Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management

Facilities Management and REACH work jointly to reduce pest infestations. Pest infestations are often caused by a lack of cleanliness; however, some are not. One of the University’s goals is to provide an integrated pest management method that is cost effective and minimizes pesticide risks to students and the environment .  This method requires the resident to file a pest work request. Facilities Management will follow up with an assessment to determine treatment options. Options may require several treatments and monitoring to resolve pest situation.

Submit your work requests online providing as much information as possible and indicate whether or not this is a repeat request. If Facilities Management has already been out to treat, please provide that information in the request so Facilities understands it needs to be escalated.

Here are some of the common pests and treatment plans Facilities Management utilizes:

Ant

Ants often enter buildings in search of food or to find moist areas near leaking pipes. Keeping areas clean and free of food will help keep the ants away. If ants are getting in through unsealed areas, Facilities Management will caulk and seal those points of entry. There are many treatment methods that residents can do on their own, such as cleaning and vacuuming, using ammonia or alcohol based agents to remove scent trails. Residents can purchase ant traps or bait to try to eradicate the insects. If a work request is placed, Facilities Management can also provide the traps. If after a few days, the insects have not disappeared, submit another work order requesting further investigation into where the ants are coming from especially if they are coming in for non-sanitary reasons. In some rare cases, Facilities Management may need to open walls to see if there is an ant nest present.

Bed Bugs

At the end of summer and right before residents move-in, the University contracts with a vendor to inspect for bed bugs. Canine dogs go through every unit to detect any life cycle of a bed bug.  Adult bed bugs are oval, flat and a little larger than the tip of a pencil. If they are not treated quickly, eliminating the bed bugs becomes more costly and harder to treat.

Bed bugs are hitchhikers and can be picked up in a number of ways, such as hotels, airplanes, and second hand furniture. Please do not bring in second hand furniture without inspecting and cleaning the item thoroughly. For your protection, we suggest a mattress pad that covers the whole mattress. It’s important not to have the bugs travel to other parts of the unit or campus. There are a number of online sites that you can familiarize yourself with showing what a bed bug looks like and it’s behavior.

Bed bugs are drawn to your carbon dioxide as you breathe during the night and tend to bite in a cluster. You may want to wash and dry your sheets and clothing on high heat for 45 minutes. If the bites continue please contact REACH during business hours; after hours you will contact your RA. Staff will provide you with further instruction. You will want to keep your belongings in your room until a full assessment can be made. If you can capture a bug, this will help determine what it is and the necessary treatment. If bed bugs are discovered a heat treatment is the most common and effective method of treatment.

Bees, Yellow Jackets, and Wasps

Often residents discover a bee or wasp nest near their residence. Do not try to remove the nest yourself.  These insects will build nests under the roof tiles or burrow into the wood frames. If you notice a swarm of bees or wasps, please place a maintenance request and identify the location of where you saw them. A colony needs to be removed when most of them are least active which tends to be morning time. Facilities Management will evaluate the situation and treat.

Roaches and Rodents

Roaches and rodents are similar to ants. They are often looking for a food source. Keeping your units clean and tidy will help prevent the roaches and rodents from entering your house. Encourage your neighbors to keep a clean living space since these creatures can get through small cracks and may travel back and forth. You can purchase traps to capture pests or you can place a pest work request for Facilities Management to provide traps and later dispose of pests if caught.

Silverfish

Silverfish tend to be long and narrow and look similar to an earwig. Silverfish are usually seen on their own and are looking for moisture. If you see more than four, you should place a maintenance request for Facilities Management to investigate.

Fleas

Pets (dogs, cats, etc.) are not permitted in the Residential Community, unless a Service Animal or approved Emotional Support Animal.  If you see fleas jumping around, please check with your housemates to determine if anyone has brought an animal into the unit. If a student has, they will be responsible for the pet cleaning fee and may face judicial implications. Submit a maintenance request to report the fleas. The University will work with an outside vendor to visit the unit and make an assessment.