How To Effectively Keep Rodents Out Of Your Cumberland Business

Rodent Exclusion Techniques For Commercial Spaces

We have several common rodents in our area. Exclusion work helps keep all of them from gaining access to your business. But exclusion work isn't easy. That is why it has the word "work" in there. But, if you want to handle exclusions yourself, there are some things you should know.

• Cans of spray foam are great for quick and ugly patches. Yes, ugly. It is often hard to apply this product without creating an eyesore. You're not going to want to use expanding foam on the side of your business where curb appeal is important. Sprayed foam is also super sticky. Wear gloves when applying it. The good news is that it works great. While mice and rats can chew through expanding foam, they don't have any reason to if you have completely sealed a hole or gap. They're attracted to tight spaces, and this product does a great job of filling in these spaces.
• A caulking gun is what you'll want to use for pretty patches. You can get silicone caulk that matches the color of building materials and apply it in a way that preserves your curb appeal. As with foam, mice and rats can chew through caulking material. But they won't consider doing this if you've patched entry points appropriately.
• Metal flashing is the product you'll use to bolster your defenses. Apply metal flashing over wood that rodents are gnawing on or use it to cover gaps.
• Hardware cloth is the product you'll use to block louvers, gable vents, and other openings. It allows air to go in and out but prevents rodents from doing so.

A licensed commercial service professional offering exclusion work as a part of your Integrated Pest Management strategy will use these methods to seal potential entry points and do this hard work for you. But there are some exclusions you can do that your service professional won't.

• Install door sweeps on doors that don't have them to stop rodents from squeezing under exterior doors.
• Replace weatherstripping around exterior doors that have gaps.
• Align double doors to remove gaps.
• Replace rotting wood with new timbers.
• Install vent covers on vents where covers have been removed, damaged, or chewed off.

General maintenance projects can get your business into shape and help keep domestic rodents out. A quality trapping program can protect vulnerable areas if you don't have the budget to address maintenance at this time.

How To Bait Rodents Out Of Your Walls

All rodents are not attracted to the same bait. Squirrels, rats and mice have different preferences. If you hope to draw rodents out of your walls, you need to use a bait that appeals to the particular rodents that have infested your business. Along with selecting appropriate baits, you need to use devices that keep kids and pets from gaining access to them. Bait stations used to catch mice are smaller than those used to catch rats. Rats are bigger rodents and require bigger traps. Squirrels are another matter altogether. You won't need bait to address a squirrel problem. There are other techniques used for those furry-tailed rodents.

Even after you've selected the right bait and the correct bait stations, you're not quite done. You need to consider some important facts when attempting to bait rats and mice.

• The federal government has regulations regarding the use of rodenticides. If you attempt to take care of rodent control, you need to familiarize yourself with these rules.
• It is essential to weigh bait stations down so that they cannot be picked up by children or moved by pets. If children or pets access the bait, it can lead to a medical emergency. You'll also have a potential lawsuit. 
• There are regulations regarding bait station placement. You can't place bait stations more than a hundred feet from the exterior of structures. Compliance safety and health officers will flag this during inspections. 
• Improperly positioned bait stations near your exterior walls will have little or no impact on rodent populations. Rodents have behavior patterns that help them avoid traps. 

Commercial service providers are familiar with the guidelines associated with the installation and maintenance of bait stations. It is best to let a professional handle this job. Your technician will use tamper-resistant bait stations and deploy them where rodents are sure to take the bait. They also do the unsavory job of routinely emptying rodent bait stations during service visits.