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Michigan Department of Agriculture For an easy to
print PDF version of this page, click here. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) In Food Facilities Prevention of Pests Through Design Preventing Pest Entry to the Food Facility Monitoring a Food Facility for Pests Preventing Pest Problems and Food Facility Sanitation
Pest Birds And Their Management Pest Birds and their Management Field Identification of Domestic Rodents Senses, Ability, and Reactions to Rodents Non-Chemical Management: Trapping
Integrated Insect Pest Management Physical Methods to Control Stored Food Pests Insecticide Use for Insect Control in Food Plants and Establishments Insecticide Application in the Food Plants and Establishments Characteristics And Effects Of Fumigants Factors or Variables Affecting Use Atmospheric Chambers (including trucks, railway cars and ships) Structural Fumigation (by taping and sealing) Safety Recommendations Summary Aeration or Ventilation of Fumigants Additional References and AV Material
The material furnished in this study guide was reproduced from a training manual titled: Gardner, R.D. 1994. Pesticide Application Training Manual for Subcategory 7f Food Processing. Cornell University, Pesticide Management Education Program, 197 pp. MDA desires to thank the manual publisher for their permission to reproduce selected chapters to aid in the training of new sanitarians. The provided information consists of stand alone material, however a core manual (which is the basic training manual for all pesticide applicators) is referenced in places. This manual, which is not provided, can be consulted if necessary. Four (4) of twelve (12) chapters are provided as primary references, and additional two (2) chapters regarding fumigation are presented as optional information should you need or desire information regarding this type of treatment. The following outline is presented along with a summary of contents to aid your review. Integrated Pest Management This chapter provides the means to reduce pest populations through proper facility design, maintenance, and operating procedures. The intent is not to provide entry, food and water to pests who may desire to enter and breed in food establishments. Pest Birds and Their Management Rodents and Their Management Insects and Their Management These sections provide means to identify the common pests found in the United States, and provide effective control options. Many helpful hints are also provided to enhance effective control interventions and proper application of pesticides. Optional Information: Some Characteristics and Effects of Fumigants This chapter provides the basic physics, and chemistry of the commonly used toxic gases commercially used as fumigants in the United States. Methods of Fumigation This chapter provides discussion of the common materials used and their application techniques including important safety considerations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) In Food Facilities The management of pests in food facilities (food manufacturing, processing, warehousing and service) requires a high degree of professionalism combined with experience and knowledge. As stated in your Core manual, IPM is a process that balances the use of cultural, biological and chemical procedures to reduce pests to tolerable levels. IPM is a systematic approach that considers all reasonable methods to avoid pest .problems. It combines the control or suppression procedures that best suit the particular situation. It is a holistic approach dedicated to removing causes rather than just treating symptoms. The IPM holistic approach basically tells whether or not intervention is needed and:
Realistically speaking, food processing plants are the most highly regulated manufacturing facilities in the country and if pest management is left to an undisciplined, haphazard, non-strategy program, pest levels will certainly exceed thresholds, resulting in stiff regulatory actions. An IPM program will:
Lasting success can be accomplished only when the reasons for the infestation are controlled. There is no magic dust; no single, simple remedy to solve pest problems in a lasting way. Several types of interventions can usually be more effective than only one type, when they are well coordinated so as to have a combined or synergistic effect. Cost/effectiveness is another major consideration that knits together an IPM program and must be assessed on a long term, as well as a short term basis. Prevention of Pests Through Design Pest prevention through design is the engineering science which will help reduce the need for chemical control of rodents, insects, birds and other vermin. This involves landscape design, building design or remodeling, and equipment layout and design. Short grass, neatly trimmed shrubs, paved access ways and proper drainage reduce or eliminate shelter areas for pests. Rodents are further discouraged by surrounding the building foundation with an 18 to 24 inch strip of 1/8 inch pebbled rock in a trench 4 inches deep. This makes an excellent area for traps and bait stations. If the bottom of the trench is lined with 6 mil plastic, weed growth is severely restricted. Building design or remodeling for pest prevention involves building framing, construction materials and building services. When using steel framing, it is very important to keep framing beams, channel stair stringers and other such framing 4 inches or more away from walls, so that inaccessible voids are not designed into the building. Where voids cannot be prevented, they can be filled with polyurethane foams coated with an epoxy filler. Steel, column floor junctions should be grouted and a sloped 60 degrees sanitation cove installed to remove pest cover. Reinforced concrete framing leaves no ledges for dust, but should be free of pits, checks and crevices and sealed and painted where necessary. Concrete is suitable for floors, but will crack and hold dust. Coating the floor will help. The type of service needed will determine the coating used. Before the coating is laid down the concrete must be cured, the surface must be sandblasted, ground or acid etched and primed with the recommended bonding material. Wet processing areas require acid-proof or brick floors for easy cleaning and resistance to erosion. If the floor will be exposed to large quantities of running water or harsh chemicals, the concrete substrate should be protected from erosion with an asphalt membrane over which the tile cement is applied before laying tiles and grouting. Good epoxy or acid-proof grouts must be carefully and smoothly applied to the joints, which should be no more than 1/4 inch wide to reduce water penetration and pest shelter. Non-production zones of food facilities may be covered with asphalt, vinyl asbestos or straight vinyl tiles. These tiles may have cracks or void areas due to incomplete bonding which will harbor insects, so they should not be used in insect sensitive areas. They may also be discolored by pesticides. Old wood floors offer many pest -harborages. When replacing them, store the new flooring materials in the same area. In this way, the new flooring is conditioned to the surroundings and shrinkage and cracks will be reduced. In wet processing areas a rule of thumb is that there be a floor drain for every 400 square feet of floor. Floors should be sloped toward the drain at 3/ 16 inch per