World Grain - January 2016 - 92

FEATURE

Keep rodents in
the cold this winter
R

odents are more like us than we may - or may want
to - realize.
Like us, they need food, water and shelter to survive.
And like us, warm shelter becomes particularly important during the cold months.
These pests are often untamed, but they can live alongside
people and exploit their resources if given a chance. In fact,
some mice that take shelter inside due to weather will never
leave and will permanently become indoor mice.
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hotel, the perfect place to spend the winter. The plethora of
food sources, numerous potential entry points and hiding
places in your facility can all be perfect amenities for rodents,
which can in turn lead to an infestation.
Rats and mice can contaminate your food products and ingredients - they can carry hundreds of pathogens and transmit deadly diseases like lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
(LCMV) and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - and slice
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on infected rodents and then can transmit diseases like pox,
plague and typhus indirectly to humans, putting employees in
your facility at risk.
Fortunately, there are solutions that can help prevent these
serious problems rodents pose. Proactive facility maintenance, sanitation, rigorous inspections and exclusion practices can help keep rats and mice out of your facility - and
your products. Work with a pest management professional to
implement a custom Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for your facility, and follow these guidelines to shut rodents out in the cold this winter.

Knowing the signs of rodent activity can help you stop an
infestation before it starts.
x Droppings - Mouse droppings are pointed and about
the size of a grain of rice, and rat droppings are about the
size and shape of a raisin.
x Gnaw marks - Rodents will gnaw on wires - this can
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hard materials. Rodents can enlarge an opening such as
a conduit or pipe penetration by gnawing around the
edges, so closely inspect any areas in the building that
appear to be chewed or gnawed.
x Rub markings - Rodents don't like to travel in the
open, so they will brush up against walls, wiring or
pipes as they travel along a path, leaving greasy markings behind.
Train your employees - some pest management providers will
train employees at no extra cost - to look for these signs of rodent
activity, and make sure to contact your pest management professional immediately if signs of rodent activity are reported.

SIGNS OF RODENT ACTIVITY
Rodents may linger mostly out of sight, but they aren't
stealthy pests - they leave calling cards wherever they travel.

THE FIGHT BEGINS OUTSIDE
Rodents have plenty of reasons to sneak into your facility, and they don't need much of an opening to do so. Rats

by Zia Siddiqi

Food sources, numerous potential
entry points and hiding places
make your facility attractive
for mice and rats

January 2016 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

http://www.World-Grain.com

World Grain - January 2016

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