Keeping rodents out is important regardless of what kind of business you run. Whether you work in hospitality or warehousing, rodents are a hazard. They destroy property, chew through wiring, and can spread disease. Theyโre also hard to avoid; rats and mice rely on humans for food, water, and shelter, and are very good at moving unnoticed. You could have a rodent infestation without even knowing it!
If youโre dealing with a rodent problem, call the pros at Florida Pest Control to set up a personalized control plan. While youโre waiting, here are five rodent prevention tips you can try to keep rodents out of your commercial property.ย
1. Seal Cracks and Gaps
One of the strongest tools you can use against rodents is rodent exclusion. This is the process of sealing up cracks and gaps in your buildingโs exterior to prevent rodents from getting inside. Remember that rodents donโt need a lot of space; anything they can get their head through, they can pull the rest of their body through. Also, theyโre excellent chewers, so if a gap isnโt big enough, they can gnaw until it is. Their teeth are unexpectedly strong โ theyโre harder than human teeth and even some metals.
Expanding foam sealant isnโt enough for large gaps, like the ones between floor expansion joints. As you might guess, rodent teeth wonโt take long to get through it. So, for larger gaps, consider two layers of high-density foam around one layer of stainless steel mesh.ย
Another simpler idea is to check the weather stripping on your doors. Itโs very easy for rodents to chew through it, which makes your door a very easy access point. Using door guards and sweeps could make it harder for rodents to enter.
2. Clean Up Harborage
Did you know that keeping your landscaping neat could also reduce your pest problems? Thatโs because keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed reduces rodent harborage โ in other words, it removes potential rodent hiding places. Leaving a six-foot gap between your structure and any landscaping elements is also recommended; this removes cover that rodents could use to travel to the structure.
Even raking up leaves could reduce harborage and make your building less attractive to rodents. Pests are bad for business, whether you run a restaurant or an office building; if a potential customer sees a rodent scurrying around your building, they might just decide to take their business elsewhere.
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3. Inspect Incoming Shipments
If you work in shipping and manufacturing, you know how hazardous rodents can be. They can quickly destroy inventory and contaminate food shipments. Thatโs why itโs important to check over each incoming shipment for signs of rodents. Even if your inventory isnโt edible, rodents may want to use it for nesting material.
Here are a few signs that an incoming shipment may have rodents hitching a ride:
- Chewing marks. Rodents have to chew almost constantly to keep their teeth from overgrowing. Even if they donโt need your inventory for food or nesting materials, theyโll still chew it.
- Droppings. Self-explanatory; rodents eat, so theyโll leave droppings behind.
- Spilled items. Since rodents chew anything they can get their teeth around, theyโll chew through packaging and spill food or small items.ย
Rodents are right at home just about anywhere โ even on a shipping pallet. They can survive a few days without food or water, as well. It pays to inspect shipments carefully; since they reproduce so fast, even a single rodent could cause a full-scale infestation.
4. Clean Up Garbage
Rodents arenโt picky about food. Human garbage cans have everything they need; food, water, and shelter. Plus, theyโre unlikely to be disturbed there โ except on garbage collection day, of course. So, how do you keep rodents from setting up shop in your dumpster?
Thereโs a simple answer: keep a tight lid on your garbage. This prevents rodents from climbing inside and chowing down. Remember the recycling bin, too โ paper, plastic, cardboard, and more are fantastic sources of nesting material.
And, of course, make sure all garbage makes it into the containers and doesnโt pile up next to it. Mice and rats will gladly make a meal out of litter!
5. Monitored Traps and Regular Inspections
Pest-monitoring traps can also help keep rodents out of your building. Place them in areas where rodents are likely to infiltrate, such as outdoor break areas, shipping-receiving areas, and parking garages.ย
Regularly inspecting your property for signs of rodent infestation is also an important part of prevention, but thereโs only so much you can do without help from a professional. Places such as wall and ceiling voids, attics and crawl spaces, and sub-slab areas can be difficult or impossible to check without a pro โ and theyโre prime rodent territory.ย
A comprehensive inspection from the Florida Pest Control team is a great choice โ even if you donโt think you have a rodent problem. Remember that prevention is easier than cure!
Count on Florida Pest Control for Rodent Control in Florida
For businesses in Florida, thereโs no better choice for rodent control services than Florida Pest Control. We have all the knowledge and experience needed to help keep your business safe from the threat of pests. Whether youโre in need of a routine inspection or youโre fighting a full-fledged rodent infestation, our team is the best one for the job.
Give us a call to get started with a free quote!