foot into a minimum 4 inch sanitary line, which should be equipped with check valves to prevent the entrance of insects and rodents. Wall materials include precast or poured concrete, concrete block, brick, tile and metal curtain. Whatever the material, it should be sealed or repainted and sealed so that it will be easy to clean and so that pores, cracks and failing joints will not offer insects shelter. Be sure that when purchasing hollow sandwich panel-type metal curtain walls, they are well sealed. Do not drill or punch holes in these walls because they make excellent insect harborage. Structural modification occurs in food facilities for a variety of reasons, like a new product line is being marketed or old equipment is being updated. These modifications and perhaps damage to walls results in holes. The holes are potential harborage for pests. A good working relationship with the building engineer or maintenance supervisor will help make repairs occur quicker when walls are damaged. Wall voids can become infested with stored product insects, cockroaches or rodents. To aid in treating wall voids, it is helpful to install short pieces of small diameter PVC tubing, sealed into the wall. These ports can be used to inject insecticide dusts into wall voids. These injection ports should be sealed when not in use. Roofs should be smooth, built-up paper and pitch-type and free of spills and standing water. Pitch and gravel roofs are difficult to clean and corrugated metal roofs can support insect life. Ventilation fans often create problems when they exhaust product dusts onto the roof. Buildups of product dust can serve as breeding ground for insects, and microorganisms, and can attract birds and rodents to the plant. Roof areas around ventilation exhausts should be made as smooth as possible to enhance cleaning of product residues. The fewer windows the better in a food production zone. They are hard to clean and are often opened, allowing pests to enter. Glass-block windows can be used when natural light is desirable in a room. Where glass blocks would be subject to vandals, Lexan sheeting can be substituted, still allowing natural light, but without the breakage problems. Doors should be of metal, have tight fitting seams and any night lights should be located 30 feet or more away from exterior doors so that insects will be attracted away from the doors. Railroad dock sliding doors are particularly difficult to rodent proof, but by use of a channel threshold and proper location of the track splice, a seal can be obtained, but will likely need constant inspection and maintenance. Good lighting with dust-tight fixtures . leads to easy inspection, better housekeeping and better pest control. High intensity sodium lights do not attract insects as mercury vapor lights do, and should be used wherever practical. Wall suspended lockers, urinals and water closets, and ceiling suspended toilet partitions allow wet cleaning of floors. Likewise, water fountains should be wall mounted. Electrical and plumbing services should be installed so that there is adequate access for cleaning behind and through the wall. Pipe insulation should be dense, tough and well sealed and electrical control panels should be either sealed to or held off of the wall. All such panels should be insect proof. Keep in mind that equipment layout and design should be such that it is roomy, easily accessible for cleaning and does not have rolled edges, ledges, dead ends or pockets in which insect-attracting dirt, dust or waste products can accumulate. All equipment should be placed so as to allow at least a 24 inch sanitation line between the back of the permanent equipment and the wall. It should either be raised at least 6 inches off the floor or sealed to the floor with a pliable material that will resist vibration. Pest prevention through good design will vastly reduce the need for chemical control. Preventing Pest Entry to the Food Facility One of the first elements of a successful IPM program in a food facility is identifying how pests enter and making modifications to prevent entry. In any food facility it is far more important to prevent entry of pests rather than wait until they have entered, and possibly established themselves, before taking action. Exclusion of stored food pests is a highly interrelated process. The best results are achieved when the program is designed based upon all the major pests being found, and then expanded to incorporate pests of lesser significance. All pests enter food facilities either as volunteers or as captives. The pests that walk, crawl, or fly into our buildings are the volunteers, whereas those that are carried in with foods or other materials are captives. With this in mind, we are faced with two types of programs. One program, aimed at the volunteers, requires that a full assessment of the plant and continuous monitoring of the grounds and building exteriors be done to seek out and eliminate harborages and food and water supplies. This program component has two parts; reduce potential pest entry routes into buildings and use traps and repellents around normal entrances, particularly those that must be left open for extended periods of time. The IPM program must network with the building maintenance program to obtain the expertise in modifying the structure to reduce pest entry routes. This requires that the pest manager work cooperatively with the building engineer, or maintenance supervisor. Modifying and maintaining the structure to eliminate harborages, and prevent pest entry is essential. The maintenance program is responsible for keeping doors tight-fitting and xxxsing and replacing torn screens on outside doors and windows. Screens should be xxxsing per inch. Air curtains can also be installed to keep flying insects from entering open doors. Air curtains must be of the proper width, have sufficient air velocity to cover from the top of the doorway to the bottom and meet local health code requirements. Maintenance will seal spaces around pipes that can become rodent or insect harborages. Roof ventilation ducts should be covered with hardware cloth to keep rodents and birds out. Cracks in floors and walls should be sealed. Processing equipment may need to be modified to eliminate an insect harborage or allow an inaccessible area to be routinely cleaned. These are just a few examples of the critical role building maintenance has in the IPM program. The second part of the program is aimed at the "captives," and includes the close inspection of all incoming foods and materials, including vehicles, with a clearly defined plan of action to be taken when pests are found. Inspecting ingredients upon their arrival to the plant is another way to prevent pests from entering the plant. Check all incoming supplies, including pallets, outside on your receiving dock. Refuse any shipment of ingredients, linen, or packaging materials in which pests are found, even if there is only one. Bagged or bulk ingredients should be inspected carefully before allowing them to be unloaded. The hatches of bulk tankers can be lifted for inspection. Use a flashlight to check the top of the bulk product. Also check the hatch and its gasket for signs of insects. Trailers with pelletized loads can be inspected with a ht. Look under bags, and inspect the floor of the trailer. It may also be necessary to remove several pallets from the back of the trailer to inspect more of the ingredients.
