Spring Flooding Creates Prime Conditions for Pests

During flooding, protecting life and property must be the primary focus. But as waters recede, “it’s critical to move quickly and step up the intensity of pest management efforts,” said Gardner. “Pests can produce very large populations in a short time.” For example, a female house mouse can begin reproducing at five weeks of age and add 30 to 35 offspring to the population in a year. Insects can lay eggs and proliferate extensively in a matter of days.

As recovery begins, Ecolab pest control experts stress the need for ongoing rigorous inspection, sealing and monitoring. Vigilance should continue well after waters subside as some rodent populations have been known to surge weeks later, after they have re-colonized.

As you work with your pest management professional, Ecolab pest scientists recommend the following actions to help reduce rodents and “occasional invaders” — ants, mosquitoes, flies and other insects that normally live outdoors but come indoors by accident or instinct in search of food, water and shelter.

Rodents:

• Inspect for structural damage. Look for exterior holes and other openings, keeping in mind that some rodents are excellent climbers. Carefully inspect under doorways and around the foundation, and check around pipes and under false ceilings and flooring where rodents can run largely undetected. Prioritize, repair and seal access points. Under doors, install commercial-grade door sweeps.
• Assess exterior bait stations. Replace those that may have washed away or been damaged.
• Repair and replace sodden structural materials. When making repairs, use only industrial-grade materials, the only kind that can stand up under rodents’ powerful chewing. Also, when repairing walls, ask your pest services provider about interior treatments that can act as an additional pest barrier.
• Keep doors closed as much as possible. Inside frequently used doors set multi-catch traps for mice — and monitor for introductions. If there is evidence of rodents indoors, set baited snap traps inside. The traps may not catch all the rats, but they will provide evidence of where additional efforts are needed.
• If monitoring indicates movement of rats and mice in your building, increase outside bait availability and the number of bait stations.
• Identify and remove debris from your property and store garbage in tightly closed containers. Debris and garbage provide ideal harborage for rodents.
• Continue to actively monitor, seal and take other corrective actions as needed.

“Occasional” Invaders:

• Inspect the property for breeding sites and identify pest species present.
• Eliminate standing water outdoors and indoors, including in drains. If drains cannot be dried completely, ask your pest service provider to apply treatments that interrupt the development of insect larvae.
• Promptly store or remove garbage and other organic material that can decay and create prime breeding grounds for insects.
• Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
• Close up spaces or cracks in the building’s exterior.
• Keep doors and other entry points closed as much as possible.
• Place insect bait stations inside and outside doorways.

Contact Ecolab to learn more about how Ecolab Pest Elimination can help you reduce the risk of pest pressure in your facility, whether it be from a natural disaster or day to day activity.