Industrial settings, such as factories and warehouses, are paradise settings for rats. These spaces are abundant in food and water sources, shelter, and warmth. If you happen to manage one of these in Australia, you know that there are seasons when you’re constantly battling with these pests.
The region is typically plagued by the Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the Black Rat (Rattus rattus). These pests can cause significant damage, spread diseases, and contaminate your products. Managing them is always a challenge. Here are a few things you can do.
Prevention is Always Best
Before they become a problem, do these steps to keep them away. Prevention is the best first step to rat control. Maintain Sanitation Within and Around Your Premises: Maintain impeccable hygiene. Regularly clean up food spills, store food in airtight containers, and ensure all waste is disposed of properly in sealed bins. This way, you remove their primary food source.
Ensure Structural Integrity: Seal any potential entry points. Rats can squeeze through incredibly small spaces. Inspect buildings for cracks, holes, and gaps in foundations, walls, and around pipes. Use materials like steel wool, concrete, or metal sheeting to block these entryways.
Minimise Nearby Vegetation: Keep the area around buildings clear of dense vegetation. Overgrown shrubs and long grass provide excellent cover for rats. Regular mowing and pruning should be done to keep them away.
Implement Effective Waste Management: Implement a robust waste management system. Ensure bins are emptied frequently, are rodent-proof, and are located away from buildings.
Monitor and Identify Your Opponents
Regular monitoring is needed to detect rat activity early. This gives you enough time to take action should an infestation occur. When you act fast, you keep your pest problems from becoming unmanageable.
Inspection: Conduct regular inspections of your premises. Make sure to pay close attention to areas where food is stored, prepared, or processed. Look for droppings, gnaw marks, grease marks along walls, and rat nests.
Tracking: Use non-toxic tracking dust or bait stations to identify rat activity and monitor population levels. This helps determine the extent of the infestation.
Species Identification: Know which rat species you're dealing with as this informs your pest control strategy. The Brown Rat, for instance, is larger and tends to burrow. The Black Rat, on the other hand, is more agile and often found in higher locations.
Know And Implement Effective Control Methods
When rats are detected, a combination of control methods is usually the most effective approach.
Baiting: Baiting is a common method that uses rodenticides placed in tamper-resistant bait stations. The type of rodenticide and bait station used must comply with Australian regulations and be appropriate for the specific situation. Always prioritise safety and follow product label instructions carefully.
Trapping: Trapping can be effective, particularly in areas where rodenticides are undesirable (e.g., food preparation areas). Use snap traps or live traps, and place them strategically along rat runways.
Professional Pest Control: For significant infestations or complex situations, get in touch with Safe Spray’s professional team. We have the expertise, equipment, and access to specialised products to effectively manage rat problems.
Remember that managing your rat problem is an ongoing process. It is not a one-time fix. It requires ongoing monitoring and management to prevent future infestations.
Get in touch with Safe Spray Pest Control to know about our proactive approach to rat management within industrial settings. Call 1300 562 053.