Monitoring a Food Facility for Pests Monitoring is a systematic survey of the plant at regular intervals that looks at all aspects of the pest situation and maintains data on pest evidence that will help to evaluate the performance of the IPM program. The monitoring procedures will:
In order to meet the high standards of the food industry, extremely detailed inspections and/or monitoring systems are needed to provide the practical working base for the IPM program. Evidence as small as a fecal dropping, egg capsule, or insect carcass should be noted, counted and its location described. Leave no area of the plant or the grounds out of the inspection. When the plant is large, it may be advisable to hire an outside consultant to evaluate the plants' pest levels on an annual or semiannual basis. A new set of eyes will often detect problems previously undetected.
Preventing Pest Problems and Food Facility Sanitation A food facility sanitation program integrates the elements of equipment cleaning, housekeeping and storage practices. An effective sanitation program is another component of the IPM program and is necessary for its success. Depriving pests of food and harborage with good sanitation practices will have a great impact on -the pest population. The quantities of food pests require are small when compared to our own food needs; therefore, cleanup must be complete. Food processing equipment must be kept clean in order, to produce quality food products. Of course cleaning and sanitizing equipment with the wash, rinse, and sanitize sequence will provide control of microorganisms and establish a sanitary food contact surface. However, to be completely thorough, the entire inside, outside, frame, top . and bottom of the equipment must be clean. When processing equipment is in regular use, raw ingredients and product tend to build up on, around and inside the machine. This spillage is normal, resulting from the routine use of the machine. Keep this in mind; all of the pests of food facilities have one thing in common, they do not require large amounts of food. Accumulation of product in the frame or on top of the machine, perhaps even in the motor compartment is food for pests, while the structure of the machine serves as their harborage. A single ball of bread dough the size of a golf ball can support perhaps 30 stored-product beetles for weeks. Other examples can be given, but the bottom line is that all product and ingredient left on the equipment must be cleaned off to prevent pest infestation. Housekeeping Housekeeping is an essential element of an IPM program because it removes food and water the pests need to survive. The housekeeping program must include both the inside and the outside of the plant. Pay attention to the rubbish piles, used equipment storage and trash compactor areas outside. Remove waste food, clean up spillage and trash immediately and keep the garbage storage area clean and the lids tight fitting. As discussed earlier, maintain an 18 inch weed-free zone around the outside wall of the plant. With the weeds gone, rodents and insects are not as likely to harbor there. Weeds at the base of the fence line surrounding the property must also be controlled. Maintain the grounds and ornamental plantings so that they do not become a harborage. Preventive Housekeeping Steps:
There are three basic rules of proper storage for food facilities. The first two are store it off the floor, and away from the wall. Storage should be at least 18 inches away from the wall and on a pallet, rack or shelf. A pest manager will want to inspect all the wall/floor junctions in the plant on a regular basis. With storage away from the wall, a sanitation line is created. This allows the complete inspection of the plant and serves as a safe zone for the placement of pest management devices. Often, this floor area is painted white to help detect dirt, droppings and other evidence of infestation or housekeeping problems. The third rule is the FIFO storage rule that stands for First In First Out. This method of stock rotation helps to reduce-harborage in dry food and nonfood supplies in storage. Applying a receiving date sticker to all incoming ingredients also helps tremendously. The sticker will remain with the shipment and allow for detailed monitoring and compliance with the FIFO storage rule. Thresholds The threshold for action against pests may be determined by economic, medical, or aesthetic considerations. Of course, depending upon the particular pest situation and the institutions involved, sanitary and legal standards also determine pest thresholds. In the food industry, the prevailing philosophy toward thresholds differs from that of some agrarian systems where the coexistence of -a pest population and the commodity is considered necessary to secure some degree of natural regulation of pest population. In most cultures, including the United States, when an insect is found in food, the consumer is not interested in whether the insect is a primary consumer or a "beneficial" parasite or predator. The pest evidence is seen only as a contaminant and as an indicator of further unseen contamination. Therefore, the cultural threshold the food industry strives for is complete elimination of all food industry pests. Pest thresholds are also affected by regulatory requirements intended to protect food from adulteration. Section 402 of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) states that "A food shall be deemed to be adulterated if it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance, or if it is otherwise unfit for food [section 402(a)(3)]; and if it has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health (section 402(a)(4)]." These two sections explain what constitutes a violation of the Act with regard to adulteration by filth and are the two basic parts of the FDCA under which most domestic regulatory actions are taken against adulterated foods. In layman's terms, these statements mean that the government does not have to prove the food was adulterated to label it so, but only have to prove that it was in a situation whereby it may have become adulterated. Thus, evidence of active or live infestation near a food product may result in a regulatory action such as seizure, prosecution, injunction, recall or a detention relevant to the product that may have become contaminated. Self Assessment or Auditing Programs The food industry has long recognized that an internal self-inspection program is an important part of a successful IPM program. The commitment of the industry to self inspection has been long standing. It helps determine that manufacturing, storage, etc., are in compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPS) and the food laws. Industry is equally concerned about protecting the consumer and its own trade name reputation. The size and resources of the corporation generally dictate the size of the self inspection program. The larger corporations may have a well-staffed inspection department. Smaller organizations may be limited to multi-role staff who have inspection responsibilities in combination with others. Some corporations may hire the services of an outside professional inspection service or a qualified consultant. To be effective, the in house inspection program needs the following essential features: 1. Management Commitment. The first and most important requirement is full commitment and involvement by all levels of management. The reporting structure of the inspection group is an indication of the commitment by the company management. This group must report to top management to avoid conflicts of responsibility. All must understand that top management ultimately bears the responsibility for compliance with the GMPS. If this commitment is lacking, even the best personnel, tools and systems will be seriously handicapped, and the programs consistent success unlikely. 