Pest Prevention and the Methods of Pest Control

Pests are one of the many nuisances that can disrupt your place of business. They may seem harmless, but they can create a multitude of issues, ranging from contamination to added costs. No one is entirely immune to infestation, regardless of how tidy your warehouse may be. However, with the proper knowledge, you can prevent, identify and remove pests — the right way.

Preventing Pests
By far, the best way to protect your building is by integrating prevention techniques into your everyday practices. This is both a critical step and effective strategy when it comes to avoiding pests. Routine cleaning is a must, but there are also some specifics that can aid in deterring animals or insects. Here are some prevention methods to practice at your facility:

1. Remove any sources of food, water or shelter.
2. Store items in safe and enclosed containers.
3. Dispose of garbage regularly with a tightly closed lid.
4. Reduce clutter or areas where pests can hide.
5. Seal and close off any cracks or holes to eliminate outside entry.
6. Perform routine cleaning and surveying from the roof to the basement floor.

Infestation Identification
Pests are any animal or insect that can have a harmful effect on humans and living conditions. Their impact levels can range from a mere annoyance to a deadly disease. Here are some of the most common pests you may run into:

Flies
Ants
Birds
Rats
Mice
Mosquitos
Cockroaches
Bed bugs
Most of these animals are found in urban and rural locations. However, once a pest invades your workplace, they can cause severe damages to your workplace and employees alike. Identifying a pest infestation can be done in a number of ways. For some, it simply involves seeing a mouse scurry across the floor; other times it’s not as clear-cut. Pests are attracted to several locations that can provide any of the following: food, water, shelter or all three. If you have a suspicion of infestation, be sure to check any areas of your facility that accommodate any of the three needs. This includes anything from food storage to warehouse basements to elevate drafters. If you cannot find the infestation yourself, contact a professional to help identify any underlying or visible pest issues.

Pest Control Methods
Once you’ve identified a pest intrusion, it’s time to take immediate action. Pest control methods can fall into two categories: biological or chemical. Learn about these two tactics and what control techniques are available to better choose the right one for your facility.

Biological pest control is the use of living organisms to help eliminate the infestation. This can be anything from predators to parasites to pathogens. One of the biggest advantages of natural methods is that they don’t involve the use of toxic chemicals. As a result, this method doesn’t harm humans or the environment. In addition, over time, pests don’t become resistant to the control solution. However, most biological methods are only feasible for small pest invasions like insects or plants, and they typically take some time to work.

Chemical pest control is the use of pesticides to destroy harmful insects or organisms. These solutions are typically easier to find and use than biological methods. Also, most chemicals produce faster, if not, instant results upon application. Examples include repellants, which are solutions that deter pests that crawl or fly within your perimeter or insecticides, that are substances that are designed to kill insects. Despite their many advantages, these toxins can pose health and environment threats upon exposure, but most modern chemical’s effects are only temporary.