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No one wants to see a rat scurrying around their restaurant. Not only are they unsightly, but they can also be dangerous. Rats can spread diseases and contaminate food, leading to serious health complications, thus calling an immediate and professional rat control services is vital.

When a restaurant has a rat infestation, it is essential to get pest control services as soon as possible.

We’ve prepared the best ways to control rat activity in your restaurant. We’ll also provide tips on how to prevent them from entering your establishment in the first place!

Signs of Rat Infestation & When to Seek Rat Control Experts

A restaurant is where food is prepared, so it’s important to be vigilant about pest control. Rats can get into your restaurant through small openings or gaps.

To find out if you have a rat in your establishment, look for the following signs:

• Droppings near walls or food sources
• Gnaw marks on furniture and walls
• Urine stains on walls or floors
• Scratching noises in the walls

If you suspect a rat infestation, you should take immediate action to get pest control services. A professional pest control company like Skymark Pest can provide rat removal and prevention services. We use pest control strategies tailored to your restaurant’s needs, ensuring that a rat have nowhere to hide!

The Dangers of Having Rats in Your Restaurant and How a Rat Control Program Can Help

Photo by Vincent M.A. Janssen

When you have a rat population in your restaurant, you’re not only risking the safety of your customers. Rats can negatively affect your restaurant in a variety of ways, including:

Spreading Diseases

Rats are one of the most common pests in homes and businesses. While they may seem harmless, these furry creatures can spread various diseases. Their droppings can contaminate food and surfaces, and their bodies can be covered in harmful bacteria.

In addition, rats carry fleas and ticks, which can transmit diseases to humans and pets. As a result, it is important to take steps to prevent rats from entering your business.

Violates Health Inspections

Anyone who has worked in the food service industry knows that cleanliness is of the utmost importance. Health inspectors are quick to shut down any restaurant that is not up to code, and one of the most common violations is evidence of rats.

Even if you think your restaurant is clean, it only takes a few droppings to trigger a health inspection. And once the inspectors are in, they will look for any other evidence of pest activity. In addition to being a health hazard, having rats in your restaurant can damage your reputation and discourage customers from returning.

Causes Damage to Your Property

Rats like Norway Rats and House Mice use sharp incisors to chew and tear through plastic, insulation, and even metal. Not only is this pest damage expensive to repair, but it can also weaken the structure of your restaurant. Over time, these damages can add up and cost you money in repairs.

When a rat bites, it can also release pest-related substances that are difficult to clean. This can leave behind a foul odor, which can turn away customers and affect your business’s reputation.

How to Prevent Future Rat Infestations

Whether you have roof rats, cockroaches, or other rats, you must take the right steps to prevent pest infestations. We’ve compiled some pest control tips for restaurants to help you keep your establishment pest-free:

1. Keep the Workspace Clean

The kitchen is the most important area in a restaurant, and it’s also a hotspot for rat populations. Rats are attracted to the food and water typically found in kitchens, so keeping the area clean is important.

Wipe down surfaces with disinfectants or all-natural cleaning products regularly and vacuum any crumbs or food particles that may have accumulated on the floor. Also avoid leaving food out on countertops or in open containers. These simple steps can go a long way in pest prevention.

2. Seal Up Entry Points

Rats are adept at squeezing through small openings or gaps, so checking your restaurant for any potential entry points and sealing them up is essential. Check around windows, doors, vents, and pipework for cracks and holes that rats could use as an entryway.

You can also install pest-proofing screens to prevent rats from entering your restaurant. This is especially important for restaurants near wooded areas or other outdoor environments, as these are common breeding grounds for pests.

3. Use Traps and Baits

A rat bait or trap is another tool you can use for pest control. Rat bait contains a poison that attracts the pest, while traps are designed to capture them alive.

When using either of these pest control methods, place the traps in areas where customers or staff won’t be disturbed. It’s also important to check the traps regularly and safely dispose of any dead rats.

4. Secure All Food and Water Sources

If you want to avoid rats, it is essential that you keep your food inaccessible and contained, as mentioned above. Ensure no open containers or leftover crumbs are lying around, store all of your ingredients in airtight bags or containers, and promptly clean up any messes.

Additionally, be sure to regularly inspect your home for droppings or other indications of a rat problem. Contact a pest control specialist immediately if you find any rat feces or evidence of gnawing.

5. Call A Pest and Rat Control Professional

If you suspect a pest infestation, the best solution is to call a pest and rat control professional. They will be able to assess the situation, identify any pest issues, and create an effective pest control plan specifically tailored to your restaurant.

A pest control professional can help determine the source of your rat problem and the best pest control products or techniques for removing them. This will help protect your restaurant from future pest infestations and keep customers safe from any potential contamination.

Skymark Pest Offers Rat Control Services in Florida

If you have a pest-ridden restaurant and want to get rid of pest infestation quickly, Skymark Pest is here to help. With our pest control services in Central Florida, we can help you get your restaurant up and running again pest-free.

We use trapping methods, rat exclusion, baits, and other pest control methods to remove pests effectively. We also provide pest prevention tips and advice to help you reduce the chances of future infestations.

Skymark Pest caters to nearby locations such as Cape Coral, Mount Dora, and Fort Myers, so don’t hesitate to contact us for pest control services today!