5 CES Entomology manages pests

Published Jan. 11, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Jessica Weissman
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- When the temperatures drop, unwanted pests on Minot Air Force Base go looking for shelter from the weather, which makes pest management just as important during winter months as it is during the summer.

The Minot AFB entomology shop is responsible for preventative pest management year-round for both the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing.

“We are responsible for all pest control including management at missile alert facilities,” said Lester Nicholas, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron pest management foreman.

Throughout the year, the pest management shop conducts monthly food facility inspections at various locations on base to look for rodents or signs of them.

“If we don’t manage it the problem will rise,” said Master Sgt. Seung Paeng, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron pest management NCO in charge. “Pests carry disease factors, and we don’t want them to spread and people to get sick. It can affect food, health and quality of life.”

Due to the frigid temperatures, pest management personnel sometimes receive calls for other animals on base, such as stray cats.

“Stray cats will come into base buildings looking for food, shelter and warmth,” said Nicholas. “Once trapped, we take them to the veterinarian on base who will scan their microchip. If we don’t successfully figure out who the owners are, we take them to the local shelter.”

There are countless buildings here in need of pest management. While Balfour Beatty communities manages the housing areas, base buildings and missile alert facilities are under pest management’s responsibility.

With a large missile field spanning over 8,500 square miles in seven different counties, MAF facility managers help the pest management team gather materials to attempt to fix the problem first.

“Facility Managers will come to our self-help store to gather sticky or snap traps if they are able to control the nuisance,” said Nicholas. “If the problem arises and the FMs can’t control the situation, they will send in a request form and we’ll make our way to the MAF and place poison throughout the site.”

Poison is used, not only at MAFs but also on base, as a last resort by the pest management shop. If poison is ingested, the rodent will continue to move about the facility and possibly die in ceilings or walls potentially creating an odor.

Winter allows pest management personnel sufficient time to plan for the summer months that follow. Since pest management controls the fly, mice, ground squirrel, mosquitos and weed population, planning ahead and gathering materials beforehand is important.

“Weeds are a large concern throughout the summer especially out in the field,” said Nicholas. “If weeds grow to a certain height, they can mess with the alert sensors.”

One of the most well-known pests on base is the ground squirrel, or dakrat.

“Over the past two years we have removed over 6,000 rats and there are probably thousands more,” said Nicholas.

Winter preparation includes surveying land throughout base for holes and signs of dakrats hibernation, said Paeng.

Tips to keep your home or work center pest free are: keep doors closed, your area clean and food in a sealed container.

“A mouse can squeeze the bone structure of his head through a quarter of an inch sized hole,” said Nicholas, “It is important to ensure any holes are recognized and repaired.”

Whether in positive or negative temperatures, the 5th CES pest management shop tries to ensure the best quality of life on base by removing any unwanted or harmful pests, insects, plants or animals.