Rodents

Rodent Problems?

There are three commensal rodents:

• House Mouse
• Norway Rat
• Roof Rat

Other rodents such as the deer mouse, white-footed mouse, kangaroo rats, and cotton rats are considered more of nuisance pests but do not typically live with man.

Danger Signs

• Droppings
• Gnawed product and packaging
• Structural damage (holes in walls
• Signs of nesting material (shredded paper, chewed wire insulation, chewed cardboard, etc.)
• Sightings of rodents
• Especially with rats, runways (smudge or grease marks on walls marking route taken, or paths worn in grass)

Potential Harm

• Damage to and contamination of product
• Structural damage, including fire hazard caused by chewed wires
• Source of disease (depending on species: salmonella, e-coli, hantavirus)

Business Consequences

• Liability concerns
• Regulatory and Third Party Audit concerns
• Customer complaints regarding infested product
• Economic loss due to contaminated food products
• Aesthetics due to the presence of live rodents and/or evidence of

Steps To Take

• Identification of species
• Determine location/source of infestation
• Explore non-chemical control methods (rodent proofing, removal of harborage and attractants, sanitation inside and out)
• Interior: Control measures include: Multi-catch traps, snap traps, and glue boards
• Exterior: Would include both the use of multi-catch traps as well as tamper resistant rodent bait stations