Signs of a Pest Infestation – When You Need to Deal With Pests

August 4th, 2022

Last updated: August 5th, 2022

A pest infestation can be an incredibly harmful and inconvenient event. In commercial settings, if you happen to end up with pests then you may lose business or even face legal action. Knowing the signs of pest infestation can prevent this from ever being an issue you have to deal with, and ensure that you stamp out any pests before they pose any sort of risk.

Many pest control services can include preventative steps as well as just helping you to deal with the pests once they have already made their mark, so if you are particularly worried you have the option to get a preventative plan put in place by British Pest Control Associate (BPCA) accredited companies.

In certain businesses, a pest infestation is more harmful than in others. For example, if you fail to spot the signs of pests in a restaurant setting, and suddenly discover that you have a health hazard within your business it can lead to loss of earnings as you will need to stop trading. It can also lead to damaged and unusable stock in the form of ingredients, not to mention other types of damage in your commercial building.

There are, in fact, very few business environments where the signs of a pest infestation shouldn’t set your alarm bells ringing. Let’s delve into some of the top signs of pests on your premises.

Signs of Pests in Your Commercial Premises

Of course, there are many different types of pests, and this means that there are also a variety of different signs that they are there. You need to be vigilant. The top signs of a pest infestation are:

Droppings

Pests leave waste, and this means that droppings are one of the main signs that they leave behind. The most common, and often most alarming droppings to find are those of rats and mice, which carry diseases and can have catastrophic impacts on your business, especially if you are looking for signs of infestation in a kitchen or a restaurant. Be sure to keep the area clean and check in any gaps in cupboards or small spaces where droppings could get missed.

Unpleasant Smells

This is quite abstract, and there are many potential culprits, so a bad smell doesn’t necessarily mean pests. However, mouse and rat urine and droppings can cause a space to smell bad, and other infestations can lead to unpleasant smells. If an animal should die in the premises then this will be a particularly pungent odour and it may well be time to call in the professionals.

Feathers

Finding significant amounts of feathers where you don’t expect them can also be signs of an infestation, many types of birds can also cause problems for business owners as they can nest in locations within the premises. Of course, birds also leave droppings as a sign that they have infested your building, and they are also likely to be more visible than rats and mice. Unfortunately, birds can also be tough to get rid of, and if you have high ceilings they may nest in difficult-to-reach areas.

Dead Insects

Insects can be notoriously hard to spot, but you don’t want these pests on your premises either. 

The main sign of insects is the fact you will probably see them. If you see a few ants or flies, this could be enough cause for concern as they can reproduce and lay eggs in places that will quickly amplify their number in your business.

Gnawing

Rats, mice, and other rodents are some of the most common pests that can cause huge disruption to your business, and gnawing is one of the telltale signs that they are present in your premises. Check for gnawing on the corners of cabinets and anything wooden within your business, as well as within storage areas for food and other items. 

Mice and rats are famously not fussy about what they will gnaw through, so it is important to be thorough. This is where professional help can also play a big part.

Sounds

There’s every chance you will hear the pests even if you don’t see them. If you have suspicions then sitting in the room while it is 100% silent may give you the opportunity to hear pests scuttling around or nesting within. In a busy kitchen or other commercial setting it can be really hard to use your hearing for this level of detail.

If You Find Signs of Infestation

What to do if you find infestation, or you are suspicious that pests have invaded the premises? Well, while if it is in your garage at home you might just lay some traps or insect powder, it may be much more urgent in a commercial building as you could be putting people at risk.

Our British Pest Control Associate (BPCA) trained and certified technicians offer preventative and reactive treatments as well as one-off treatments should you find a pest in your property.

Working across Yorkshire, we cover North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and offer a fast, efficient response time to all pest related issues.

Contact us today. Call 01423 226578 or get in touch to see how Robinsons Facilities Services can help