For Release: March 20, 2015

EPA’s Center of Expertise for School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will host a webinar, “Contending with Vertebrate Pests around Schools,” on March 31 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

This webinar will present the challenges that large vertebrate pests present, followed by a discussion on tried-and-true ways to deter pests such as squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer, and feral cats from school grounds. The webinar will feature:

• Stephen Van Tassel, Ph.D., Author, Consultant, and Wildlife Expert, University of Nebraska 
• Mark Hardin, IPM Specialist, Howard County (Maryland) Public School System 
• Marcia Anderson, Ph.D., EPA’s Center of Expertise for School IPM 

This webinar is one in a series of EPA presentations offering information on IPM and helping school districts adopt a proactive approach to pest control. The presentations are geared specifically to the school community: facility managers, buildings and grounds managers, and staff, nurses, administrators, and IPM coordinators. Our IPM webinar series has already reached more than 900 school officials, representing over 7 million students across the country. IPM is a smart, sensible, and sustainable approach to managing pests. IPM takes action to address the underlying causes that enable pests to thrive.

Future webinars will cover the following topics:

• Avoiding Stinging Insects in School Environments - April 21, 2015 
• School Turf and Landscape Pest Management - TBD

Find information about future School IPM webinars.

Learn more about IPM in Schools and Integrated Pest Management Tools  

Watch this short video from the Colorado School IPM Coalition to learn more about IPM. Exit

Watch these videos from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation on IPM in schools. Exit

Read the IPM Institute of North America’s blog about school IPM. Exit