Kids Section

Join the EPA's Pest Patrol

We've all been bugged at one time or another by pests. For many of us, our first reaction is to reach for the nearest can of bug spray. But, pesticides and fertilizers that run off from lawns and other locations are a significant source of pollution in our environment. There's a better way to solve pest problems called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices.

Teaching IPM at the grade school level can provide children with important information about pest identity, biology, and ecology. It can also help children understand the impact that personal choices—like whether or not to use chemicals to control pests—can have on our environment.

Click here to check out the Backyard Activity Book for Kids.