Rodents can pose a variety of problems for restaurant owners. Not only can the presence of rats and mice be unsanitary and annoying, but they can also make your eatery develop a bad reputation that can be hard to recover from. Before you need to turn to your local pest control experts for help in ridding your restaurants of these rodents, try to understand why these animals seek out restaurants - possibly the places where people least want to see rats and mice.
In the icy winter or on a cold fall day, many people pop into a restaurant to warm themselves up and get a bite to eat. Well, as Britain's Eat Out magazine explained, rats feel the same way. Rodents often infest pubs, cafes and restaurants because they offer protection from the weather outdoors and they're full of food. Owners who want to keep these disease-carrying pests outdoors should make sure that their building is secure and crack-free. They should keep everything clean, cover garbage completely and make sure food isn't available even if a rat did get in somehow.
Rats can be very creative, the New York State Department of Health pointed out. When rats are looking for a warm place and food, they'll do nearly anything to get inside. So if you do patch up holes, they may still try to burrow through a shallow foundation, come through floor grates, travel through vents, enter through mail slots in the door or even stow away in large food shipments.
Even if mice or rats don't invade your restaurant's kitchen, they can still cause thousands of dollars of damage by living and nesting in your basement, attic or ceiling, United Wildlife Control explained. Because of the potential expenses that rats can cost your business and the dangerous diseases they may carry, it's important to attack as soon as possible.
There's plenty of advice on the Web when it comes to how to trap and catch rats, but the best method is to contact a commercial pest control business for rat and mouse removal. Restaurants can check for rodents by moving large items in the store room every so often, looking for feces, listening to scurrying when turning off the lights in a basement or pantry, and smelling for an ammonia-like urine smell.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
Not every creature that visits your property is a dangerous nuisance. Many animals actually offer a number of benefits that keep your yard healthy. Predatory animals, in particular, actually offer natural pest control. Here are five common suburban creatures that can help keep more difficult or annoying animals at bay:
The customer is always right, and this is especially true if he or she is complaining about seeing a mouse or cockroach. Pests have no place in your organization, as bugs and rodents will turn away potential business or even lead to a possible lawsuit. Keeping your company protected requires a proactive approach. Work with a pest removal specialist to identify the best ways to stop creatures from infesting your business. Here are just a few ideas for successfully mitigating and preventing any issues:
You might see an influx of rodents at this time of year, because as the weather cools mice and rats seek warmth anywhere they can find it. Unfortunately, that often means inside residential homes. Many homes may experience rodent infestations at this time of year more than any other. Whether they're getting into your garage, basement or kitchen, it's important to put a stop to them before the problem becomes too serious and requires the intervention of a professional pest control agency.
Summer is almost here and before you head out on a family trip or even if you travel for work, consider doing a little research so you become familiar with bed bugs. This will help you identify them quickly and it could keep you from bringing them home unknowingly!
With the promise of summer also comes the promise of bugs. Homeowners have to stay vigilant, lest they find ants - or worse - rifling through their food.
Pests can be attracted to a residence for a number of reasons. In some cases it's because of the local environment - such as how close the home is to woods. In other cases it might be because of refuse or trash near the home - garbage cans and spilled food can be big attractors of insects and rodents. But did you know that your plumbing system can also attract pests if not properly maintained? Damaged or poorly installed plumbing fixtures can lead to spilled water and mold, which can seem like flashing neon signs to the local pest population. Read on to learn how to check your home's plumbing and about what to look out for.
