One of Housing’s goals is to provide you with a clean and pest-free living environment. However, your shelter from the elements is sometimes very enticing to pests such as ants, roaches, bees/wasps, flies, mice, etc. If you develop a pest problem, please notify the Resident Services Office immediately so that we can attempt to eliminate the problem for you and prevent it from spreading to your neighbors’ apartment. The Resident Services Office will schedule a fumigation, which will require you to vacate your apartment for approximately 3-4 hours on the appointment day. (Residents are not permitted to schedule outside vendors to fumigate their apartment.) You will be informed as to how to properly prepare your apartment for the pending fumigation. If your apartment cannot be fumigated because it has not been properly prepared, we will schedule a second fumigation. If we are unable to fumigate during a second attempt, your apartment will be properly prepared by our maintenance staff, fumigated, and you will be assessed a $50.00 fee.

Unless it is determined that a pest problem has specifically been caused by negligence on your part, fumigations are arranged free of charge. To avoid pest issues, it is crucial to keep your living environment clean. For example, consistently wash counter tops, dirty food containers/dishes, and stove tops, promptly wipe up spills, and empty the trash daily. Avoid storing newspapers, recyclables, and trash inside or outside of your apartment.

BEES & WASPS
With the arrival of spring conditions each year, there is typically an increase in the activity of wasps, yellow jackets, bumblebees, honeybees, and the Africanized honeybee. We would like to offer the following general facts and guidelines for dealing with these conditions and encourage you to educate yourself further on this matter.

Bees are not likely to sting when gathering nectar and pollen from flowers and a swarm of bees in flight seldom bothers people. All bees become more defensive when they settle, begin producing wax comb, and raising young. When participating in outdoor sports and activities, be aware of indications of bee swarms and colonies and avoid these areas. Indications of bee swarms and/or colonies may include:
• Visible nesting sites
• Large quantities of bees located in a single area
• An unusual buzzing sound

If bees are encountered, it is best to leave that area quickly. Do not disturb a nest or swarm. If chased, protect your face and eyes as much as possible and take shelter in a car or building. Do not stand and swat at bees. Rapid motions may aggravate them and cause them to sting.

We make every effort to remove potential and existing nest sites around apartment buildings. Please help us in this endeavor by contacting the Resident Services Office if you notice heightened bee activity in a certain area, if you notice a bee or wasp nest or swarm in a residential area, or if you have any further questions.