IDENTIFY

Proper identification of the pest is essential to developing a good management plan.

Here are Action Steps:

• Capture the actual animal
  • For insects and related pests, you can avoid touching them by scooping them into a container or plastic sandwich bag. (A tweezers or forceps might come in handy.) Most adult insects can be placed into the freezer to kill and preserve for identification. Soft-bodied insects can be preserved in rubbing alcohol.
  • Rodents or other animals may be trapped or caught on glueboards available in grocery stores, hardware stores or nurseries
  • If you are squeamish about pests, you can take a photo or digital image to use for identification. You can send a digital image to your County Extension Agent by e-mail for rapid identification.
  • If you are unable to locate the animal, collect sample of damage that pest caused or droppings from the animal or take a photograph or digital image for identification of damage, droppings or other signs of the pests. When taking photographs or images, use a recognizable reference item such as a coin or ruler to indicate actual size.
    
• When you have collected one of the items above:
  • use a field guide or Extension literature to identify the pest
    or
• take or e-mail evidence or specimen to local Extension office
  or
• bring to pest control company or local nursery for identification
  

SANITIZE

Sanitation is the key to solving most household pest problems. It involves removing food, water and shelter from the pests and eliminating breeding sites.

Here are Action Steps:

• Take out trash several times per week
  • Keep trash in a closed container lined with a plastic bag
  • Clean trash container and garbage cans inside and out
    
• If you recycle, store items in container with tight lid
• Rinse bottles and cans before storing
• Clean recycling containers regularly
• Keep recycling containers outside
  
• Eliminate food and water sources
  • Keep all food, including pet food, in pest proof containers
  • Do not leave food, including pet food, out overnight
  • Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight
  • Clean kitchen counters, tables and floors often
  • Clean spilled food products immediately including food from pets eating inside the home
  • Encourage eating at the table only. Do not allow children to walk around with food
• Sweep and vacuum regularly
• Repair leaky plumbing
• Caulk cracks around pantry shelves to avoid food accumulation
• Inspect and discard all infested food products
  
• Eliminate pest breeding sites
  • Clean drains (toilets, sinks, showers) with a stiff brush and flush with boiling water
  • Do not allow food crumbs and debris to build up on grout of tile floors
  • Avoid storing newspapers, magazines and other items that make hiding places for pests
  • Inspect food products and containers for pests. Be especially cautious with pet foods.
  • Do not buy food products in damaged containers.

EXCLUDE

Keeping pests out of your home is the best way to manage them.

Here are Action Steps:

• Seal points of entry such as around pipes and electrical wiring entering home with caulk, expanding foam or steel wool
• Use weather stripping or a new threshold around outside doors if your can see daylight under or around the doors
• Store food items in air-tight and pest proof containers or in the refrigerator or freezer
• Keep household trash in a closed container
• Stuff steel wool in weep holes of brick near soil line
• Keep window and door screens in good repair. Replace or repair torn screens
• Keep garbage cans and fire wood away from home entrances
• Keep outside vegetation including tree limbs, shrubs and ground covers from touching home
• Inspect boxes, bags, furniture and other items before bring them into home
• Make sure attic and soffit vents are properly screened
• Feed outdoor pets away from home entrances, put out only enough food for one meal

CONTROL

Even if household pests elude your first line of defense, sanitation and exclusion, do not immediately reach for a can of pesticide spray to solve the problem. There are other alternatives that may be equally effective. And always try least toxic approaches first.

Here are Action Steps:

• Non-chemical control
  • For pests such as cockroaches, flies or mice try a trapping device such as a "roach motel", fly paper or a mouse trap. For fleas, a vacuuming regularly helps control even if insecticides are used.
  • A mixture of liquid detergent and water in a spray bottle can be used for "emergency" ant control on the kitchen counter
    
• Chemical control
  • Pesticides are available in a number of formulations, and some may be safer and more effective than others for specific pests.
  • If available, try baits first. Baits are often the safest and most effective control for ants, cockroaches and small rodents, especially when delivered in tamper-proof plastic bait stations. Give baits sufficient time to work and do not apply sprays while when using baits.
  • Gel formulations of insecticides are also available that can be used along cracks and crevices
• Insecticides, even as sprays, can often be effectively applied in very specific locations such as along baseboards or in cracks and crevices instead of as broadcast sprays
• Make sure the product you buy is labeled for the pest you want to control and the area that you are targeting
• Read and follow all label directions
• Never apply pesticides to food items