Julie,
To fully make use of the “integrated”
portion of integrated pest management (IPM) you need to step back and look at
each exhibit building from a pest standpoint. Besides being a shelter from the
external environment of extreme heat/cold, rain etc., what is drawing the mice into
your buildings? Does the museum staff keep food there? Is there lots of high
grass or debris on the outside of the buildings that offer optimum nesting
sites? Besides garage doors and walk-in doors, are there gaps that allow easy
entry to rodents inside? (Anything over a ¼” gap can be considered easy
entry.) If you address all of these issues, you will significantly lower the
chance of infestation to start with.
With an existing infestation, you need a
means to capture and remove the mice living in the cars. As mammals can quickly
adapt to sounds and odors when it comes to their survival, sonic devices and aromatic
dryer sheets will only deter them for a short time, if at all before they
figure out that they can live with this annoyance. I would not recommend
putting your efforts into those areas.
You need to ask the question, “What
is your institution’s philosophy regarding toxic baits?” Baiting
programs on the exterior of the building can drastically reduce the rodent
pressure trying to get into the building. Traps on either side of each entry
door into the exhibit building will help reduce influx from the outside as
well. Mice will instinctively look for quick cover to the left or right when
they enter an unknown territory.
Much of this information can be found on www.museumpests.net as well as other
great references. It is certainly worth the visit there.
Regards,
Patrick Kelley
Insects Limited, Inc.
Phone: (317) 896-9300
Fax: (317)867-5757
email: p.kelley@insectslimited,.com
website: www.insectslimited.com
From: Museum
discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Grevin, Fred
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009
12:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Problems
with mice in automobiles
Julie, this may not apply to historical automobiles, but our
dealership recommends we place a sheet of Bounce (the antistatic) near the
internal air intake vents of all our cars to prevent rodent infestation (which,
apparently, happens even with current-use vehicles!).
Best of luck.
Fred
===================================================================
Frederic J. Grevin
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Information Officer
The City of
Department of Records
Email: [log in to unmask]
Land phone: 212.788.8615
Cell phone: 347.436.5360
Fax: 212.788.8614
www.nyc.gov/records
From: Museum
discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julie Blood
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009
12:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Problems with
mice in automobiles
Hi everyone,
The museum where I work is in a rural setting and I was
recently informed by our previous Collections Manager that in past winters
there has been an issue with mice in some of the exhibit buildings. I'm not
sure if there was an Integrated Pest Management program in place at that time,
but I have since implemented one. One of the problem spots was the
interior of a 1932
Julie Blood
Collections and Exhibit Manager
(209) 331-2055
(209) 953-3460
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