Integrated pest management (IPM): how we work

Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a way of dealing with pests that starts with finding out what is really happening, not with spraying. It is how we work at Pest Emergency, and this page explains what it means in plain terms.

What is integrated pest management?

IPM is a step-by-step approach to pests. Instead of applying treatment on a fixed schedule, you look at the problem first, identify the pest, prevent what you can, and use control methods when they are needed.

The US Environmental Protection Agency describes IPM in four tiers: set action thresholds, monitor and identify pests, prevent, and control. It is a public definition used widely, and it matches the logic of how we work.

In Canada, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regulates pest control products and, with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, runs a program that encourages growers to adopt IPM and lower-risk approaches.

What are the four steps we use?

Every job follows the same four steps.

1. Inspect

We look at the property for activity, entry points and conditions that help pests, such as food, water and clutter.

2. Identify

We confirm what the pest is. Treatments differ by species, so guessing wastes time and can make a problem worse. For example, mice and rats are handled differently, as our guide on mice vs rats explains.

3. Treat

We deal with the pest using the methods that suit the situation, and address the causes, such as gaps or moisture.

4. Follow-up

We check back to see that the problem has stopped and nothing new has appeared.

How does IPM compare with calendar spraying?

Calendar spraying applies the same treatment on set dates whether or not pests are present. IPM starts with evidence. The EPA’s description puts it this way: when control is needed, use the least risky effective method first, and escalate only if necessary, with broad spraying a last resort.

Calendar spraying may be simpler, but it can treat problems that don’t exist and miss ones that do. IPM focuses on what is really there.

What does IPM look like for different pests?

Bed bugs

Finding and confirming activity comes first, since bites alone don’t prove bed bugs. Treatment is then planned around the rooms affected. See our bed bug treatment service.

Cockroaches

Identification matters, as is finding where they hide and feed. Sanitation and sealing gaps support treatment. See our cockroach control service.

Rodents

Sealing entry points and removing food and shelter are central, alongside treatment. See our rodent control service.

Ants

Locating the trail and nest decides the approach. Health Canada notes that baits work slowly so workers carry them back to the colony. See our ant control service.

Is IPM organic, and does it mean no chemicals?

No. IPM isn’t a label for organic or chemical-free treatment. It is a decision process. Pesticides may still be part of the plan where needed, and when they are, they must follow the label and Ontario’s rules.

IPM for landlords and businesses

Landlords and food businesses are often asked to show a structured approach to pests. Written inspection records and follow-up help demonstrate that problems are being managed.

Rules vary by municipality and building type, so check the requirements that apply to you. Our commercial pest control service is built around the same four steps.

Safety and product rules

In Ontario, people who apply pesticides commercially on property they don’t own need an exterminator licence, and businesses employing them need an operator licence, according to the provincial government. Any product used in Canada should carry a Pest Control Products (PCP) number and be used according to its label.

If you do your own pest control, follow the label, keep products away from children and pets, and ask for professional help when a problem is hazardous or out of hand.

Get a free quote

Want an IPM plan for your home or business? Request a free quote and quote details reach you within 30 minutes. You can also call on the number at the top of the page.