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Beavers and skeeters and wasps…Oh My!

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Steven Goetsch
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  There is a predator lurking on base. It is hard to spot, but it is watching you. It follows your scent and tracks you from the very breath you exhale. Many have fallen victim to its ravenous thirst for blood. This micro-monster is the mosquito, and he is looking for his next host.

Next to having lightning fast karate hands, Osan's best defense against these opportunistic feeders are the efforts of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Shop. The pest management shop, or as Ronald Reagan-era members knew them, entomology, are responsible for ridding the base of these and many other vermin Mother Nature has provided as some sort of bad joke.

The superintendent of pest management, Master Sgt. Lionel Coleman, has battled pests for 23 years and has seen almost everything including a mammal who could have used some personal protective equipment. "I once watched a beaver chew on a tree until it came down on top of him and killed him." said Sergeant Coleman. Beavers aren't normally on pest management's hit list. That distinction is reserved for pests like the mosquito.

Keeping Osan's softball fields and public areas free of mosquitoes isn't just luck; it takes a coordinated two-phase approach. Pest management uses a one-two punch that consists of spreading larvicide in breeding areas and fogging the entire base to kill adults. "When I PCS'd to Osan, my predecessor told me to be aggressive with our larvicide program," said Sergeant Coleman. "Because it causes deformities and hinders flight, it is simply more effective to spray them when they are young."

Taking care of the mosquitoes in the larval stage has paid huge dividends for Osan and the pest management shop. "We had zero calls for mosquitoes throughout June, July and August last year, and that is because of our larvicide program," said Tech Sgt. Steve Coffman, Pest Management NCOIC.

There are no hazards associated with the chemicals that are used in these programs. That is because of the physical makeup of the chemicals and the fogging methods employed by the pest management shop. "The active ingredient in a pesticide is negligible," said Sergeant Coffman. "That's why there is little risk to humans. You do not have to use much to kill a bug."

In addition to the chemicals, pest management exercises more precaution by fogging and spraying at opportune times. "We eliminate all public risk by spraying when there is the least pedestrian traffic," said Sergeant Coleman.

In addition to traffic, pest management works with the bioenvironmental and weather flights to establish fogging times and spraying locations. The pest management shop is prompted into action with the help of the bioenvironmental flight that sets out traps to gauge the mosquito population and determine where the concentrations of mosquitoes are. Pest management also uses weather information to maximize the effects of their spraying programs.

Since the pest management shop fogs three times a week, they need to make sure conditions are just right so they fog at dusk and dawn and when the winds are optimum. "We have to monitor the weather reports," said Sergeant Coffman. "We can't fog when the winds go over eight miles per hour, otherwise the chemical plume will not cover the base."

Besides mosquitoes, you might see banana spiders, which look much worse than their bite. They get their name from the bright yellow coloring of their legs. They are timid and will generally duck and cover when you approach them. The same can't always be said about wasps. Wasps can also be an annoyance, and sometimes dangerous. "I was at the top of an air traffic control tower and got stung," said Sergeant Coleman. "My first reaction was to run for it, and I almost jumped over the railing." Although being 60 feet in the air next to a wasp's nest is an extreme condition, aggressive wasps can be dangerous and the situation could become worse if you do not remain calm. You can keep pests away by taking some very easy steps. "If you want to make your office or residence pest-free, the best defense against them is good housekeeping," said Sergeant Coleman.

If you reside on base, you can also obtain wasp-freeze, rat and ant traps at the self-help store. When you have a more serious pest problem, such as a feral animal, you can call 51st CE customer service at 784-4304.