The perishing cold means re-looking at your rodent control strategies

In bitterly cold weather it is more likely that cleaning and maintenance staff will find signs of rodent activity in their premises, as mice and rats seek to come indoors for shelter, warmth and food. Rodents can cause health issues if they are allowed to breed and thrive, and their presence can also be damaging to a business’ reputation. While infestations can be eliminated, prevention is always better than a cure. You can achieve this by going back to basics and making sure you don’t unwittingly create the ideal conditions in which pests thrive. 

How to rodent-proof your premises 

There are four elements to a proactive pest control prevention strategy:

• Early detection: Pest control firms now offer non-toxic monitoring blocks. These ensure early stage detection of rodents, while keeping undesirable toxic substances offsite, and some now make use of infra-red sensor technology to detect the early stages of a rodent infestation. Other blocks contain fluorescent materials which reflect UV light, causing rodents’ droppings to stand out and make it easier to identify whether there is rodent activity. This means that rodenticides and traps are not unnecessarily deployed around the business. 

• Remove sources of food: The simple step of ensuring that food and waste is properly sealed and stored can make a big difference. Mice are traditionally hard to control as they can take food from up to 70 different sources in one night. To help overcome this challenge, Rentokil has developed RapidPro Riddance (containing the rodenticide alphachloralose), which kills a mouse after just one feed of the lard-based solution. The fast-acting rodenticide also ensures a speedy death, so the deceased mouse will typically be found close to the bait, for proper disposal. 

• Cut out clutter: Move storage away from walls where possible and remember that less clutter means fewer places for rodents to hide. Seal holes in the exterior of the property with wire wool, caulk, metal kick plates or cement. Rats are also known to enter buildings through damaged drains, so it’s important to make sure that these are well maintained and checked regularly.

• Employee education: There are online courses available which educate staff on the basic elements of pest control, including the biology of the animal which will help them to recognise signs of rodent activity or other pest infestations such as bed bugs. This can turn employees into an army of eyes and ears around the facility, helping to spot the signs of a pest problem.

If you think that you have a rodent problem but are unsure, then there are six tell-tale signs that might help you identify whether you are playing host to these pests.

• Smell: Rats and mice typically have a very strong ammonia smell.

• Sound: On top of their foul odour, rodents are often very noisy, making audible scrabbling noises in the premises.

• Droppings: Rats excrete dark, pellet-shaped droppings up to 14mm. Mice droppings are typically 5mm and spindle shaped.

• Smears: Rodents use established routes along skirting boards and walls due to their poor eyesight. You may also notice grease marks where rodents brush up against your walls and surfaces. 

• Footprints: Rats can leave foot and tail marks in dusty, less-used areas of your building such as the basement. Shining a strong flashlight at a low angle should reveal tracks clearly. To establish if an infestation is active, sprinkle fine flour or talc along a small stretch of floor near the footprints and check for fresh tracks the next day. 

• Damage: Rodents can chew through electric cables, which is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of an infestation as it not only causes a fire hazard but is also very difficult to spot. Gnaw marks, shredded paper and damage to food storage containers are also common signs of rodent activity.

Whether you’re dealing with a pest problem or are simply looking to prevent one, it’s important that you know who to contact. It’s the role of external contractors to be fully up-to-date on the latest legislation changes in their area of expertise. Pest controllers are no different, so if you’re in any doubt as to what methods to use, then it’s always best to check with the experts.