Moody's pest control green and effective

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody's department of entomology was recently selected as a member of the Environmental Protection Agencies pesticide environmental stewardship program (PESP), the only Department of Defense pest management shop selected for this honor.

Membership in PESP shows that the organization is committed to environmental stewardship in pest control. Instead of always using chemicals for pest control the department of entomology here uses alternative control methods.

"It could be something simple like trimming bushes and shrubs or just caulking big holes," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Travis Ritter, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron pest management technician. "We try to fix the problems before they become an issue."

Educating the base also plays an important role in pest control and can mitigate the need to use as many chemicals, but in certain circumstances they are still used.

"Pest need three things to survive which are: food, water and shelter, so if we can educate people on proper sanitation and get them to remove clutter, we can decrease the risk of a possible pest problem," said Mr. Richard Gilbride, 23rd CES pest management supervisor.

Along with educating the base, entomology also performs inspections on every building and pays special attention to those buildings that supply or cook food.

"We work closely with public health to inspect the buildings such as the Exchange and the Moody Field Club," said Gilbride. "The inspections catch the problems before they become a challenge."

Eliminating pest safely is important but sometimes not always a simple process.

Sometimes the process of elimination can take awhile, added Gilbride. When it comes to some pest such as bats we have to take into consideration things such as their breeding cycle.

Georgia has several types of pest from bees to alligators, but Moody's biggest fight is against ants and roaches.

"When it comes to ants we try to find the source, we will follow an ant all the way back to its colony," said Ritter. "Once we find the colony we will use the least toxic bait product to kill them."

The department of entomology offers some tips to Team Moody members.

When it comes to pest such as stray animals Gilbride encourage people "If it's not yours then leave it alone, call us so we can take it to the animal shelter."

Clear away clutter and throw away food wrappers and soda cans.

When staying in hotels there are a few steps that should be taken: check the room for bed bugs, do not use the drawers unless it is necessary, pull the bed spread down and check the seams of the mattress, look behind the headboard and once you get home wash anything that can be washed in hot water.

Entomology works with several base agencies and off base agencies to ensure pest are controlled on base, and at the same time ensuring that methods used are not only safe for the environment but also for the members of Team Moody.