Rats and mice see humans as an easy and reliable source of food, water, and shelter. They don’t care that you’re trying to run a business; they’re just after their next meal. But in the process, they can do a lot of damage; they’ll contaminate food, chew through wiring, and cause structural damage with their constant chewing. Worst of all, they’re great at hiding – you could easily have a rodent infestation without realizing it.
If your business is dealing with a rodent problem – or you want to get ahead of one before it can set in – it’s always a good idea to call the pros at Gregory Pest Solutions. However, there are a few things you can do in the meantime. Here are five pest prevention measures you can take.
1. Seal Structural Cracks and Gaps
When it comes to prevention, rodent exclusion is one of the strongest tools the average person can use. Simply put, it involves sealing up cracks and gaps to prevent pests from entering the building in the first place. When you’re looking for these gaps, keep in mind that rodents don’t need much space. They can fit through anything they can get their heads through. If they can’t fit their head through a gap, they’ll gnaw at it until they can – and their teeth are strong, too. Rodent teeth can chew through some metals!
As you can imagine, expanding foam sealant on its own isn’t enough. For larger gaps, like in between floor expansion joints, consider high-density foam surrounding stainless steel mesh. Also, check your weather stripping. Door gaps are an easy way into your building; weather stripping is a great deterrent, but it’s very easy for rodents to chew through, so it might need frequent replacement. Consider door guards and sweeps as a more permanent solution.
2. Clean Up Your Landscaping
Landscaping isn’t just about looks. Keeping your exterior neat actually reduces rodent harborage – which refers to places where rodents can hide. Leave a six-foot gap between your landscaping and the side of your building so that rodents don’t have easy cover. Even something as simple as raking up leaves could help reduce harborage!
Rodents aren’t a good look for any business, so don’t neglect your exterior! Keep the landscaping neat and trimmed back and rodents might look for somewhere else to live.
3. Check Incoming Shipments
Even a single mouse could quickly lead to an infestation – and for businesses in manufacturing and distribution, that can spell a big problem very quickly. That’s why it’s important to check incoming shipments thoroughly for signs of rodent hitchhikers.
Below are just a few of the signs to look out for:
- Gnaw marks. As we’ve mentioned, rodents chew things constantly. That doesn’t stop at edible materials, either; they’ll tear into anything they can get their teeth on, whether they intend to eat it, use it as nesting material, or simply maintain their teeth.
- Droppings. Self-explanatory.
- Spills. Spilled items or food are common when rodents have chewed through packing material.
Rodents don’t need much space, food, or water; it’s easy for them to survive for a while on a shipping pallet. Make sure to check for signs of rodent infestation before you add new inventory to storage!
4. Keep Garbage Areas Neat
Rodents will eat anything, and garbage cans are an easy food source for them; a dumpster can provide food, water, and shelter all in one. Since people don’t usually linger around garbage areas, they’re actually very peaceful places in a rodent’s eyes. So, how do you make these areas unappealing to them?
It can be as simple as keeping a lid on the garbage. Make sure the lid fits tightly and consider locking it as well. Don’t forget your recycling! Rodents won’t eat paper, plastic, cardboard, or anything other recyclable materials, but they will use them to build their nests.
Finally, it’s important to make sure that garbage bags actually make it into the dumpster. Piled-up garbage isn’t just unsanitary, it’s also an easy food source for rodents and other pests.
5. Trapping and Inspections
There’s no substitute for professional pest inspections. With help from the pros, you’ll be able to find rodents hiding in even the most out-of-reach areas. Rodents can easily access wall and ceiling voids, attics and crawlspaces, and even sub-slab areas. These areas can be difficult or impossible to reach without a pro’s help.
Between regular inspections, you can use monitoring traps to help keep pests from getting inside the building. By placing them in strategic locations, such as outdoor break areas, shipping-receiving areas, and parking garages, you could keep rodents from getting into your business.
Regularly-scheduled comprehensive inspections can go a long way toward keeping your business safe from rodents. Count on the Gregory Pest Solutions team; we handle pest problems in any industry.
Call Gregory Pest Solutions for Rodent Control Services
Since 1972, the South Carolina area has counted on Gregory Pest Solutions for exceptional rodent control services. With our team on your side, you’ll have peace of mind like never before. Whether you’re dealing with a huge rodent problem or you want to get ahead of one before it can start, our team is the best one to call.
Get in touch today to get started with a free estimate!