Rodents are among the most common pests found in restaurants, notably the Norway rat, roof rat, and house mouse. It’s not too difficult to figure out why. Wherever there is food, there are rodents. Their opportunistic nature means they’re not picky about what’s on the menu. When just one rat can contaminate ingredients, spread foodborne illnesses, and ruin your good reputation, restaurant rat control is how you fight back.
Learn about the challenges rodents pose in restaurants. Learn more about the harm they can cause and how you can trust Critter Control to develop a plan to make your restaurant a rodent-free zone. Read on for restaurant rodent rat control information on:
- How rodents get into your restaurant.
- How quickly they reproduce.
- The health dangers to you, your staff, and your customers.
- Why Critter Control is considered the best in the business for restaurant pest control.
- How to partner with Critter Control for preventative measures.
Why Are Rodents in My Restaurant?
Restaurants are a paradise for rodents. They offer a readily available source of food, water, and shelter in the form of pantry ingredients, food scraps, dumpster leftovers, and spills. In addition, restaurants have dark spaces behind appliances, in wall voids, and under floorboards that make ideal nesting places.
Mice and rats can squeeze into your restaurant through the tiniest of gaps. A mouse needs only one-quarter of an inch and a rat one-half inch to squeeze under a poorly sealed door, a crack in your foundation, or an uncovered vent. They are agile and great at climbing and gnawing their way inside.
What Are the Signs of Rodents in My Restaurant?
Rodents leave behind clear signs that they are living their best life in your restaurant.
- Droppings: Mice and rats urinate continuously and leave frequent rodent droppings as they travel about your establishment. You’ll find droppings on countertops, in drawers and pantries, and along their travel routes.
- Smells: Rodents leave a stale smell, and their urine has a pungent ammonia smell.
- Gnaw Marks: A rodent’s teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. They manage this growth by gnawing. Rodents will gnaw holes through walls and floors to create travel paths. You might also find gnaw markings on packaged food.
- Scurrying Sounds: Although a restaurant can be a noisy environment, you might hear rodent noises, such as scurrying in your walls, as they climb and travel from nest to food and back again.
- Nests: Although rodents tend to like dark, concealed places to build rodent nests, you might be able to spot shredded paper, cardboard, or fabric scraps in unexpected places.
What Are the Risks of Rodents in Restaurants?
Pests are a major source of concern for restaurant owners and managers because of the health risks, structural damage, and business harm they cause. Prolific breeders, just a few rodents can quickly turn into a large infestation. In addition, the damage they cause will continue to increase unless you partner up with a trusted commercial kitchen pest control.
They Hurt Your Business
News of a rodent sighting or a negative inspection spreads quickly, leaving customers afraid to frequent your establishment. A few bad reviews online can send many potential customers to another restaurant.
Rodents spread diseases such as tularemia, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and even plague. In addition, contaminated food can cause food poisoning and E. coli. Reputation damage is one of the hardest business problems to repair, especially when it concerns the health of customers.
A rodent problem also leads to low employee morale and turnover.
They Damage Your Property
Mice and rats will chew through food packaging and stored materials, and they can soil tablecloths and napkins. Beyond this, they will chew through walls and floors, tear and soil insulation, and create a fire hazard by chewing through electrical wires.
They May Cause Legal Issues
If adequate steps for restaurant pest control are not taken upon immediately suspecting a rodent infestation, a restaurant can be closed down if evidence of live or dead rodents, feces, nesting, or gnawing is found. Hefty fines can also be imposed. The property owner can be considered negligent when adequate steps are not taken, leaving the owner open to lawsuits.
How Do I Remove Rodents From My Restaurant?
Because of the gravity of a rodent problem and how quickly one or two rodents can turn into an army of rodents, a professional should be contacted immediately to conduct rodent control. It’s easy to find one online by Googling “pest control for restaurants near me.” Critter Control has locations across the country, and the one closest to you can be found through our location finder. Critter Control has over 40 years of experience and expertise in food service pest control and uses humane and safe methods for repelling and deterring rodents.
Trapping
The most effective method of rat control is trapping using a cage trap. The size of the infestation will determine how many traps are needed. The size of the infestation also determines how long the process will take, which can range from a few days to several weeks. Cage traps are preferred to bait stations as they are less cruel to the animals and are not toxic to humans.
Exclusion
To lessen the risk of further infestations, Critter Control will put exclusion tactics into use. This includes sealing up all cracks and gaps in your foundation and any gaps around pipes and wires. Wire mesh is used to block rodent entry into vents and chimneys.
Contact Critter Control Today
Critter Control is a leader in the field of wildlife removal. Critter Control is a restaurant exterminator (near me) with locations across the nation. We are fully insured and have the proper state agency-issued licenses and permits. All our specialists also participate in ongoing training to learn new and improved practices.
Don’t wait until you have a rodent infestation to contact Critter Control. Forming a partnership with us will help you prevent a rodent problem in the first place. Call Critter Control at 1-800-Critter.