Columbia University
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

Columbia’s Facilities adheres to the substance of the guidelines Cornell University Cooperative Extension guidelines, using the IPM standards laid out within the guidelines. The IPM plan includes the use of minimum-risk pesticides, pest identification and management suggestions, preserving the natural balance of organisms in the area, and more. Facilities also follows CUCE’s suggestions on organic fertilizers as often as possible. The grounds are divided by soil, shrub, tree, and lawn areas so the proper fertilizer can be used for each. Manhattanville IPM plan: http://neighbors.columbia.edu/pages/manplanning/presentations/pest-control.pdf Additional IPM information: http://ipmguidelines.org/Home/content/Book2/CH02/default.asp The University has engaged Dr. Jill Gordon, an Urban Entomologist, Rodentologist and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialist to oversee the application of the principles of IPM to various phases of the Manhattanville in West Harlem development. Gordon owns Mantis Consulting and has extensive experience working with rodent control in urban environments, designing pest management programs. The following control program is being implemented as part of the Manhattanville Project: Conducting surveys of the structures and the surrounding areas before disturbance in order to estimate current rat activity and population; performing least toxic pest control practices such as baiting, trapping, and burrow location prior to demolition or structure disturbance; tracking activity during disturbance; performing follow-up surveys and trapping after disturbance; and practicing good site sanitation including discarding food trash in covered metal receptacles lined with trash bags and emptying food trash. CUMC utilizes a four-tiered IPM plan. This IPM plan applies action thresholds through surveys, performs monitoring and identification to insure an infestation exists and needs to be terminated, implements prevention methods wherever possible through vacuuming, cleaning, trash removal, etc, and performs control methods when deemed necessary without the use of pesticides. The general policy is: The elimination and prevention of vermin through non-chemical methods wherever possible. In general, non-chemical control alternatives are always to be considered prior to the application of pesticides. Where pesticide use is deemed to be essential, the judicious selection shall consider the least toxic treatment possible with emphasis on limiting the potential exposure to the community. The evaluation of the toxicity and exposure potential with any application of pesticides is necessary to assure that the “least toxic, least impact” alternative is chosen. CUMC’s IPM plan also follows the strict protocols of the NYSDEC and the NYCDOH, which also have particular requirements for minimal pesticide use. When control is necessary, the IPM plan targets baits and gels over chemicals to minimize air transfer. For prevention, CUMC’s IPM plan targets sanitation first and then moves to eliminate entry points before control is performed. For monitoring and identification, a blue board indicator is used to determine if there is a situation. The goal is to identify existing potential problems before they become an issue through structural adjustments and environmental resolutions without the use of chemicals while targeting the least toxic and least environmental impact possible. By regular site inspections, identification of existing pest problems and the specific structural and environmental conditions which may be causing these infestations. The next step is to reduce or eliminate the causes of infestation with long-term solutions such as engineering, maintenance and sanitation methods, together with education.