2. Qualified Personnel. Inspection personnel need to be academically qualified in environmental health, entomology, microbiology, food science, or those with equivalent experience and specialized training. Other attributes - alert, observant, good analytical judgment, honest, good communication skills. 3. Inspection Tools and Guidelines. Personnel must have knowledge of the quality standards from a regulatory, as well as a corporate point of view in order to determine if the plant is in compliance. Normal tools include, but are not limited to: flashlight, black light (rodent urine) camera, pyrethrurn aerosol, spatula, scrapers, pliers and a magnifying glass. Additional tools include paper and pencil for notes, backpack vacuum cleaner to remove insects as they are found and perhaps a caulking gun to seal cracks and crevices as they are found. 4. Effective Reporting System. The objective of the-reporting system should be accomplished. When compared with a regulatory inspection, the industry report frequently includes recommendations for corrective actions of violations. 5. Effective Follow-up Systems. It has been said that, "You cannot inspect yourself out of trouble." The inspection is of little value if it is not supported by follow-up and corrective actions. 6. Motivational Tools. What motivates people or teams to strive for success in . a job or program varies greatly. Sincere dedication to a task such as a food facility IPM program that by nature is on-going, never-ending and often subject to attention only when things go wrong is difficult to maintain. The dedication to the task must be consistently renewed with positive motivational reminders that the plant must:
Pest Birds And Their Management Feral pigeons, English sparrows, and European starlings are not protected by federal law. A federal bird control permit is not required for programs targeting these three unprotected birds. Black birds, cowbirds, grackles, crows, and magpies are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, Section 21.43, Title 50 CFR, provides that: "A Federal permit shall not be required to control yellow-headed, red winged, Rusty and Brewers black birds, cowbirds, all grackles, crows, and magpies when found committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance;..." States also have laws protecting birds and these should be adhered to, as well as all local permits that are required to kill birds should be obtained before exercising the privilege given by Section 21.43. Pest Birds and their Management There are many species of birds in the United States, but only three, pigeons, sparrows, and starlings, are normally considered pests around food facilities. All three cause problems in cities. All three survive well in close association with humans. They are primarily objectionable because their droppings can be a serious food contaminant. They may also spread diseases. Their droppings deface buildings and their nests plug gutters and cause roofs to leak. Their noise and odor are offensive to many people. They sometimes also carry mites which can bite humans. Pest Birds English Sparrows (House Sparrow)
The English sparrow, a small immigrant also known as the house sparrow, has adapted itself to life throughout the United States and most of Canada. Although their activities are mainly beneficial, they have several habits that are objectionable to humans and need occasional management to protect human health and property. To selectively manage them, it is necessary to understand their behavior and to distinguish them from their distant cousins, the native sparrows, which are protected by law. Description The male English sparrow has a prominent black throat, clear white cheeks, dark gray crown, and a chestnut-colored nape. The female and young are dull gray above, light below, and generally lack distinctive markings. Life History and Habits English sparrows prefer openings or hollows for nesting and will use a ' ny sort of a nesting box, cavity or opening in buildings. Normally, nest building and egg laying begin in early spring - March and April in the northern United States, and somewhat earlier in the southern states. A clutch normally consists of four to eight evenly speckled eggs that hatch in 13 to 14 days. They produce several broods each season and use the same nesting hole over and over again. Generally, English sparrows are gregarious. They nest, roost, and feed together in large flocks. The English sparrow, like our own sparrows and finches, is primarily a seed eater and supplements its diet with insects. It is one of two birds that is able to eat the Japanese beetle. Pigeons
The pigeon is a descendant of the rock dove found in Europe, Asia and Africa. It is believed that it was first brought to this country as a domestic bird in 1606. They have a long history of being raised and kept as domestic birds. The feral or wild pigeons adapt readily to man-made environments and are the most troublesome bird pest in urban, as well as small rural communities. Wild pigeons may live as long as 15 years. While in captivity, they have been known to live 30 years. Description Adult feral pigeons are 6-1 0 inches long, with varied colors. They have a fan shaped tail that is apparent during take off and landing. Their beak points down and the head bobs when walking. The voice is a long, soft coo-oo-oo. One or two white eggs are laid per brood. Breeding occurs year round and peaks in spring and summer. Life History and Habits They feed on seeds and grain, including large kernels such as corn, some fruit, garbage, livestock manure and insects. They may feed on spilled grain, especially along railroads or near storage bins. They raise their brood in unwoven nests made with twigs and often soiled with excrement. Pigeons prefer to live and roost on roofs and high ledges. Ledges are often the preferred location for nests. Starlings
European Starlings were introduced into this country in 1890, and have since expanded their range across the continental United States. Starlings are not protected by federal laws and in most cases not by state laws. State and local laws must be consulted before management actions are initiated, particularly those involving the use of firearms and toxicants. Description Body and wings are gold-flecked, iridescent blue-black when in summer plumage. Winter plumage often includes buff white spots. Starlings have a large spear-like bill that is yellow or olive. They have compact, short, round bodies. The mature birds average 8 1/2, inches long. In flight they can be recognized by their short square tail and their short triangular wing shape. The eggs are bluish-green. Life History and Habits Starlings feed on a wide variety of foods including grain, seeds, and even garbage. Nests are made of stiff, fibrous material lined with fine grass or any soft material. They may nest on eaves, roofs and other structures. They roost in trees, usually far from their feeding area. They may also roost on window ledges during winter in the north central states. Starlings may produce 3 broods per year. Flocks often contain thousands of birds. Sanitation Sanitation is the first step in bird management. Remove sources-of food and water. Garbage should be handled in a manner so that none is available to birds. Spills of grain and other feed should be avoided and cleaned up when they occur. Vacant lots may be a source of weed seed which is also a food source. Sources of water readily available to birds may also attract them. Exclusion Exclusion or building-out to prevent birds from roosting or nesting inside or near the doors of the plant is good bird management. Openings in buildings, behind