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Civil engineering section keeps unwanted pests at bay

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stefanie Torres
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Whether looking for shelter or food, insects and other unwanted creatures often find their way into living quarters and workplaces here. If not taken care of immediately, one or two problems can turn into a dozen.

That's where Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Section step in. Using non-toxic chemicals and traps set around the base, these Airmen work to keep unwanted insects and animals from invading tents, dorms, offices and shops. They also assist with the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard, or BASH, program to reduce the amount of birds near the flight line, managing a significant hazard to the flying mission.

"In this location, we've seen problems with snakes, scorpions, mice, ants, stray dogs and foxes," said Staff Sgt. Omolade Akinremi, a 386th ECES pest management specialist who is deployed from the Illinois Air Guard's 182nd Civil Engineer Squadron in Peoria. "But the biggest problem we have now that the weather has cooled down a bit is the flies."

According to Sergeant Akinremi, the tenacious flies can be a constant nuisance to Airmen working outside and are managed with sticky fly traps.

As for bigger pests, the 386th ECES sends stray dogs to a local veterinarian, while it captures and relocates foxes off base. It's up to the Airmen stationed here to help keep them away, however.

"We tell people not to feed or bother any of the animals," she said. "They come around for food, and if Airmen feed them, they will know to come back and approach people."
Sergeant Akinremi also encouraged Airmen to keep their areas neat and clean to prevent a "food-chain effect" from developing.

"Mice will be drawn to crumbs, snakes will chase the mice, and the foxes will chase the snakes," she explained. "To prevent an infestation of unwanted animals, work and living areas should be kept clean with minimal clutter.

"If people clean their work and living areas, (mice) will have nowhere to hide," she added. "People like to snack in their rooms, so if everyone would just clean up and store their food in higher places, making the food harder to get to, there shouldn't be a problem."

Airmen from the 386th Pest Management Section frequently work with counterparts in the sister services to get the job done. According to Master Sgt. Richard Welsh, 386th ECES pest management superintendent, working with the Army and Navy is the best part of being downrange.

"I really enjoy that aspect of the job," said Sergeant Welsh, who also is deployed from the Illinois Air Guard. "At home station, we don't usually work with the other services, and it's great to see their ideas, and vice versa. The Navy has a true entomologist working in their camp, so if we're unsure of something, we can always ask and they are really helpful."

The Pest Management shop here is unique in that it also collects hazardous materials around the base - a mission which requires its Airmen to complete training for the proper handling of hazardous materials, or HAZMAT.

"People can turn in oil, print cartridges or anything that falls under HAZMAT," Sergeant Welsh said. "A lot of our schools are also teaching a lot about the environmental side of the house, which falls under our realm, and we don't mind helping out."