Commercial Rodent Control – How to Prevent Rodents From Entering Your Facility

Rodents can eat through wires, destroy insulation and cause costly property damage. Plus, sightings of rats and mice in the workplace can tarnish a business’ reputation.

Keep facilities clean by keeping food waste and garbage in rodent-proof containers, emptying trash bins regularly and sanitizing spaces like behind appliances. Also, scrutinize exterior entry points with a keen eye, sealing any cracks or holes — an adult mouse can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime! Contact Commercial Rodent Control now!

Rodents breed rapidly, and even a single pair can cause significant damage in short order. Taking preventive steps, however, can greatly decrease the likelihood of a commercial rodent infestation. A pest control professional can provide a number of preventive techniques including visual inspections to identify potential entry points, sanitation recommendations and the installation of monitoring traps. In addition, they can also provide ongoing pest control services to remove a commercial infestation and keep it from returning.

The most effective preventive measure is to keep a store as clean as possible. This will reduce the food and water available for rats and other rodents in the vicinity of the store. Routine cleaning and trash removal should be accompanied by regular inspections for signs of rodent activity such as urine, feces and gnaw marks. Store employees should also pay attention to unusual sounds or odors in the building, as these may indicate that a rat infestation is in progress.

Store owners should also keep outdoor areas and indoor spaces free of crumbs, dripping pipes, garbage, cluttered areas and debris piles. The best way to do this is by implementing a comprehensive sanitary management program that combines frequent inspections, sanitation and hygienic maintenance.

Stores should also ensure that materials entering the facility are not contaminated with insect larvae, as these can lead to contamination of packed foods. To this end stores should regularly inspect shipping-receiving areas and storage areas, as well as parking garages for insects. If an infestation is detected, the area should be cleaned immediately to avoid contamination of packaged products. In addition, store employees should use monitoring traps to monitor rodent activity in hard-to-reach areas like wall and ceiling voids, attics, crawlspaces, and sub-slab spaces. Alternatively, an experienced pest professional can install a barrier system that creates an impermeable barrier to rodents and other nuisance wildlife. This is an efficient, long-term, chemical-free method of preventing pests from invading a space and disrupting business operations.

Signs of an Infestation

Rodents are a major concern for commercial properties and can cause significant damage. They also carry germs and contaminate food supplies. Additionally, they can chew through wires and other materials in a facility. These problems can affect a company’s reputation, which is especially important for businesses in the food service industry.

Rodents can enter a building through the smallest of openings, making it challenging for owners and staff to determine if there is a problem. Often, the first clue is hearing strange noises, such as scratching or scurrying, at night. These sounds could indicate that rodents are living inside a wall or crawl space.

Other indicators of a rodent infestation are droppings and urine. Rodents leave pellet-like droppings in dark places. They also leave a distinctive urine trail, which is darker and wetter than human foot prints.

In addition to these signs, it’s a good idea for businesses to keep food, trash and other items in rodent-proof containers indoors and outdoors. They should also clean up the facility frequently, and regularly empty and scrub all trash bins both indoors and out. It’s a good idea to use metal bins rather than plastic ones, because mice and rats can chew through plastic and can fit into smaller holes.

Another sign of a rat or mouse infestation is finding chewed, gnawed or damaged goods. Rodents are omnivorous and will eat almost anything, including paper, cardboard, insulation, cloth, wood, electrical wires, furniture, books, clothing, and more. They will also chew through ductwork and pipes.

Finally, look for entry points into the business’s exterior walls and roof. Make sure to inspect areas where the walls meet the foundation, where shingles are on the roof, and the areas around windows and doors. An adult rat can squeeze through an opening the size of a pencil, so it’s important to be vigilant in looking for these small gaps and cracks. A professional rat and mouse exterminator can help seal these entry points to prevent rodents from entering the facility. They can also set up bait stations, which are filled with poison that is disguised as rodent food, to stop the infestation before it gets out of hand.

Exclusion Methods

The best way to prevent rodent infestations is by preventing them from entering your facility in the first place. Rodents chew, gnaw and cause damage to facilities and equipment and can spread disease in the process.

A comprehensive pest management program that incorporates time-tested exclusion methods is an essential part of a successful Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. This includes pest-proofing to physically block entry points, modifying sanitation and cleaning protocols, and training employees in reducing conducive conditions that can lead to infestations.

Commercial pest control experts agree that excluding rodents from buildings in the first place is the most cost-effective, safest and longest-term method for controlling them. Exclusion involves the repairing, sealing and shutting down common entry points for pests such as cracks in foundations, gaps around doors and windows, and vents and utility lines that enter buildings. A thorough indoors and outdoors inspection can pinpoint these vulnerabilities.

Professionally installed caulks and sealants can fill in and repair these vulnerable areas. Door sweeps and weather stripping that are properly fitted and secured can also stop rodents from accessing interior spaces. In addition, removing food sources from indoor and outdoor spaces can help deter these rodents from making their way into your business.

