When rodents invade multi-family housing units they put their tenants and the building itself at risk. For starters, rodents are capable of spreading diseases to tenants through their droppings. They can contaminate food and food preparation areas passing along salmonella, hantavirus, Lassa fever and more. Their incessant gnawing can even pose a fire hazard should they chew on electrical wires. Rodents damage buildings creating holes around windows, air conditioning units, basements and more to gain entry in search of food, water and shelter.
Complaints about rodents can flood the property manager’s office creating stress and time spent trying to calm angry residents. K.E.B. Pest Control specializes in rodent control in and around Westchester County and New York City and offers the following tips to keep rodents at bay:
- Inspect the perimeter of your property from the outside in. Could the landscaping along the exterior of the building offer shelter to rodents? Overgrown shrubs or thick landscaping that grow against the perimeter of the building could be home to rodents. As fall approaches, rodent’s next move will be to attempt to enter your structure. An outdoor baiting system installed by an experienced pest professional can help knock down rodent populations before they attempt to enter your structure.
- Outdoor trash containers and their surrounding areas should be inspected. Ensure that dumpster lids are not overflowing and are able to close tightly to prevent rodents from entering the trash. If needed, property managers should consider a larger size dumpster to avoid garbage from spilling over. The surrounding area of dumpsters should be professionally cleaned periodically to avoid attracting rodents to the area.
- Continue on with your inspection and identify cracks and crevices that offer entry into the building. Excluding rodents from entering by covering holes with a rodent-proof material, such as steel wool that they cannot chew through, will help keep rodents out. Windows, doors and garage doors, cracks near the foundation, pipes and vents that enter the building from the ground level are all entry points for rodents.
- If the building is located near an unoccupied or condemned business or residence or one that is under construction then that building is more prone to rodent infestations. Extra precautions should be taken on the outside of the building to secure the perimeter and prevent rodents from entering the building.
K.E.B. Pest Control has over twenty years of experience managing unique rodent challenges. Contact us today and together we can work on a plan to ensure that your building remains protected from rodent infestations. Request your free estimate to manage pests in your building by clicking here.