Interview With Integrated Pest Management Expert Janet Hurley

Our latest interview is with renowned pest management expert Janet Hurley from School Integrated Pest Management, Texas. Janet shares common misconceptions about pest control, year-round vigilance tips, and why the A24 Rat & Mouse Trap is a staple in her toolkit.

Automatic Trap: We're joined today by Janet Hurley, extension specialist for the Texas Integrated Pest Management school program. They provide training and advice for school districts and other institutions in Texas and the Southwest. Thanks for joining us, Janet! To start, tell us a bit about yourself, School IPM, and your role.

JH: Thank you for inviting me. I’ve been in this position since 2001. I was hired by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to support an EPA grant establishing the Southwest Technical Resource Center for School IPM. My initial goal was helping schools find the right resources. Texas has one of the oldest school IPM laws, so my role expanded quickly once districts knew there was a resource. There aren’t many of us nationwide, so I’ve been fortunate to work with great people across the country—learning beyond insects into mammals as well.

Automatic Trap: Texas has it all—scorpions, bats, snakes. What’s uniquely “Texas” about pest management there, including climate factors?

JH: Texas is incredibly diverse. It can be snowing in the Panhandle while people are in swimsuits on South Padre—sometimes in the same month. Our pests don’t get a winter break. In schools, I’ve fielded calls from cockroaches to bats in buildings. There’s always something.

Automatic Trap: So it’s 24/7/365—no downtime to step back and strategize?

JH: Exactly. If it’s not ants, it’s roaches. If not roaches, termites. If not termites, rats. Or bed bugs. There’s always a pest.

Automatic Trap: Be honest—are pests really bigger in Texas?

JH: That’s an urban myth. My teachers swear cockroaches are three feet tall—if I see that, I’m out! But no, our roaches and rats aren’t bigger; they’re just ever-present.

Automatic Trap: What’s a common misconception about pest management?

JH: The “silver bullet” belief—spray once and everything is “killed dead.” Effective IPM requires correct identification and understanding biology and life cycles. “I’ve got a bug—come kill it” isn’t a plan. Pros solve problems, not just bugs.

Automatic Trap: So education and prevention matter as much as treatment.

JH: Absolutely. When I audit schools or PMPs, I review records. Writing “ants” or “roaches” isn’t enough. Which ant? Which roach? German cockroaches live indoors with humans; American cockroaches can originate outdoors or sewers and wander in. Know thy enemy.

Automatic Trap: We’re seeing increased rodent activity in major cities. What’s driving it?

JH: Humans. “Commensal” literally means “to live with man.” We create food, water, shelter, and clutter. Construction can disturb rodents, but it also attracts them—trash, food waste, woodpiles. Population growth and denser housing add opportunities. We’re our own worst enemies here.

Automatic Trap: If rodents “don’t offer us anything,” why focus on ethical, responsible dispatch?

JH: Most people dislike rats—and also dislike inhumane methods. Some snap traps can prolong suffering. Rodents can carry dozens of diseases, so humane, contained dispatch reduces risk and mess while respecting animal welfare.

Automatic Trap: Top prevention tips for homeowners, business owners, or property managers?

JH: Start with exclusion. Check door sweeps (including apartment hallway doors), patios, garage doors—seal any gap the size of a dime (≈6 mm). Think like a cockroach or mouse: where are entry points, food, and water? During remodels, don’t create new gaps. I re-sealed my mom’s home—rats and squirrels loved the attic until the pathways were closed.

Automatic Trap: You’ve posted about the Goodnature A24. What do you like about it, and how do you use it?

JH: It’s the “better mousetrap.” I installed one on my back porch in summer 2017 and treat it as passive monitoring and control. It’s there when I’m home or traveling. I refresh lure as needed. After a holiday trip, I returned to fresh droppings—and two dispatched rats right beside the unit. No indoor incursion, no mess. I placed it in a corner where dogs can’t reach, using game cameras to confirm high-traffic routes. I haven’t moved it since. With instant, humane dispatch, there’s no trap shyness—other rodents don’t learn to avoid it; they just don’t come back.

Automatic Trap: What’s next for School IPM and where can people find you?

JH: School IPM is alive and well in Texas—it’s state law. I’ll continue district trainings and host Rodent Academy (spring and fall). Find me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Our program site is schoolipm.tamu.edu, and for professionals we have the IPM Experience House (ipmhouse.tamu.edu) for trainings like Rodent Academy and more.