Top Rodent Control Do’s and Don’ts for Your Business

As a business owner, the last thing you want to find is a stealthy rat — and one rat could signal a much larger rodent infestation. Rodents can damage property, carry diseases, contaminate and destroy food supplies, and play host to parasitic insects like fleas, which can spread illnesses, making rodent control critical. Thankfully, there are plenty of proactive measures that can go a long way to help prevent rodents in your business.

How to Help Prevent Rodents at Your Business

Read on for several do’s and don’ts you and your employees can follow to help with rodent control on and off your property:

Rodent Control Do’s:

• Inspect regularly. Conduct frequent rodent checks and train your employees on how to incorporate rodent monitoring into their routines. A few common signs of mice and rat infestations to look out for are capsule-like droppings, gnaw marks, makeshift nests, burrows and greasy rub marks along the walls.

• Keep it clean. Like many pests, rodents are attracted to odors from food and the presence of water. Proper routine sanitation can help prevent a larger rodent infestation.

• Defend the restroom. If your building and plumbing is older, install plastic, one-way rodent-proofing valves in toilets to help prevent rodents from entering your property through the sewer system.

• Take out the trash. Rodents are known to eat many types of food. Empty garbage cans regularly and make sure they are fitted with tightly sealed lids.

• Seal off entry points. With bodies that are mostly cartilage, mice can squeeze through holes that measure the size of a dime, while rats can contort themselves into shapes as small as a quarter. Therefore, you should install door sweeps, seal cracks and eliminate gaps around utility lines and boxes to help prevent even the smallest of entry points for rodents. For extra protection against rodents’ gnawing habits, use metal mesh or sheet metal.

• Document findings. Be sure to keep a written record of all pest activity and work with your pest control provider to monitor results and trends.

• Hire the Pros. If you discover signs of a rodent infestation, contact your pest control provider for assistance. Rodents require special attention and prevention from a provider experienced in rodent control, so they will use special equipment and materials designed for the removal and clean-up of rat and mouse debris.

Rodent Control Don’ts:

• Leave out food. Rats and mice are omnivores and will eat almost any food source that is freely available; seeds, fruits, grain-based foods, meat, garbage — it’s all fair game.

  • Instead: Store food in rodent-proof containers made of metal or heavy-duty plastic to prevent access to potential food sources and make sure to keep all kitchens, common spaces, garbage areas and storage areas clean of food debris and trash.

• Clutter spaces. Clutter provides hiding spots and homes for rodents, making it easier for them to find shelter and nesting materials away from potential threats.

  • Instead: Regularly inspect, clean and organize commonly cluttered and overlooked areas on your property.

• Let nature take over. Roof rats take advantage of tree limbs touching a building façade and plants that grow on structures, like ivy.

  • Instead: Make sure to keep landscaping trimmed and consider installing a gravel strip around the exterior as rodents avoid being out in the open where they may feel vulnerable against predators.

• Ignore standing water. Rodents need water to survive.

  • Instead: Check outdoor faucets, gutters, HVAC units or overflowing ice machines for leaks or puddles. Ensure proper drainage to prevent water accumulation around your building.

• Handle rodents alone. Rodents are serious issues that can wreak havoc on your business.

  • Instead: Find a trusted pest control provider who will tailor an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan to help you feel confident in the state of your facility and anyone who visits it.

Rodents Are Experts, Until Pros Arrive

Rodents, known for their adaptability and intelligence, pose many challenges to businesses. From empty traps to seemingly endless escape routes, they are masters at outsmarting basic pest control methods. If you’ve ever faced the damages and dangers rodents pose to customers, employees and commercial properties, you know that you need to stay one step ahead.

With the right plan and a trusted pest control provider, you can take charge of rodent issues with absolute confidence. Our free rodent control ebook covers all of your rodent questions and outlines what Orkin Pros™ think you should know to help keep rodents out of your business.

Learn more about rodent control services, or schedule a free inspection with an expertly trained Orkin Pro. With more than 120 years of pest control experience — which began with rat baiting — rodents are no match for our expertise. Our Orkin Pros are equipped with the tools and resources to create a custom, comprehensive pest control program that addresses the root causes of rodents and helps turn the tables on these intelligent threats.