Rats and mice are a problem for restaurants just about anywhere. However, here in Massachusetts, we have to contend with freezing winters that drive rats and mice indoors. Desperate for food and shelter from the bitter cold, rodents choose Waltham area restaurants because they’re bursting at the seams with everything mice or rats need to survive. While rodents are a problem all year long, winter is when you need to be especially vigilant. You may need to consider commercial restaurant pest control as a supplement to your rodent control measures.
Dangers Of Rodents
Disease is the number one danger of rodent infestations. Rat and mice feces contain all sorts of horrid pathogens, and rats and mice have no compunction about pooping and peeing in foods and on food prep surfaces. Rodents also contaminate food stores and surfaces with their shed hairs and their filthy feet. That means an infestation of rats or mice could easily infect your customers with illnesses like hantavirus, salmonella, tularemia, and more.
Of course, your business reputation will suffer if your customers start getting sick from your restaurant’s food. But it could also suffer even if your customers are seeing things like big rats running around or rodent droppings on the floors. If your customers see even one tiny rodent, they are sure to go online, which could severely damage your restaurant’s reputation. Not to mention what could happen if you get in trouble with the Health Department.
Rodent Prevention Tips
Rats and mice can get into restaurants quickly. Tiny rodents like mice are especially good at squeezing through teeny holes and getting inside. That’s why your first line of defense needs to be keeping rodents physically out of your commercial space. This is easier said than done, as rodents can get through some pretty tight spaces. That means you need to inspect your commercial space regularly and ensure all cracks, holes, and other damages you find are sealed up tight.
You also need to make sure you’re taking measures to avoid attracting mice or rats. Keeping food stores in airtight, durable plastic or metal containers to mask their smells is an excellent place to start. Rodents can chew through rigid materials. Big rats especially can get through just about any plastic, so the container needs to be solid and airtight, so the rodents don’t know the food is in there. You also need to keep trash and compost in airtight, hard containers to ensure rodents are shut out of these potential food sources.
Signs Of Rodents
Seeing a live rodent is, of course, a good sign you have a problem. However, rats and mice are so good at hiding that you might not ever see one. To keep your restaurant rodent-free, you need to be vigilant for other signs you might have an infestation:
- Rat or mice feces around food containers
- Signs of chewing on food containers or even electrical wiring
- Scurrying noises in walls or ceiling
- Nesting materials stuffed inside cabinets or other tight spaces
- Shredded plush materials like towels or paper
If you notice any of these signs, you’ll need to seek commercial restaurant pest control services right away. Every minute your restaurant has a rodent problem, you risk reputation destruction, customer illness, and Health Department action. Fortunately, there’s an answer.
Here at Assurance Pest Solutions, we have over 40 years of experience dealing with Waltham area pests in residential and commercial settings. If you want the premiere area experts in commercial rodent control, give us a call at (781) 630-5653 or visit our contact page to schedule your inspection!