Carolina Housing is lucky to have a large collection of residence halls with comforts for all. We are also fortunate to have a great Housing Support team to keep them maintained and cleaned. As good a job as they do, there is still the chance there will be an unwelcome visitor from time to time.
Fortunately, the University has a comprehensive system in place designed to rid the residence halls of the annoying intruders. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is “a process for achieving long-term, environmentally sound pest suppression and prevention through the use of a wide variety of technological and management practices.” It integrates housekeeping, maintenance, and pest control services to prevent pest problems by making the building less conducive to pest infestation.
Many people have the same initial reaction when there is a problem with pests – they want someone to come in and “nuke” the building with insecticides or other chemicals. With IPM, one of the benefits is that it controls pests while greatly reducing the exposure to pesticides. Under this process, pest problems are prevented by managing the facility environment to make it less conducive to pest infestation.
Strategies to correct conditions that foster pest problems are employed under IPM. Bait stations that contain gel bait and monitor boxes, which help identify what the problem insect is, are utilized. Then, when necessary, a more targeted application of the appropriate pesticide can be administered to eradicate the problem insect. This program is administered by certified personnel within UNC Housing Support.
A vital component of pest control is educating building occupants on the relatively simple steps that can be taken to proactively prevent problems with insects and create an environment where infestation is less likely. Whenever food is present, insects will always invite themselves in for a bite. Messy kitchens are a major reason ants and roaches make their way inside, so keeping all areas clean – sinks, floors, refrigerators, drawers, and cabinets is key. Wipe surfaces clean after eating and be sure not to leave dirty dishes behind. Food stored anywhere should be in airtight containers. Also, trashcans with food scraps or items such as banana peels or coffee grounds will attract gnats.
If your room or area in your building is in need of pest control services, please submit a FIX-MY-ROOM ticket or call 919-966-2471.