signs, and under eaves can be screened out with 3/4 inch (1/4, inch for bats) galvanized mesh or rustproof wire. Plastic bird netting is also available for outdoor and indoor applications. In some situations, it can exclude birds from buildings, food or roosting areas. Roost Repellents Roosting on ledges can be discouraged in several ways. Sticky bird roosting repellents can be used on ledges, beams or other areas where birds may roost. The tackiness of these pesticides discourages bird roosting, without entrapping or poisoning the animals. They are initially very effective, but their tackiness is lost with time, usually because dirt and dust accumulates on the chemical. Some of these materials do not work well under extremely hot or cold temperatures. These sticky repellents are available in a variety of forms. They can be purchased as squeeze tubes, aerosol cans, pastes and as cartridges for caulking guns. Electric roosting repellents provide a weatherproof system. A cable is installed in a position to provide the birds with a desirable perch or roosting place. When birds perch on the cable, an electrical charge is created that shocks them away. The birds are not killed. Consult local building contractors, especially those in roofing or insulating businesses or pest control operators experienced in installing these devices. Other repellents that have been used such as revolving lights, noise makers, high frequency sound vibrations or tape recorded noise generally have only temporary effect and, at best, only move birds into another area. Roosting on ledges can be discouraged in several ways. Sticky bird roosting repellents can be used on ledges, beams or other areas where birds may roost. The tackiness of these pesticides discourages bird roosting, without entrapping or poisoning the animals. They are initially very effective, but their tackiness is lost with time, usually because dirt and dust accumulates on the chemical. Some of these materials do not work well under extremely hot or cold temperatures. These sticky repellents are available in a variety of forms. They can be purchased as squeeze tubes, aerosol cans, pastes and as cartridges for caulking guns. Electric roosting repellents provide a weatherproof system. A cable is installed in a position to provide the birds with a desirable perch or roosting place. When birds perch on the cable, an electrical charge is created that shocks them away. The birds are not killed. Consult local building contractors, especially those in roofing or insulating businesses or pest control operators experienced in installing these devices. Other repellents that have been used such as revolving lights, noise makers, high frequency sound vibrations or tape recorded noise generally have only temporary effect and, at best, only move birds into another area. Suppression Suppression or population reduction methods must be performed in conjunction with sanitation and exclusion. Methods of suppression include nest removal, trapping, shooting and chemical control with avicides. Nest removal every two weeks during the spring and summer may greatly reduce populations of English sparrows and pigeons. A long pole with a hook fastened to one end can be used to tear down nests under eaves, rafters , etc. Trapping
Traps can be built from plans obtained from the U.S. Department of Interior or they can be purchased. For possible sources see Appendix A. Several different types of traps can be used. They include funnel traps and bob-type traps for pigeons, rat traps, sieve-type traps, funnel traps, hest box traps and center drop traps for smaller birds such as the English sparrow. Prebaiting prior to trapping for several days increases trap effectiveness. Traps should be supplied with plenty of food and water. One or two decoy birds may help. Trapped birds must be removed daily. Birds which are federally or state protected should be freed immediately if trapped accidentally. Shooting Shooting may be hazardous in some locations and may not be allowed by some local ordinances. It is a very effective means of killing scattered individuals or small flocks. It is best carried out by no more than a few individuals with low powered guns and who understand what they are doing. Where permissible, shooting with a .22 caliber or #1 2 bird shot is effective. Chemical Management Chemical management with avicides or other pesticides -in certain situations may be the only means of effective management. Pesticides may not be used in a manner inconsistent with the label. Decisions as to the need, type of toxicant used and manner in which it is used should be made by professionals. Information on current registered uses of specific compounds is available from the manufacturer or retailer. Sources of up-to-date pesticide recommendations include: industry representatives, the Cooperative Extension Service, local health, environmental and agricultural departments, and technical experts in universities and state and federal agencies. Poisons may be prohibited or may be too risky to use because of the dangers to humans, pets, or desirable birds. Non-target birds are protected by federal, state and local regulations, as well as by public opinion. Identify non-target birds, such as cardinals and doves that may be in the plant area. Select a management procedure that reduces the risk to non-target birds. Carefully monitor the management program to be sure non-target birds are not affected. Label directions must be followed precisely. Avitrol is both a repellent and a toxic bait. Ten percent of the bait is treated so that when eaten by pigeons, starlings, or sparrows, it produces distress reactions in some of the birds. Some may die from the stress or other factors. This frightens the rest of the flock away from the area. Ornitrol is a chemosterilant and is the only pesticide of its type registered for bird management. When the bait is eaten for about 1 0 days it will inhibit female fertility for 6 months. To be successful, two baiting periods per year are necessary. Prebaiting is necessary when chemical baits are used, just as when trapping is to be done. Chemical baits are most effective when used against small flocks and in situations where conditions can be controlled carefully. Shooting may be hazardous in some locations and may not be allowed by some local ordinances. It is a very effective means of killing scattered individuals or small flocks. It is best carried out by no more than a few individuals with low powered guns and who understand what they are doing. Where permissible, shooting with a .22 caliber or #1 2 bird shot is effective. Associated Problems Dry, dusty droppings may contain fungus spores which can cause the human disease histoplasmosis. Workers cleaning such areas, or involved in hand capture of birds, should wear approved respirators. Workers should not smoke, eat or drink anything until dusty clothes are removed and the person washes thoroughly. Ectoparasites such as mites, made homeless when pigeons are removed, may migrate into areas where humans work and live. This can be prevented by treating or dusting nesting or roosting areas as part of the management operations. Any good acaracide can be used if the label directions are followed. Pigeon Management Risks*
Domestic rodents constitute a major pest problem to food industry people. There are three major domestic rodents in the United States; the house mouse, the Norway (brown or sewer) rat, and the roof (black or ship) rat. Rats eat almost everything man or livestock use as food. They contaminate much more than they eat, resulting in products that must be destroyed. Damaged packages must be repaired or replaced. Before you can manage rodents, it is important you can identify the correct species and know its behavior patterns.
