Seeing a mouse, rat, or other rodent around your house is unsettling, and it makes you wonder what might be hiding where. Rodents can cause all sorts of problems in residential building – the problems they can cause in industrial situations can be just as bad, if not worse. If you suspect rodents of invading your warehouse, you will need to identify the type of rodents and the damage done, determine how to get rid of them, and figure out how to prevent their return.
Identification
You might not be able to see the rodents, so you may need to consider the damage that has been done in order to properly identify the source of your problem. Check your wiring and insulation for bite marks, and see if there is feces scattered around. You will also need to determine the area of entry for the rodents, as well as the nest area where they may have made their home. Look for tracks and rub marks, which can include hairs and droppings.
Pest Removal
Killing or removing the rodents is the hardest part of the process. When it comes to this, you have two choices – call in a professional, or go it alone. With a large infestation or a large area of treatment, a professional would be the best bet. A professional exterminator will be able to figure out a plan of attack and identify the proper methods to make sure the large infestation is eliminated, and doesn’t merely move on.
If you plan on going at it alone, there are a number of avenues. Live traps, kill traps, and poison are the common avenues, but each one has its pros and cons. Live traps are the most humane, but they allow the rodent to live and possibly return. They also require constant checking, and if they catch a rodent, you will need to make a trip to dispose of it every time. Poison is the least humane, but is very effective. The problem with poison, however, is that the rats and mice will wander off to die, and a decomposing rodent body will smell quite bad.
Kill traps, such as the snap traps which will break their necks, can be useful, but are not as guaranteed as poison – rodents are bright enough to try and figure out how to get the bait without setting off the trap. Also, using the wrong trap will prove ineffective – a mouse can sneak in under the swing of the bar of the rat trap, while a mouse trap will not be powerful enough to break the neck of a rat.
A newer type of trap is an electrical trap that shocks the rodents to death – fairly humane and effective, and it delivers the shock for up to two minutes, ensuring the rodent is dead. These traps are no-touch as well, so they are perfect for the squeamish folk.
Rodent Deterrent
Once you’ve got the rats, mice, or other rodents out of your warehouse or shop, you need to make sure they stay out. Alternatively, these methods should also be used if you haven’t found a rodent problem yet but are worried about one in the future.
The primary rodent deterrent should be physical barriers to entry. The University of Nebraska has written a thorough text on rodent-proof construction and exclusion methods that will provide steps you should take to keep rodents out.
Secondary deterrents should include bait stations positioned on the perimeter of the property, sonic repellers, traps, and other rodent control products available from your local home store or from a professional pest control company.
Aside from these direct deterrents, stepping up your control inside of your shop or warehouse can help prevent future infestation. Move goods and objects away from walls so you have a pest-control perimeter that you can inspect as needed. Make sure that doors and windows are not left propped open and unattended. Inspect any incoming shipments to make sure the rodents aren’t getting free rides in. Make sure your shop or warehouse sanitation is up to par – clean, debris-free spaces are not favored by rodents.
Cleaning up the Damage
Once you’ve made sure that your rodent buddies aren’t going to be returning any time soon, it’s time to recover, cleaning up any damage that may have been caused. You will want to do thorough a thorough inspection as rodents will get throughout a building easily. Insulation damage can cause heat loss in the building, driving the energy costs up. Rodent-caused electrical fires due to exposed wiring is a major risk, and is something that happens quite often – inspect all of the wiring near the infestation spot for bare areas. If the rodents have damaged any perishable goods, the entire container should be disposed of – rodents can carry diseases that can jump to humans.
So next time you see any rodents in your warehouse or shop, don’t panic. By following our tips, whether on your own or with a professional exterminator, you should be able to bring the infestation under control quickly and prevent it from occurring again. If you haven’t seen rodents, but are worried about the future, get started on prevention today.