Condo Media - March 2021 - 22

PEST Control POinters
l Environment Modification
Of course, once the problems are
identified, they can be addressed.
With a focus on prevention, the " to do "
list should entail beefing up exclusion
tools - i.e., those that seek to prevent
entry. " Fix or replace door sweeps and
vents; seal holes; and eliminate water
outside in ways described, but also
indoors, possibly with use of a dehumidifier, " advises Drapeau.

IPM: Coming
to Terms

To flag and correct conditions that support pests, IPM focuses on the following:
MECHANICAL CONTROL - physical
and/or non-chemical controls such as
traps, barriers, caulks, and vacuuming
SANITATION - eliminating or cleaning
up conditions such as food, water,
and clutter that attract pests
PHYSICAL BARRIERS - door sweeps,
steel wool, and metal mesh products
for covering vents and plugging holes
USE OF LOWEST-RISK PESTICIDES -
products that control a pest effectively
and pose no exposure hazard and/
or very low toxicity toward people,
children, pets, and the environment.
(Higher-risk pesticides, which are legally
registered as such, are to be used only
when non-chemical and low-risk pesticides have proven to be inadequate in
the management of a pest problem.)
USE OF LOWEST RISK RODENT
ELIMINATION TREATMENTS - trapping methods include snap traps, electrocution traps, and glue boards. Least
toxic rodenticides available to homeowners generally come prepackaged,
in ready-to-use bait stations containing
the " first-generation anticoagulants "
that usually require multiple feedings
(e.g., warfarin, chlorophacinone, or
diphacinone) or the nonanticoagulants
bromethalin or cholecalciferol
MONITORING - closely tracking
or recording pest activity, density,
and location

CONDOMEDIA March 2021

" To keep out larger rodents, like squirrels and raccoons,
I like to cover outside vents with a solid wire mesh cloth
because it pokes their faces and otherwise irritates them. "
He favors the use of steel wool and
metal mesh products for covering
vents and plugging holes, mainly
because rodents so dislike them.
" To keep out larger rodents, like
squirrels and raccoons, I like to cover
outside vents with a solid wire mesh
cloth because it pokes their faces and
otherwise irritates them, " he explains.
Stuffing a steel wool product in identified holes in basement and attic walls
can be used to keep out mice in spring,
and, later in the season, yellow jackets.
And it's not only animal behavior
that needs to be modified, humans
need to be mindful of the part they
may play in pest control failure.
" Even if your door sweep is in good
repair, it won't help much if the door
is propped open. Treatments, too,
only go so far - you can treat the
foundation, but if you don't remove
the leaves or dry out the basement
you can't eliminate the conditions
that attract crawling insects and those
that feed off them - like spiders. "
l Beyond Prevention
Sometimes the only choice is taking
on the problem directly after exclusion methods mentioned above have
not been effective enough. When the
problem is mice, Drapeau prefers
trapping methods, such as snap
traps, to the use of rodenticides
(see sidebar, IPM: Coming to
Terms), with this caveat: " They are
99 percent effective, but because
the animals remain on the premises,
they can leave behind problems like
parasite or flea infestations. " For
insects and spiders, he says, a broadspectrum, low-toxicity pesticide can
be effective inside, but for exterior
foundations, one of the stronger
products may be required.
l Ongoing Vigilance: Monitoring
Drapeau makes clear that pest
control is definitely not a one-anddone proposition. " You need to be

constantly monitoring and tracking
pest activity, taking note of its location and density. " Mainly for this
reason, he says, it makes sense for
the association to contract with a
pest management company to conduct regular inspections of the building exterior. As far as the interior
areas, including the individual units,
he recommends something of a
hybrid approach - with some exceptions. " Interior unit inspections on
a regular basis are not as popular, unless there's a sign of rodent or insect
activity or the unit is being turned
over to a new owner and requires an
inspection. If there are no obvious
signs of activity, I would recommend relying on the homeowners
themselves or unit renters to report
issues such as bed bugs or mice. "
He does mention that homeowners
or their tenants should be aware of
vulnerable areas such as a slidingglass doors leading to decks, and the
problems mentioned above related
to attics and basements.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Drapeau repeatedly notes the importance of preventive measures described
above as the foundation of pest management. However, he insists, " there's
no such thing as 'regular treatment' "
because the effectiveness of treatment
depends on taking the appropriate
action and implementing it correctly
at the optimal time. " Even to treat the
foundation - if you do it before April or
May, the product can be washed away by
rain or snow and rendered ineffective. "
Although Drapeau claims the need for
pest control is most urgent in moist environments, he says, overall, " It all boils
down to protecting food sources. "
n ELLEN R. MEYER, MBA,
IS A FREELANCE WRITER
AND EDITOR.

Condo Media - March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - March 2021