Field Identification of Domestic Rodents Characteristics of Domestic Rodents
Senses, Ability, and Reactions to Rodents Well developed in highly sensitive whiskers or vibrissae, and certain guard (tactile) hairs. This highly developed sense enhances their ability to move rapidly in the dark. Rats and mice prefer to run along walls or between things where they can keep their whiskers in contact with side surfaces. Vision Not too well developed. Specialized for nocturnal situations and can detect motion in very dim light. They recognize simple patterns and objects of different sizes. Apparently they are color blind, so any distinctive coloring of poison baits does not reduce their acceptance to rats. Smell Keenly developed sense of smell. Rodents leave odor trails of urine and other secretions which mark trails, delineate territories and detect sexually active mates. Rodents apparently like the odors of most foods eaten by man. They are accustomed to the smell of humans, so human odor on baits and traps does not repel them. Taste Well developed taste but perhaps not as sensitive as in humans. Rats have been observed to detect minute quantities of less than 1 ppm of impurities in foods or poisons. Rodents may reject a bait on the basis of taste or smell alone. Rats associate sickness caused by, poison bait with the bait and not the poison. They prefer fresh food to decayed food. Hearing A keen sense of hearing. Rats hear sounds that humans hear and those beyond human hearing or ultrasonic sounds. Ultrasonics are used in echo location for nocturnal orientation (not nearly as well as bats). Rat pups emit ultrasonic distress signals to recall the mother to the nest. They can locate the source of a noise within 6 inches. Unusual noises cause rodents to attempt escape. Balance Rodents have excellent balance. A falling rodent always lands on its feet. The roof rat even maintains its balance well while walking on suspended wires. Movement Rats and mice memorize the details of their habitat, pathways, obstacles, hiding places, and water and food sources. They learn the muscular movements necessary to move down a pathway to take shelter. This is a sense called kinesthetic sense which is a memory of muscular/physical coordination and aids travel in the dark. When a commonly used pathway is blocked, rodents repeatedly try to negotiate the route that their sense of orientation has informed them should be there. With a running start Norway rats can jump 2 feet, mice 1 foot and roof rats 4 feet. Rats and mice can climb any vertical surface where they can get a claw hold. The extreme feats of climbing and jumping are usually done when under stress. Rodents usually exploit their environment only to the extent necessary; thus rodent proofing work must be planned for what is probable not what is possible. Otherwise, it will probably be too expensive. Reaction to Strange Objects Rats may avoid a new sound or a strange object in their environment for three or more days, particularly if their associates are alarmed by it. Other objects are readily accepted by them (examples: food, garbage). As rodent population pressures build, the rats frequently exhibit "chain-fright reaction" to disturbances. Mice are more likely to explore new objects, and to be caught in newly set traps. Climbing Roof rats and house mice are good climbers, and the Norway rat can climb quite well when necessary. Jumping and Reaching Rats can jump nearly 2 feet vertically, 3 feet with a running start; they can jump 4 feet horizontally, and 8 feet from an elevation that is 15 feet above the finish point. Rats can reach upward about 18 inches. Swimming Rodents are good swimmers. They are able to swim up through floor drains and toilet bowl traps. Competition Roof rats and Norway rats compete when attempting to share space. Norway rats have replaced roof rats in many cities where both were once found. Rats are dominant over house mice. Mice will restrict their activity to time periods when rats are not present. Recognizing Rat and mouse Signs Rats and mice are habitually nocturnal and secretive and are rarely seen during the day except when infestations are heavy. Therefore, it is necessary to interpret signs of their activities properly in order to plan management work. These signs are found in secluded places, such as along walls, under piles of rubbish, and behind or under boxes, boards, and thick vegetation. From the rodent signs, one can tell the species present and whether a rodent infestation is current or old, heavy or light. Droppings Fresh droppings of feces are usually moist, soft, shiny, and dark, but in a few days they become dry and hard. Old droppings are dull and grayish and crumble when pressed with a stick. Runways Rodents select pathways offering the most concealment, best routes of escape and shortest distances to necessary resources. Rats habitually use the same runways between food, water, and harborage. Because of the keenly developed sense of touch in their vibrissae (whiskers) and in specialized hairs along the body, rats prefer continual body contact with at least one vertical surface, such as a fence or wall. Rats also follow "odor trails." Outdoors, their runways are narrow pathways of beaten earth swept clear of debris. Indoors, greasy runways are found along walls, steps, and rafters. Undisturbed cobwebs and dust in a runway indicate that it is not in use. Rubmarks Along regularly traveled runways, a dark, greasy mark forms from contact by the rodent's body. Fresh marks are soft and will smear if rubbed. As the grease ages, it dries and gathers dust and will flake off when scratched with a fingernail. The rubmarks of the Norway rat are most commonly found along runways near ground or floor level, while those made by the roof rat are most commonly seen overhead as swing marks beneath beams or rafters at the point where they connect to the walls. Mice do not leave detectable rubmarks except when the infestation is heavy. Burrows The Norway rat prefers burrows for nesting and harborage; the roof rat burrows only occasionally. Burrows are found in earth banks, along walls, under rubbish or concrete slabs, and in similar places. If a burrow is in use, Rs entrance will be free of cobwebs and dust. Fresh rubmarks on hard packed soil at the opening indicate a well established and presently used burrow. The presence of fresh fragments of food, rodent droppings or freshly dug earth at the burrow entrances also indicates current use by rats. Gnawing Rodents gnaw almost anything they can bite, and theoretically can cut through any material softer than the enamel of their incisors. Norway rat tooth enamel (lower incisors) is rated at 5.5 on Moh's hardness scale. This degree of hardness places the enamel roughly