Another key component of commercial pest exclusion is a consistent and thorough garbage collection and storage routine. Stored foods should be kept in airtight containers and trash bins should have tight-fitting lids, and outdoor waste cans should be stored away from the building. Clutter and crumbs in kitchens, pantries and storage areas can also attract rats and mice.

In this PCT Business Boosters webinar, our expert Rodent Specialists, Matt Frye and Jim Frye, discuss how to prevent rodents from chewing through electrical wires, plumbing, conduits and outdoor equipment. These simple steps can significantly reduce your rodent problem.

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Rodents are a nuisance for homeowners, but they’re equally unwelcome in commercial settings. From restaurants and hotels to hospitals and office buildings, even the cleanest of businesses can become infested with rodents. The pests infiltrate structures through the smallest openings, and quickly cause damage inside and out. Taking proactive measures like routine inspections and trapping ensure that any infestation is dealt with quickly, minimizing disruption to business operations.

In addition to structural damage, rats and mice are known carriers of diseases, including Hantavirus and Salmonella. These illnesses can be transmitted to people through direct contact or by eating contaminated food. Many states have laws requiring that restaurants and other food-centric businesses adhere to strict sanitation standards in order to prevent the spread of disease. Rodents have a strong sense of smell and are attracted to open food containers, spills, and trash that isn’t properly stored or disposed of. They also infiltrate ductwork and pipes, causing water damage and flooding to the interior of businesses.

Rodents gnaw through almost anything, including wires inside walls, leading to electrical problems and posing a fire hazard. They can also contaminate surfaces with their droppings, urine and hairs. These contaminants exacerbate allergies and asthma in sensitive people, and can make workplaces uncomfortable for employees.

An experienced and professional commercial pest control company will help you prevent an infestation with a variety of methods, including rodent exclusion. They can also conduct a thorough inspection of the property, looking for entry points along the exterior of your business establishment. Indoors, trapping and bait can be used to capture rodents and reduce populations. In addition, a trained technician can offer advice on how to maintain a clean environment and reduce conducive conditions that attract rodents in the first place. Contact us today for more information about our services or to schedule an inspection and estimate. We look forward to helping you keep your business safe and sanitary for your customers and employees.

Mosquito Control

Mosquito Control San Antonio uses surveillance data to target mosquito populations most likely to cause disease. The program uses both temporary and permanent methods to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

Mosquito Control

Organizations can drain or dump standing water, such as discarded tires, urns at cemeteries and rain barrels, and treat large bodies of water with larvicides, like methoprene or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis). This eliminates larval habitat.

Source Reduction, which is a physical method of Mosquito Control, eliminates or reduces mosquito breeding habitats. It is the most effective and environmentally sound approach to controlling mosquitoes. Source reduction can include as simple as homeowners emptying water from containers around their homes and yard, or it may be as complex as regrading drainage ditches to prevent mosquito breeding sites or draining marshy areas to stop mosquito production. It can also involve community-wide activities like removing discarded tires, bird baths, buckets, plastic covers, toys, and other containers that can hold standing water.

In addition, it can include educating the public to change out standing water in fountains, bird baths, rain barrels, wading pools and potted plants every week to get rid of any mosquito eggs that have been laid there. It can also include a system of monitoring and maintenance of wetlands and other natural resources to prevent water stagnation.

Larviciding, which is a chemical method of controlling mosquito larvae, is used when eliminating oviposition sites with source reduction is not possible or practical. The chemicals used in larviciding are specifically designed to kill mosquito larvae. They are not as broad-spectrum as the insecticides used to control adult mosquitoes, so they are more environmentally friendly.

Some of the products that can be used as larvicides are Bti toxin, pyrethroids and insect growth regulators. These products are very specific to mosquitoes and other insects that lay their eggs in standing water, so they do not harm fish, birds, mammals or other organisms in the environment. However, as with any insecticides, resistance to these compounds can develop in mosquito populations.

Using fogging or ultra-low volume spraying (ULV) to control adult mosquitoes is another method of controlling them. ULV uses a very small amount of pesticide active ingredient in comparison to the area being treated and is delivered through specially designed nozzles that have been thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness. The insecticides used in ULV are synthetic pyrethroids, including deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, and are usually applied at dusk when mosquitoes are most active. They are applied to the lower limbs of shade trees, shrubs and other vegetation and are blown through the air by compressed air sprayers.

Larviciding

Larviciding is the regular application of microbial or chemical insecticides to water bodies and containers to kill mosquito larvae. The purpose is to reduce the number of mosquitoes that develop into adults and bite people, thus reducing malaria transmission. It is a key component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.

