Advisory Board: Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee
Subject: 4. CONSIDER approval of the revised ground squirrel decision document
Presenter: Wade Finlinson
Contact: 925.655.3214
Information:
The bylaws of the Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC) list several purposes of the Committee. Those include:
• Making policy recommendations upon assessment of current pest issues and evaluation of possible IPM solutions.
• Providing a forum for communication and information exchange among members in an effort to identify, encourage, and stimulate the use of best or promising pest management practices.
• Promoting transparency in pest management decision-making by County Departments.
Referral History and Update:
The IPM Decision-Making Subcommittee is currently the only standing subcommittee of IPMAC. In pursuit of the above purposes, the Subcommittee creates and revises documentation to transparently depict rationale for pest management decisions within County operations. These documents often include recommendations for operational refinement.
The last revision of the ground squirrel decision document was completed in 2019. Since then, regulatory restrictions on anticoagulant rodenticides has limited access to one of the two control tactics deemed “high efficacy” by the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UCIPM). The Subcommittee provided input into various drafts during meetings held on April 17, 2025, May 15, 2025, July 17, 2025, and August 21, 2025.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Staff recommends reviewing the attached draft of this version of the decision document and approving it with any additional modifications.