Scott Harvey, CU's pest specialist. Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Beyond being CU’s first pest specialist, Scott Harvey has another claim to fame: the most photographed man on campus. Traps and bait in hand, Harvey crisscrosses campus in response to elk and deer sightings, ant trails, bat guano and even a lost monkey on Norlin Quad. In the process he ends up in many pictures taken by the university’s photographers. In between calls about a new family of cockroaches, Harvey told Coloradan contributor and CU junior Emery Cowan about managing wildlife on campus.

How would you describe your job?

I deal with any and all pests on the campus. . . every day is an exciting day for me.

How did you come into this job?

Starting in 1988, I did pest control with large companies. The year 1993 was a turning point for me. I decided chemicals were probably not a good, healthy environment to be in and decided to go with a nontoxic way of doing things. I read journals from the early 1900s, really delved into [what is now considered alternative, nontoxic methods for pest control] and became well known [for using alternative methods].

So you found that customers were more inclined to use a nontoxic approach?

Yes, it was a very hot commodity. All the schools, hospitals and big corporations loved it. CU then heard about Rocky Mountain Pest Control, the company I was working for, and contracted us. CU is a role model for a lot of colleges and universities now. I’m recognized around the country because I do things differently.

So what alternative, nontoxic methods do you use?

The parasitic wasp is one: to control roaches use another insect that feeds on the cockroach eggs, eventually killing them. It’s the best weapon the university has ever seen for getting rid of roaches. Another strategy is putting Vaseline on all openings to the attic so bat bugs can’t get down into a room. I use vacuums and traps because I don’t like to use poison inside buildings. For prairie dogs, I use soap and water to safely flush them out of their holes instead of vacuums. When they come out I grab them and wrap them up in a towel like a burrito. Then I relocate them.

Speaking of animals, are there any memorable experiences you have had with animals on campus?

My favorites are beavers. I love them. We have a lot of beavers on campus and I get really close to them. One Saturday we left at 4 o’clock in the morning to drive to Telluride and then backpacked six hours to relocate beavers [from the CU campus]. We didn’t need to kill these guys. We knew there was a way to relocate them, protect the family and keep everyone happy.

What is the best part about your job?

Educating and communicating with the public, from the chancellor to the student who lives in Stearns East so they understand what we’re doing.