Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National military Park Integrated Pest Management Plan

Alberts, Susan

The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a complex of several individual park units extending over approximately 8,000 acres in Virginia from urban Fredericksburg to rural Spotsylvania County. The park includes forests, pastures and farming units and contains numerous buildings, including 2 visitor centers, office buildings, and historic structures. The National Park Service has adopted the methods of integrated pest management (IPM) for control of any exotic or native species which are determined to be "pests." IPM utilizes mechanical and biological controls and prevention as primary tools, and minimizes the use of pesticides. The Washington Office of the National Park Service by policy does not approve pesticides for control of ants which are "occasional invaders " or nuisance insects. However, these insects can become pests if they nest and become established in buildings. Several different ant species have required chemical treatment as pests within the park, including wood-destroying pests, such as carpenter ants, and occasional invaders, such as large yellow ants.