between that of iron and steel. But normally rats will not gnaw anything harder than 3.5 which includes copper, lead, and aluminum. The incisor teeth of rats grow 4 to 5 inches a year, so these rodents must do some gnawing each day in order to keep their teeth short enough to use. Rats also gnaw to gain entrance and to obtain food. When gnawings in wood are fresh, they are light colored and show distinct teeth marks. Small chips of wood or other materials indicate recent gnawing. With age, wood gnawings become dark and smooth from weathering and from frequent contact with the rodent's body. Tracks Fresh tracks are sharp and distinct, whereas old tracks are covered with dust and are therefore less distinct. The tracks of the five-toed rear paws are more commonly observed than. are those of the four-toed front paws, but both may be present. Smooth tracking patches of any dust material, such as flour or talc, placed along runways are of value in checking for rodent activity. To see tracks in the dust, the inspector should hold a flashlight at an angle that causes the tracks to cast distinct shadows. Tail marks are also often visible in dust or tracking patches. Urine Stains Urine will naturally fluoresce under ultraviolet illumination (black light). It will be blue to white if fresh, and yellow to white if old. Commercial black lights are often used to detect rodent urine. The use of black lights is not in truth a guarantee that rodent urine is present. Numerous items will fluoresce when under a black light including optical bleaches found in many detergents and lubricating oils. For positive identification one uses a Brorn Thymol Blue Urease Test. Place the suspected material on Urease-Brom Thymol-Blue test paper. Moisten with water, cover with a cover glass. If a bluish spot appears after three to five minutes it is rodent urine. The most basic fact that a pest manager must know about rodent management is that rodents must have adequate food and harborage to live and to multiply. Therefore, it follows that anywhere there is an abundance of food and harborage there can be an abundance of rodents. Food processing plants, distribution centers, and retail outlets offer rodents an abundance of food and harborage. Removing or reducing available food and harborage with good housekeeping, storage and maintenance practices will have a great impact on the rodent population. Failure to combine the necessary elements of a sanitation program will result in the failure of the rodent management program, in spite of baiting and trapping activities. Housekeeping Housekeeping is an essential element of rodent management because it removes food and harborage for rodents. Good housekeeping enhances the baiting program because there is less food for the rodents to eat and, they are more likely to eat the bait. Even the best baits are not able to compete with other foods. The execution of an effective housekeeping program is even more important when mice are infesting the plant. Their eating habits take them to a variety of feeding locations, nibbling a little food at each. When there is an abundant supply of food, this eating habit can result in the loss of the effectiveness of toxic baits. Rats, on the other hand, require much more food, water and shelter than mice. Do not take this to mean that housekeeping is not important in controlling rats. Housekeeping is the backbone of a successful rat control program, and is usually the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful program. The housekeeping program must include both the outside and the inside of the plant. Pay attention to the rubbish piles, used equipment storage and trash compactor areas outside. Remove waste food, cleanup spillage and trash immediately and keep the garbage storage vessel rodent-proof. Compactors which are self-contained (the ram and storage vessel are one unit) are the most rodent-proof. The vertical compactor with the packing unit on top has less spillage and can hold large volumes of wet waste. Maintain an 18 inch weed-free zone around the outside wall of the plant. With the weeds gone, rodents are not as likely to burrow there and are not likely to linger when on foraging excursions at night. Weeds at the base of the fence line surrounding the property must also be controlled. Maintain the grounds and ornamental plantings so that they do not become a rodent harborage. Once overgrown, the plant grounds become an attractive nesting and burrowing site for rodents. Storage Practices General storage guidelines were given in Chapter 1, but it must be emphasized that eliminating dead or immobile storage is extremely important in the rodent management program. This is considered habitat modification. It removes harborage and hiding places. It reduces carrying capacity, restricting the amount of space available for the rodent to nest, hide or escape. Waste and Trash Management Frequent and regular trash removal is very important to the rodent component of the IPM program. Food waste is very attractive to all types of pests, but especially rodents and often becomes the seeding point for indoor infestations. There are self-contained compactors that have better rat-proofing characteristics than the frequently seen types with a permanently mounted charge unit and removable storage vessel. When the collection company comes to remove the trash, the charge unit and the storage vessel are both removed. This design has very tight tolerances and is very rodent proof. The doors over the opening of charge unit, called a "Dog House," can be tightly closed. They take large volumes of wet waste with no leakage. There are also vertical compactor designs with the charge unit on top. An ozone generator can be connected to the charge unit to control bacteria, keep down smell and inhibit roaches and rats. Maintenance Practices For any food facility, it is far more important to prevent entry of pests rather than wait until they have entered and possibly established themselves. Exterior doors must be tight enough to prevent rodent entry and should have openings no larger than 1/4, of an inch. This is particularly difficult to do if the building has an inside railroad dock, which means that the rail door must close down on top of the rails. The junction of the door and rail will leave gaps large enough for rodents to enter. It will be necessary to regularly maintain the rodent proofing modifications of the rail door. Wooden doors can be penetrated by gnawing rodents. A 12 inch sheet metal kick plate may need to be attached to the bottom of the wooden doors. Some materials that can be used for rat proofing are:
