It is often said that the most threatening pest in the food industry is the rodent. Rodents have been implicated in over 55 widespread diseases, with a range of pathogens stretching from parasitic worms to viruses.
Not only are rodents responsible for contamination, they can also cause considerable loss of supply, damage to your premises, and even potential fire hazards. This blog will explain best practices and procedures for dealing with rodents.
What makes rats particularly troublesome is their rapid life-cycle, which stems from a high birth rate, short-life spans, and high death rates. The speed at which they breed means a few overlooked or ignored rats can quickly become a severe infestation. Rats are capable of producing ten or more young every three weeks.
Most rats are granivorous (seed-eaters), but when short of food they will eat almost anything. They gnaw to reach previously inaccessible areas, which can cause considerable damage to your facility, ruin your stock, and expose wires which can become a serious fire hazard.
Signs of rat infestation include droppings, visual identification, gnawing sounds, oil marks from fur, tracks in dusty areas, worn insulation wires and urine (detectable under UV).
By using any one of these signs you can determine a lot about the extent of your problem. For example:
These simple observations can help you take a quick first look at any problems you have. Note that we advise seeking a professional opinion to help you create the right course of action and elimination.
Rodents are mostly nocturnal, so sightings during working hours may be rare. A sighting during the daytime either means a heavy infestation or a disturbed nest.
There are many prevention and extermination procedures that can be followed. One of the most effective strategies is having a well designed and consistently clean facility. This will discourage rodent inhabitation in the first place.
Having automatically closing doors that hinder access for rodents around the facility will greatly increase your pest control abilities.
By segmenting your facility and keeping important areas consistently sealed you can create multiple controlled zones and make pest control much easier. High speed doors are very effective for keeping secure food areas open for the minimum amount of time possible and firmly sealed for the rest of it.
It's important to have a system where all rodent sightings can be reported. Sightings should also result in immediate remedial action and this action must also be recorded.
Part of the extermination process involves eliminating harbourages such as old pallets or equipment. Ensure you remove rubbish from the premises and exterior perimeter, along with all water sources including pools of water, dripping from refrigeration, or leaks in the roof. Rats need to drink at least once a day and will not survive in an area that does not provide a water source.
When eliminating rodents there are numerous chemicals and traps that you can resort to. It is important to note though that most rats show much hesitation and fear in approaching new elements of their environment, so it may take some time for traps to work. Take care to place traps out according to a mapped plan. They should be monitored and accompanied by a record so that pest control can be easily moderated and focused.
An effective control can also involve performing the treatment or trap checking in an irregular or anti-clockwise direction every few inspections may help you pick up on things you didn’t spot before. It is also important to think of unexpected areas. Black rats are infamous for their ability and preference for climbing. This means ducts, rafters and roofing should most definitely be considered as part of any pest control program.
If you work in the food industry, you must have a consistent system of monitoring, auditing and review in place.
If you would like more information about creating a warehouse pest control and management plan contact the expert Remax team online or call 1800 010 221.