Pest Control Services

Ants

The best method for avoiding an unwanted ant invasion is to reduce or eliminate activities which may attract them. Food should not be stored in drawers or out on desk and any crumbs or spills should be cleaned and wiped away as soon as possible. The waste receptacles in private offices are only serviced once a month. It is recommended that all food waste and related trash be disposed of in the community receptacles located in the hallways. These waste receptacles are serviced nightly.

Potted plants can attract ants as they provide a secure habitat in which to make their homes. If you observe ants in your office it is recommended to immediately remove potted plants until the ants have gone away so that they do not set up a new home in your office.

Facilities Operations primarily utilizes bait stations both inside and outside of buildings to control ant populations. Sprays and aerosols are never used inside of buildings.

Bees or Wasps

Bees are an important part of our ecosystem. We love bees! However, it is not ideal for bees to make their homes next to our buildings. There is a risk to the hive from human interference and also to our campus occupants who are allergic to bee stings. Facilities Operations works with a professional bee keeper to safely and humanely relocate hives protecting both the bees and our campus community.

Wasps can pose a nuisance to the campus community as they can be aggressive and are dangerous to those with allergies. If you observe a wasp nest or swarm please contact the Facilities Help Center immediately. We will cordon off the area to prevent human and wasp interaction until the wasp nest can be safely removed by a pest control professional.

If you see a bee or wasp nest call the Facilities Help Center at 805-756-5555.

Birds

Facilities Operations utilizes industry standard bird exclusion methods such as netting, recorded hawk cries, and bird spikes to discourage unwanted roosting which can create a mess. If you observe a roosting issue and are concerned you may contact the Facilities Help Center to find out what options there may be to address the problem.

Many birds are protected under state and federal law, especially nesting birds. Never attempt to discourage roosting or disturb birds on your own.

Sometimes a bird may get stuck inside one of our buildings or classrooms and become distressed. If this happens it is best to leave windows and doors open so the bird has an exit and if possible have all of the people in the room leave so that the bird can find its way out. Do not attempt to catch the bird as this will cause the bird to panic and it will likely injure itself. Once the room is quiet the bird can calm down and will generally find its way out.

Rodents

Facilities Operations utilizes a robust campuswide program to control the rodent population. If you observe the presence of rodents in your office or classroom please notify us. Our Custodial Services team will respond to clean the area and deploy initial control methods.

The best method to avoid unwanted rodent visitors is to reduce or eliminate activities which may attract them. Food should not be stored in drawers or out on desk and any crumbs or spills should be cleaned and wiped away as soon as possible. Rodents can easily access desk drawers and chew through plastic. It is not recommended to store food inside your desk or office. If your office has a community refrigerator food can be safely stored there overnight without the risk of attracting an unwanted visitor.

The waste receptacles in private offices are only serviced once a month. It is recommended that all food waste and related trash be disposed of in the community receptacles located in the hallways. These waste receptacles are serviced nightly.

Other

Many other animals may visit or call our campus home such as deer, raccoons, possums, wild turkeys, quail, bats, and snakes. If you observe a wild animal do not approach it or attempt to scare or interact with it in any way. Many wild animals are protected by state and federal law so it is best to just leave them alone. Most animals are not interested in interacting with humans and once they have observed the presence of humans will leave the area on their own. If you believe an animal is trapped inside a building, trashcan, or other object please contact the Facilities Management & Development Help Center immediately at 805-756-5555. There are trained professionals within the Facilities Operations team who can assess the situation and remove the animal if appropriate. Occasionally Facilities Operations will work with local animal rescue or control groups as needed.