A small gray rat standing in a corner indoors. The best way to avoid a rodent infestation in your business is to use rodent prevention methods to keep them from entering.

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. Theyโ€™re 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 youโ€™re dealing with a rodent problem, call the pros at Florida Pest Control to set up a personalized control plan. While youโ€™re 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 buildingโ€™s exterior to prevent rodents from getting inside. Remember that rodents donโ€™t need a lot of space; anything they can get their head through, they can pull the rest of their body through. Also, theyโ€™re excellent chewers, so if a gap isnโ€™t big enough, they can gnaw until it is. Their teeth are unexpectedly strong โ€“ theyโ€™re harder than human teeth and even some metals.

Expanding foam sealant isnโ€™t enough for large gaps, like the ones between floor expansion joints. As you might guess, rodent teeth wonโ€™t 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. Itโ€™s 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? Thatโ€™s 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.

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. Thatโ€™s why itโ€™s important to check over each incoming shipment for signs of rodents. Even if your inventory isnโ€™t 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 donโ€™t need your inventory for food or nesting materials, theyโ€™ll still chew it.
  • Droppings. Self-explanatory; rodents eat, so theyโ€™ll leave droppings behind.
  • Spilled items. Since rodents chew anything they can get their teeth around, theyโ€™ll 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 arenโ€™t picky about food. Human garbage cans have everything they need; food, water, and shelter. Plus, theyโ€™re 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?

Thereโ€™s 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 doesnโ€™t 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 thereโ€™s 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 theyโ€™re prime rodent territory.ย 

A comprehensive inspection from the Florida Pest Control team is a great choice โ€“ even if you donโ€™t 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, thereโ€™s 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 youโ€™re in need of a routine inspection or youโ€™re 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!

5 Commercial Rodent Prevention Tips Serving Central FL, Northern FL and the Panhandle

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