A rodent problem is every facility’s worst nightmare. Whether they’re scampering around shipments or prying into packaging, rodents aren’t just a nuisance. These pests can wreak havoc on any facility by contaminating shipments, risking employee and guest health, and even taking a bite out of your business’s bottom line.
Pest problems can quickly become everyone’s issue if left unchecked at any point in the supply chain. An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program can help proactively bolster your business against pests and stop them from disrupting day-to-day operations. Preparing your facility and understanding how to spot signs of a rodent presence can help prevent a rodent infestation – before they’ve entered the building.
Don’t let a potential pest problem throw a wrench in your business’s operations. Keep your facility’s pest management program from being the weak link in your supply chain to ensure your building remains rodent-free.
Surveying Shipments
As products and shipments are transported to and from your facility, there are ample opportunities for rodents to sneak their way into your products. Inspect incoming shipments for signs of a pest presence before unloading packages into your facility. This will limit the possibility of contamination due to a pest infestation and stop a pest problem from spreading into your building.
There are many indicators that can signal a rodent presence. While inspecting incoming shipments, keep an eye out for rodent droppings, urine and chew marks on packaging. Dead or live rodents – and the presence of other pests – can also indicate a rodent presence or a potential pest infestation.
If any of these indicators are spotted while inspecting incoming shipments, refrain from placing these packages inside your facility. Instead, try to isolate the entire shipment in an area far away from your facility. Placing an infected shipment at a distance from other products can help prevent rodents from spreading into other areas and shipments.
Proper Product Storage
Once a shipment has been inspected for signs of pest activity, cleared products should be stored properly to limit rodents’ access to any products. When storing products, the following measures should be taken into consideration to prevent a rodent problem:
- Keep packages stored off of the ground with pallets or shelving. This can limit pests’ access to products and make it more difficult for pest populations to spread throughout a facility.
- Move the oldest shipments out before moving newer shipments. The longer products sit in one spot, the greater the opportunity for a rodent infestation. By moving out the packages that have been in your facility the longest, you can limit the possibility of an infestation.
Rodent Risks
Rodents are risky business for any facility. These filthy varmints can cause expensive damages to products and building structures and can even ruin reputations. While small in size, these pests can cause significant damage around any building or property.
Rodents aren’t picky eaters and can easily chew through products, baseboards and other materials around your facility, including electrical wiring. Gas lines, water pipes, sheet rock and support beams are also vulnerable to the strength of rodents’ incisors. These damages can be expensive to repair and can take employees’ time away from daily operations.
These pests can incur additional business costs by contaminating products and packaging. Rodents are also known to carry and transmit more than 35 rodent-borne illnesses. Because of this, any contaminated products must be disposed of to protect the health and safety of employees and guests throughout the supply chain.
Rodent-Proof Your Facility
Structural deficiencies and debris can attract rodents to a facility. Routine inspections, monitoring and facility maintenance can help pinpoint potential pest hotspots that act as open doors to persistent pests.
Rodents don’t need much room to get inside a building, so facility maintenance is essential to keeping your property rodent-free. Mice can fit through a gap the space the size of a pinky finger, while rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a thumb. As you inspect your facility for rodent activity, keep an eye out for any cracks, gaps and crevices around exterior-facing walls and windows and repair any areas that may allow pests inside.
Cardboard, wrappers and food debris can also encourage pest activity by providing rodents with the food and shelter they need to remain undetected. Clean up areas like employee break rooms by regularly disposing of trash and wiping down areas that come in contact with food items. Be sure to remove any trash or debris under appliances and machinery to eliminate potential rodent hiding spots and limit pest attractors.
Don’t let rodents chew a hole in your profits. Contact your pest management provider to learn more about protecting your property from rodents and find out how to identify pest hotspots.