Do You Have Rodents in Your Empty Premises? 4 Signs to Look for When Entering Your Business After Lockdown

Signs of rodents in your business premises is not only damaging to your reputation but can prove to be a very serious health hazard.

Your business cleanliness has never been so scrutinised by so many – It must be put to the forefront as a rodent infestation could jeopardize your business reputation long into the future.

With so much riding on protecting your business reputation, you might now be deciding if it is worth calling a professional pest control specialist to give you peace of mind that your business premises (that may have lain empty due to Covid-19 restrictions) is rodent-free and the correct procedures are in place for pest management going forward.

This article will advise you of the main signs of rodent activity within your business premises to help you decide if you require professional pest control services.

Do You Have Rodents in Your Empty Premises?

An unprecedented number of businesses have seen their business forced to close due to Covid-19 restrictions. Depending on your business sector, it could have seen your premises sit unoccupied for over a year. 

The vaccination rollout has seen some light at the end of the tunnel and it looks as though many businesses will be opening up in the months to come.

You may now be looking to get your business ready for opening. When first going back to check unoccupied buildings you should look for the following signs of rodent activity:

• Noises

• Droppings

• Gnawing

• Nest material

Signs You Have Rodents in Your Business Premises

Let’s take a further look at the main signs to look out for when checking for rodent activity.

Noise

What kind of sounds do rodents make? 

If you hear scratching sounds coming from within the walls, under floorboards or behind furniture this could indicate you have rodents climbing or digging around. 

It is worth noting that rodents like mice are much more active during the night. 

Related content - Should A Restaurant Outsource its Pest Control? 

Droppings

We hope you are not doing your rodent research whilst eating your lunch!

Rat droppings are usually brown pellets that are around half an inch long, these are significantly bigger than the droppings of mice, these pellets are 3-6mm long.

An adult rodent can leave between 50 – 75 droppings in just a single day.

Droppings tend to be concentrated around their nests, so if you spot a lot of them it’s highly likely that you’re close to the heart of the infestation.

Related Content - How To Protect Your Farm Against Pests!

Gnawing

If you don’t initially hear rodents gnawing you will soon see evidence of damage in your business premises.

Whether it’s notches in the skirting board or holes in your stock boxes, evidence of gnawing is a sure-fire sign of a rodent infestation. 

This is often one of the first indicators that people notice, particularly if you are not usually at your business late in the evenings.

Gnawing can be particularly dangerous if the damage is carried out on water or gas pipes and electric cables. In severe cases, it’s not unknown for this to cause floods or fires.

Nest Material

To build their nests, rodents will rip apart materials and shred them. In your business, this could mean tearing holes out of desk chair cushions and destroying other soft furnishings like carpets and curtains.

If you come across any soft, fluffy bundles of material you could be looking at the signs of nest building.

Related content - How Do I Keep Rodents Away From My Tractor?

Summary

If you do find signs of a rodent infestation inside your business premises it can be tempting to try and deal with some of the more distressing evidence of rodent activity yourself. However,  we don’t recommend that you try to clean up nests, urine or droppings without seeking professional advice.

Whilst discovering any of these signs of rodents in your business is a serious concern, there is no need to panic. Calling in the professional is recommended to control the current infestation and ensure you have the correct maintenance procedures in place going forward. 

Would you like a professional call back? Get in touch here.