The Anopheles vector mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, which must be available throughout the mosquito life cycle to support the growth of the developing larvae and pupae. The water is usually freshwater, but some species may prefer brackish habitats or riceland aquatic ecosystems (Tusting 2013). The standing water can be natural or man-made, temporary or permanent. Some species of Anopheles are found only in shallow streams or swamps while others are more commonly associated with ponds, tanks and unused swimming pools (Bruce-Chwatt 1985).

A larval control intervention can be applied through ground, aerial, or hand spraying. The chemicals used in larviciding are called larvicides, and they include stomach toxins, contact agents, surface agents and insect growth regulators. Larvicides are primarily used to target mosquito larvae in a body of water, and they are often mixed with water to ensure that the entire breeding site is treated.

Several studies of larviciding have been conducted and the evidence is mixed. Some studies show no benefit, while other studies suggest benefits in areas with well-defined, measurable targets for larviciding. One important issue is the timing of the larviciding, since it must occur prior to the time when the mosquitoes move to their adult stage and begin biting humans.

There is also the potential for contamination of the water supply by the larvicide, although if the oil is applied according to label directions, it poses no risk to human health. Some oils, however, can be toxic to fish and other aquatic wildlife, so the use of larvicides should be done with caution in sensitive habitats such as marshes and wetlands.

A recent Cochrane review of larviciding for malaria control found low-certainty evidence of an effect. It is important that the studies are rigorous, including controlled before-and-after (CBA) designs with a contemporaneous control arm and at least two sites per arm.

Biological Control

A mosquito that is not killed during a larval or pupal stage can lay thousands of eggs, which will eventually develop into disease-carrying adults. Controlling mosquito larvae and pupae using larvicides reduces or eliminates the need for adulticide spraying and other more intensive measures.

A biological control agent is a living organism that suppresses pests by competing with them for food, space or other resources needed for survival. Examples of biological controls include natural wasp parasites (like ladybugs), nematodes, bacteria and fish. Biological control is used to manage pests in agricultural, natural and urban areas.

For example, if stink bugs are damaging lychee flowers and fruit in an orchard, release of many more of the same species of natural wasps reared in an insectary will kill many more stink bug eggs and keep damage below the economic threshhold. This is a much more environmentally sound approach to managing pests than applying an expensive, toxic chemical pesticide to the entire orchard.

Another way to be a good neighbor is to support your local mosquito control program and do your part to protect yourself and your neighborhood from disease-carrying mosquitoes. Help clean up and maintain public spaces like parks and greenways. Organize community cleanup events to remove large items that collect water such as tires. Be sure to empty, scrub, turn over, cover or throw away items that hold water like buckets, planters, toys, birdbaths and flowerpot saucers.

Report ditches that have been filled with stagnant water for one week or more, as these may produce mosquito larvae and pupae. The District can help you locate and clear these ditches, or you can hire a private contractor to do so.

Mosquitoes can be controlled by using repellents, mosquito traps or larvicides. Repellants, traps and larvicides are most effective when they are used in conjunction with other IVM methods. It is important to use only the amount of repellent recommended on the label, and follow the directions on how to apply it properly. Before purchasing any insecticide, check the product label for the active ingredient and its safety information on a Material Safety Data Sheet.

Public Education

When people think of mosquito control, they often imagine trucks or airplanes spraying insecticide to kill adult mosquitoes. However, effective mosquito control requires a comprehensive approach that includes surveillance, source reduction, biological control, larviciding, and public education. Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) programs that incorporate all of these methods reduce mosquito populations and protect human health while minimizing environmental impact.

The primary means of physically controlling mosquitoes on private property is to eliminate their breeding habitat. For example, homeowners can help by emptying and scrubbing containers that hold standing water around their house once a week. In addition, they can install drains in downspouts or corrugated drain pipes attached to gutters. District staff also works with large landowners to maintain or restore drainage systems to ensure proper water flow and hydration.

Other physical controls include improving tidal saltmarshes by restoring their natural hydrology and revegetating them with native grasses that can support fish and wildlife. In irrigated agriculture lands, water management practices that prevent soil compaction and promote good crop rotation are effective in decreasing mosquito numbers. In tidal saltmarshes, the District employs a technique called Open Marsh Water Management (OMWM) which involves constructing a network of shallow pools and ditches to replace tidal flow in mosquito-breeding areas without adversely affecting the tidal salt marsh ecology or habitat.

Larvicides are products that kill mosquito larvae before they become biting adults. The District uses these products in conjunction with source reduction to minimize the need for spraying of adult mosquitoes.

In addition, the District educates people about the importance of personal protection by encouraging them to use long sleeves and pants when outdoors. It is important to remember that just one mosquito bite can lead to a mosquito-borne disease like malaria, West Nile Virus, or Zika.

Most people can protect themselves by limiting their exposure to mosquitoes. Support your local mosquito control program and encourage neighbors to do the same. The District’s program relies on community involvement to be successful.