October School IPM News

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News

Central Maine IPM Workshop Friday October 5, 2018.

There is still time to register for the Comprehensive School IPM Workshop scheduled for Friday October 5th, 8am-11am, at Central Community Elementary School in Corinth, ME. Click here (or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comprehensive-school-ipm-workshop-rsu-64-corinth-tickets-49332839852) to register. If you are a new IPM Coordinator, or you need some School IPM Continuing Education credits, or you just want an update and refresher on school IPM, this workshop is free and open to all.  Got a pest you want identified or a persistent or challenging pest issue you'd like to resolve? Bring your pests, questions and stories! 

Want to host an IPM workshop at your school? Contact Kathy Murray at the Maine School IPM Program by e-mail at kathy.murray@maine.gov or call 207-287-7616.


School bus

Preventing and Managing Rodents in School Buses and Garages

Although wildlife is a natural and important part of our ecosystem, rodents such as mice and squirrels can pose a safety risk by damaging wiring and hoses of vehicles. Damage and droppings can pose health, structural and fire risks to maintenance buildings and garages, too. Here are some tips to prevent and manage rodents in and around buses and garages. Additional recommendations to prevent and manage wildlife problems are available on-line from Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, or contact your regional IF&W regional biologist, or contact a licensed wildlife control operator (find one near you at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/wildlife-human-issues/index.html#ADC).

1.       Park buses as far from trees and heavy vegetation as possible. If you need to remove trees or prune large overhanging branches, hire a licensed arborist to ensure safe removal. Avoid parking near dumpsters, too.

2.       Seal all food in pest-proof (air-tight) containers. Empty food waste cans, clean up crumbs and wrappers and wash down floors and seats at the end of the day. Leave no food or food waste for night-active rodents.

3.       Conduct daily vehicle hood-lift and walk-through safety inspections before use. The use of a bright flashlight is highly recommended. Inspect wiring for gnawing damage, look for and remove nests and/or caches of acorns and leaves. Signs of rodents or rodent damage should be addressed immediately.

4.       Identify the pest(s). Droppings, gnaw marks, footprints, nests, or visual sighting of the animal itself can be helpful. A game camera set up to record animal activity can be helpful.

5.       Inspect the outside of buildings for possible entryways. Look for gnawed holes, small gaps around pipe and utility penetrations, missing soffit covers, gaps in the siding or masonry or other openings in walls, foundation and roof. After removing the animals, seal the holes with galvanized hardware cloth, steel wool, aluminum flashing. Rodents will readily gnaw through foam sealants.

6.       When a new or persistent wildlife problem occurs, work with pest management and wildlife management professionals to develop an effective management approach. This may include the use of live traps, snap traps, repellents, and/or approved pesticides to temporarily address the issue. Snap traps are often effective for mice and rats. Cage traps are better for larger animals. Follow your professional's recommendations for trapping and euthanizing the animals. For rats, bait the traps for a week to let the rat get used to the trap before setting it.

7.       Keep records of all pest sightings (including droppings, gnawing damage, nests) and actions taken in your school’s Pest Activity Logbook. Communicate with your IPM Coordinator, maintenance staff, and pest service provider following your schools’ established communication system. In addition, keep written records in the logbook and make sure that the pest control technician has access to your records and that you have access to theirs. Keeping all the records in one place will ensure that everything is documented and communicated.

photo: By Die4kids - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24903387

School IPM Webinars

webinar

Webinars are a great way to get the latest information and guidance for preventing and managing pests in schools. This year, the Maine School IPM Program partnered with US EPA to offer webinars on head liceticks, fleas, mice and rats, and more. Register to watch one of the upcoming live webinars to join the conversation and get answers to your questions, or access recorded webinars on-demand. 


Questions/Comments? Contact us! 
Email: kathy.murray@maine.gov
Phone: 207-287-7616

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