradication. Eradication is more common in enclosed environments such as indoor areas of homes, hospitals and factories.
Some of the most effective controls are cultural practices, biological controls, and physical controls. These involve removing rubbish and other sources of food, storing food in sealed containers, keeping gardens clean and tidy, avoiding overwatering and fertilizing, using barriers and traps, soil solarization, and planting competitive plants. Predatory and parasitic animals such as birds, reptiles, and fish feed on some pest species, and can significantly reduce their numbers. Pathogens such as bacteria and fungi cause disease in some pests, and can suppress their growth or reproduction.
Clutter provides places for pests to breed and hide, so reducing clutter can help prevent them from getting into your home. You can also seal off entry points such as gaps around doors and windows, with caulking or steel wool. This is a good idea even if you have not had a pest control treatment.
If a pest control treatment has been conducted, make sure to read the label and follow instructions carefully. It is best to stay out of treated areas while the sprays are drying, and to avoid mopping or washing over the chemicals. You should also avoid letting children or pets play near treated areas, as some products pose a health risk to them.
After a pest control treatment, it is normal to see an increase in pest activity for the first couple of weeks. This is due to the vast number of pests that have been flushed from their hiding places by the treatments.
Follow-Up
The last step in pest control involves preventing future infestations. This includes proper storage of food and garbage, regular cleaning of kitchen and bathrooms and removal of cluttered living areas, which provide hiding places for pests. It also includes reducing the amount of moisture in the home by repairing leaky pipes and regularly removing standing water, such as puddles. Clutter is particularly appealing to pests, as they can breed and hide in piles of newspapers or cardboard. Regularly vacuuming, sweeping and mopping can remove crumbs and other potential food sources that attract pests. Garbage should be stored in sealed containers and disposed of on a regular basis.
If pesticides have been used, they should be applied according to the label and with care. Avoid using foggers, bombs or other “instant” pesticides, which can spread chemicals around the building and may cling to carpets, furniture and other surfaces where people live, work and play. Pesticides can also be hazardous to health, especially for children and pets, if not properly disposed of and when long-term exposure occurs.
When choosing a pest control company, ask about licensure and insurance. Licensing indicates that the company meets standards and regulations, while insurance protects you in case of damage during treatment. Ask about service guarantees as well. Reputable companies prioritize safety for both their customers and the environment. They also promote integrated pest management (IPM), a series of tactics that uses multiple strategies to reduce pests and their damage to an acceptable level. They also encourage building occupants to participate in the pest control process by reporting maintenance issues to property owners or managers and practicing preventive measures such as sealing entry points into buildings, storing food in airtight containers and removing waste regularly.
