What is IPM?

IPM or Integrated Pest Management is a common sense approach or strategy to controlling pests which places emphasis on preventing pest problems rather than reacting to them once they occur. It considers how pests and humans interact and attempts to find the best way to resolve the problem with the lowest risk to people's health and the environment. IPM looks beyond trying to exterminate the pest and the use of regularly scheduled pesticide applications and tries to determine the factors that allow pests to become a problem in the first place. When control is necessary, IPM attempts to uses several management methods which means that all practical methods are used rather than a strict reliance on pesticides. When the use of pesticides becomes necessary, IPM uses the "least toxic approach" using products that are least toxic to humans, pets and the environment.

Why Use IPM?

IPM has many benefits including the following:

• Provides long term results
• Environmentally friendly
• Protects human health
• Reduced unnecessary chemical use
• Reduces risk of pesticide resistance
• Proactive, not reactive
• Detects a potential pest problem before it is a major problem

IPM also has some limitations:
. May require more skill and knowledge than traditional pest control
. Requires persistent attention
. Results may not be as immediate as traditional pesticide treatment

By learning what factors, conditions or foods favor certain pests and ways to limit them, you can make your home unattractive to pests and much less likely to be infested. Using IPM, you can be assured that you are doing your part, not only in reducing pest problems but also in protecting your health and that of your family and pets.