What is Integrated Pest
Management or IPM?
Integrated pest management
(IPM) is “a sustainable approach
to managing pests by combining
biological, cultural, physical,
and chemical tools in a way that
minimizes economic, health, and
environmental risks” (7 USC
136r-1). It is a long-standing,
science-based, decision-making
process that identifies and
reduces risks from pests and pest
management related strategies.
What are the benefits of IPM?
IPM can:
1) Reduce risks from pests and pest
management related strategies to
people, property, resources, and the
environment;
2) Save time and resources by
understanding pest biology and
conditions that favor the pest;
3) Increase implementation of more
effective pest management strategies;
4) Increase scientific management of
pest species rather than being reactive or
managing pests on a calendar basis;
5) Increase accountability for pest
management decision-making and on-the-
ground results;
6) Increase coordination and partnerships
for effective pest management;
7) Decrease or eliminate unnecessary
pesticide use;
8) Decrease pest resistance from
repetitive pesticide use;
9) Increase safer uses of pesticides and
other management tools.
Where can you use IPM?
IPM provides an effective strategy
for managing indoor (museums, living
quarters, visitor centers) and outdoor
(hatcheries, wetland management
areas, refuges) pests. IPM serves as
an umbrella to provide an effective, all
encompassing, minimal-risk
approach to protect resources
and people from pests.
What is a pest?
A pest is any organism that
interferes with desired resource
management goals, or any
organism that may cause
damage to a resource that you
are trying to protect. Some
questions to consider when
managing pests are:
1) Is the pest at levels that interferes
with completion of your management
goals?
2) Is it a native or exotic species?
3) What conditions foster the pest?
Integrated Pest
Management
Reducing Risks from Pests and Pest
Management Activities
Integrated pest management
coordinates the use of pest biology,
environmental information, and
available technology to prevent
unacceptable levels of pest damage
by the most economical means,
while posing the least possible risk to
people, property, resources, and the
environment.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages for invasive weed species
that threaten native habitats, such as this orange hawkweed (Hieracium
aurantiacum) infestation on Kodiak Island National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska,
July 2002. The Service is currently using the herbicide clopyralid to treat this
infestation.
Leslie Kerr/USFWS
4) What are the chances of successful
pest management?
What pest species do the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service manage?
The Service usually manages pest species
to restore habitat or create habitat for
wildlife, including habitat for threatened
or endangered species. In the case of
habitat restoration, the Service may
manage invasive weed species with the
goal of native habitat restoration. One
example where the Service manages an
invasive non-native plant is the melaleuca
tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) which
occurs throughout southern Florida
and can be found at the Arthur R.
Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife
Refuge. This invasive species chokes
out important native vegetation. In the
case of creating habitat, the Service may
manage agricultural pests with the goal
of creating cover or growing corn, rice,
or other foods for wildlife. The Service
also manages for disease vectors, like
mosquitoes, when documented human or
wildlife health risk exists, like West Nile
virus.
What are some of the components of a
successful IPM program?
1) Understanding site management
objectives and establishing short and
long term priorities.
2) Preventing pest species from becoming
a pest in the first place—this is the first
line of defense against any pest species.
3) Identifying, monitoring, and
mapping current and potential pest
species. Understanding their biology
and conditions conducive to support
the pest(s) (air, water, food, shelter,
temperature and light).
4) Understanding the physical and
biological factors that affect the number
and distribution of pests and their
natural enemies. Conserving natural
enemies when implementing any pest
management strategy.
5) Establishing “action thresholds” at
which point a management strategy
will be implemented to reduce the pest
population.
6) Reviewing available tools and
best management practices for the
management of the identified pest(s).
Tools may include: 1) no action, 2)
physical (manual and mechanical), 3)
cultural, 4) biological, and 5) chemical
management strategies.
7) Building partnerships and consensus
with stakeholders—occupants, decision-makers
and technical experts (ongoing
throughout the process).
8) Obtaining approval, defining
responsibilities, and implementing
selected best management strategies,
in accordance with applicable laws,
regulations, and policies.
9) Evaluating results of management
strategies; determining if objectives have
been achieved; modifying strategies if
necessary.
10) Documenting decisions and
maintaining records.
11) Outreach and education.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
http://www.fws.gov
July 2004
For more information please contact:
Division of Environmental Quality
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 322
Arlington, VA 22203
703/358 2148
http://contaminants@fws.gov
Integrated pest management flood-fallowing project, Klamath National Wildlife
Refuge, Oregon, 2003.
Tiffany Parson/USFWS
Phragmites (Phragmites australis)
management at Horsehead Wetland
Center, Maryland using glyphosate;
flooding can also be used with some
success as part of an IPM approach.
Some of the most common herbicides
used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service for invasive weed management
include glyphosate, imazapyr, triclopyr,
and clopyralid.
Julie Thompson/USFWS