When trapping mice, keep in mind that they do not travel very far, so space them 10 feet apart and use large numbers of traps. In severe mouse infestations, decrease spacing to 6 feet and results may improve. Rats have different habits than mice; one is that they travel farther from the nest, around 30 feet. Traps should be spaced farther apart and must cover the wider range used by rats. Roof rats may be running on rafters, beams and pipes and traps should be fastened there when roof rats are a problem. The odor of dead rodents or human odor on traps will not turn rodents away. in a food operation " keeping the trap clean and free of droppings and rodent hair is essential. These are evidence of infestation and can be considered a potential food contaminant. After capturing rodents, always clean the last remaining evidence from the trap. Here are some final tips for using rodent traps:
Baiting for Mice
The first critically important consideration in baiting for mice is the proper placement of the bait. Baiting needs to be limited to non-processing areas of food facilities. Make as many placements of bait stations as is practical, the more the better with each containing enough bait to feed several mice. With severe mouse problems it has been said that there is no such thing as too many bait stations. Remember mice travel very short distances from their nest, usually not more than 30 feet. Place the stations 20 feet apart along the walls and runways as well as next to all doors. Mice are more likely to enter the bait station if the opening is in their runway and they can see a way out the other side. Place baits between their harborages and where they are finding food. Use mouse-size bait boxes for mice as they are small and more attractive to mice. Bait above the floor level as well because they may be living in the upper reaches of the structure' Smooth the surface of granular baits so that new signs of feeding will show. Examine bait blocks for signs of rodent gnawing, replacing gnawed blocks when found. The gnawing is evidence of infestation and can be cited by an inspector on a sanitation inspection report. Replace moldy, wet, caked or insect infested baits with fresh ones. Remember that any insects in a food facility are detrimental and the insects in infested bait can be cited as a health code violation. The locations of all bait stations should be mapped and numbered on a floor plan. Servicing the stations is quicker and more thorough when a map is available. The program will also benefit as evidence of feeding is collected, summarized and compared with map locations. Pre-baiting may be important. Use several different baits and note which ones they like the best. Keep the baits fresh. Fresh baits are far more attractive and must out-compete other food sources. Lastly, mice usually leave fecal droppings as they eat. These droppings inside the bait station are good evidence for the pest manager, but also for the health inspector. Mouse droppings can be cited in a sanitation inspection and used against the plant no matter where they are found, so remove them from the bait station every time they are found. Baiting for Rats
Several of the mouse baiting strategies are also used for baiting rats. For example; bait stations should be in the rat runway, the openings of the station should be parallel to the runway, place the stations between the harborage and the feeding area, the bait should be fresh and plentiful and use a good tamper proof bait station, but the larger rat size must be used. Baiting needs to be limited to non-processing areas of food facilities. Here are some additional considerations that will help management of rats:
Adjustments must be made to the baiting program if roof rats are to be controlled. Bait stations may need to be placed above the ground level. Secure bait boxes if they could fall and use bait blocks which are wired to the inside of the bait box so rodents can not drag them away. If they do drop on the floor, bait blocks are more easily cleaned up. Tracking Powders Tracking powders are one more form of rodenticide which should be discussed, although their use around food facilities is severely restricted. Tracking powders are rodenticides in a dust or powder formulation. The technical rodenticide is ground to a powder then mixed with inert powders which are used to carry and dilute the rodenticide to a usable concentration. Tracking powders are usually more concentrated than baits and thus, are more hazardous than baits. Tracking powders contain some of the same toxicants as food baits. Warfarin and 11orophacinone are common active ingredients in tracking powders. They are placed so that rodents walk on them and pick up the powder on their feet and fur. Then while grooming, the rodent ingests the toxicant. They are usually not recommended for use in and around homes because of the hazard to children and non-target animals. Their use in commercial food facilities is limited to concealed, inaccessible places. They are not to be used in rooms in which food or feed is handled or stored. They are placed in rodent runways, or are dusted or blown into rodent burrows, wall voids and other inaccessible areas where the rodents frequent. Tracking powders can be used in non-food areas of the facility, applied inside a container, such as a tracking powder station, and then the station is set in the rodents runway. Never apply them where there is a possibility of rodents tracking the powder on exposed food or food preparation surfaces. Fumigating Rodent Burrows An additional chemical management tool for rats and mice is fumigation. Fumigants are poisonous gases that are very acutely toxic to people, pets, rodents and most insects. They are extremely dangerous to the applicator and others if they are not used carefully and properly: Since Chapter X contains very detailed use information about fumigants and fumigation, directions for rodent burrow treatment relevant to this part of the book will be -4iscussed here. Further information regarding personal protection,, handling of the xxxnigant, disposal information and other important details are found in Chapters IX, X and XI. Fumigants can be applied to outdoor rodent burrows only. They can not be used to fumigate burrows that are inside structures or even within 15 feet of inhabited structures. They also may not be applied to burrows which may open. under or into occupied buildings. The fumigation of rodent burrows that are found on the plant grounds can be considered, particularly when rodents have exhibited bait shyness, are wary of traps, or when circumstances suggest that very quick results are required. Fumigation will kill both the rodents and their ectoparasites in the burrow. The primary fumigant for burrows is hydrogen phosphide gas. This gas is produced from two solid fumigant formulations, aluminum phosphide a |
