Pest Management

Some examples of what qualifies as a pest emergency:

• Bats
• Bees
• Birds
• Squirrels
• Rodents

For emergencies only, call Facilities Central at 202-994-6706 option 2. This line is staffed 24 hours a day.

 

For non-emergency pest issues, submit a request through FixIt. Pest control personnel will perform an inspection of your living space. You do not need to be present for the inspection, as pest control will determine the appropriate treatment and leave instructions explaining what you need to do to prepare the room for treatment. For example, in a residence hall, it may be necessary for you to remove contents from the kitchen or bathroom cabinets before treatment.

Prevention

• Pests are attracted to dirty environments. Keeping your space clean is the key to pest prevention.
• Keep floors free of food and food debris.
• If housekeeping forgets to empty your trashcan, submit a FixIt request.
• Do not leave open food containers out and do not store food on the floor.
• Submit FixIt requests for any leaky faucets.

Treatment

• Depending on the season, common areas of residence halls are treated once or twice a month. Common areas include (but are not limited to) hallways, lobbies, boiler rooms, laundry rooms, TV rooms, computer rooms, trash rooms, and communal kitchens.
• Exteriors of all residence halls are inspected regularly and treated, as necessary, for rodents.
• Individual rooms and offices are treated on an on-call basis.
• Most pest control treatments left behind are effective for 30 to 60 days after application. Pest control products used have a low toxicity and little to no odor.
• All treatments are performed according to label specifications without exception. The university is licensed by the District of Columbia and all pest control technicians are certified. Inspections of facilities and practices are done annually with a District of Columbia agent.