Rodents are one of the most destructive pests in the food industry. Not only are they responsible for the spread of over 55 different types of diseases, they can also cause contamination of food and lead to a significant loss of food supply. Furthermore, they will do damage to the property and can be responsible for creating various fire hazards.

Rats have a rapid life-cycle and their constant breeding makes them troublesome. They usually have high birth-rates, low life span and high death-rates. A few overlooked or unnoticed rats can quickly turn into a severe infestation. It is said that a pair of rats can produce as many as 10 or more babies every 3 weeks.

What damage is caused by rat infestations in warehouses?
Warehouses storing foodstuffs are particularly vulnerable to infestation. The food industry faces a high risk of contamination and damage caused by rats. These rodents will gnaw at seeds and grains leaving them unsuitable for human consumption. Further, the faeces and urine left by rats contaminate the food and make it harmful for use as it can cause severe health ailments. Even the food stored in packets and plastic are not safe as rats can easily gnaw the packets and poison the contents.

Apart from food, rats will also cause damage to the warehouses by gnawing at papers, files, and wires. Gnawed, exposed wires can be a dangerous fire hazard, starting electrical fires and causing serious damage to the property and humans. Rat infestations can completely ruin all the stored stock in warehouses leading to severe financial losses that ruin businesses.

Singapore is a huge hub for many food-related global businesses. Most of the businesses house their warehouses in the country to ensure smooth business operations and timely delivery of their manufactured products. It is essential for these warehouse owners to take necessary steps for rodent control in Singapore to save themselves from incurring losses.

What is the best way to prevent rodents from entering your warehouses?

1.Cleanliness
There are many ways to prevent a rat infestation from arising in your warehouses but the most significant and easiest measure is to simply keep the premises clean. It can easily be the most effective strategy and will strongly discourage rat inhabitation.

2.Automatic doors
While this may not sound like a huge innovation for warehouses, many of them do not have automatic doors and often leave their doors open the whole day. Owners should try to have automatic closing doors in their premises, or at the very least, have dividing screens to hinder the free movement of rats. This small measure will greatly enhance your pest control ability. Normal doors when left open offer easy access to other pests as well. High-speed doors are a great option for keeping the food area secure as they are open only for few seconds and remain sealed the rest of the time.

3.Sealing and segmenting
One of the most recommended ways of controlling rat infestations is by segmenting the warehouses and keeping the important locations of warehouses sealed. This creates multiple controlled zones, along with making inspection easier.

4.Frequent inspection
Inspecting the warehouses at regular intervals also makes up an important part of any good preventive measures. It is mandatory to make a regular, thorough inspection to spot any signs of rat infestation. Any signs of infestation should be immediately addressed to prevent it from growing further.

Rat infestations at warehouses in Singapore should be addressed with help of professional services. You can and should seek professional help for conducting rodent control in Singapore warehouses. These pest management companies are well equipped with tools and techniques to spot the source of infestation and destroy them. The special chemicals involved in treatment ensure no further infestation will occur for few years as well. Thus, investing in a proper rodent monitoring programme will prevent the warehouse owners from bearing long-term losses.