Integrated Pest Management Strategies for a Pest-Free Home

Adopting an integrated approach to pest management isn’t as difficult as it might seem. We use it every day in our pest control services and have developed a few tips over the years:

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, Integrated pest management combines scientific principles and common sense to think about pest management in a way that values:

• Using knowledge about the pest’s habits, life cycle, needs and dislikes
• Using the least toxic methods first, up to and including pesticides
• Monitoring the pest’s activity and adjusting methods over time
• Tolerating harmless pests
• Setting a threshold to decide when it's time to act

In general, these steps can be followed to remove and control a pest infestation using an integrated approach:

What exactly are you dealing with here? Identify your pest problem, contacting your local county extension office for assistance.

Research or take note of the pest’s habits, life cycle, needs and dislikes.

How are pests getting in? What can you do to keep them out?

Determine what the pest is eating and drinking and cut off access as soon as possible.

Does the pest live in the house all of the time or do they come and go? Locate the pest’s home base and block off access.

If the above steps don’t deter the pest naturally, research all of your options for removal before acting. Research pest control services in your area, taking time to choose a pest control company that meets your needs.

The steps above can help you identify and remove pesky animals, but there are also preventative measures you can take to decrease the appeal of your home in the first place.

• Close up common points of entry and exit - Check for cracks near doors, windows and piping.
• Declutter around the house - Clutter doesn’t attract pests, but it gives them lots of hiding places.
• Find and remove possible food sources - To keep from attracting pests, store human and pet food in sealed containers, keep a lid on the garbage can and fix any faucet leaks. 
• Keep the humidity relatively low - Less moisture in the air means less mold and other pests.
• Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly - Vacuuming can pick up crumbs (pest food!), bugs and eggs that you may not be able to see.
• Check items coming into your home - Clothes and luggage often carry hitchhikers, as do used furniture and rugs.
• Use a dryer for clothing and bedding - High heat can kill eggs, larvae and bugs.
  

With a few preventative measures and a plan for pest invasions, integrated pest management is easy. And when you need a little extra help removing a pest, you know who to call.

Have you come across any other integrated pest management strategies for keeping pests out of your home? We want to hear about them in the comments!