The Problems With Pest Control In Fort Worth Warehouses

Pest control in warehouses is essential. Products need to be protected or customers are going to be unhappy. Unfortunately, pest control in warehouse environments isn't easy, particularly in large warehouses. Now, more than ever, it is critical to invest in an effective commercial pest control service plan. Join us as we look at some of the challenges of guarding against common commercial pests in warehouse environments and how you can add commercial services to your logistics. As always, if you're currently dealing with a pest control issues, you don't have to read an article on pest control to find a solution. You can reach out to All-Safe Pest & Termite for industry-leading commercial pest control in Fort Worth. With that said, let's get into our topic.

What Kind Of Pests Could You Encounter In Warehousing & Logistics

Your logistics cover many aspects of planning your complex operation. You have logistics for how data is transferred or how packages are packed and shipped out. You may have logistics for the handling of damaged goods or the enforcement of safety policies. Logistics keep things moving and help to guard against mistakes. Pest control is one of the many logistics you have to consider. The good news is that a commercial specialist can handle the planning, management, and implementation of this portion of your logistical load. Your commercial service technician is trained and experienced to handle the pests that can make your business grind to a halt. What pests impact your business? It depends on the products that pass through your warehouse. Here are a few common pests that impact warehousing.

Mice: These are little critters that can cause big problems. One tiny mouse can chew on a wire in a warehouse and start all kinds of trouble. Mice are also persistent pests that come out of hiding at night, damage products, and go back into hiding during the day.

Rats: These big rodents can be a big headache. Rats can chew through thick plastic and gnaw holes in wood pallets. While larger and easier to track than mice, rats are no small problem in warehouse environments.

Cockroaches: There are many cockroach species in Fort Worth. The worst of all cockroaches is the German cockroach. These roaches do very well in structures because they are able to tolerate dry conditions and food scarcity. In a warehouse environment, German cockroaches can contaminate packages, spread sickness, and demoralize your workforce.

Stored Product Pests: These pests can come from the outside or be carried into your warehouse. Once inside, they're able to spread from package to package or container to container, laying their eggs in stored food. If that food is being shipped out to customers, these insects are a recipe for disaster.

Birds: Common pest birds found in warehouses are pigeons, starlings, and sparrows. Their droppings can contaminate products and their presence can drive your warehouse workers crazy. 

While these are certainly not the only pests that can give you trouble, they are the ones that create the most challenges. And the bigger the warehouse, the bigger the challenges can be.     

Pest Control Problems For Large Warehouses 

Large warehouses are becoming commonplace in Fort Worth. Unfortunately, the size of the structures can make pest problems harder to address. Birds are particularly troublesome in large warehouses because the ceiling is high. It is hard to get up there and capture those birds. It is far better to keep birds from getting inside in the first place. There are also bird deterrent products, such as netting, which prevent birds from finding roosts up near ceilings. Your commercial specialist can help you decide on the best strategy for your specific needs and budget.

Another particularly troublesome pest is the stored product pest, which comes in many shapes and sizes. Some common stored product pests are Indian meal moths, drugstore beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles, red flour beetles, rice weevils, and cigarette beetles. When the eggs of these pests are inside products carried into your warehouse, they can be extremely difficult to track in a large space with lots of containers and lots of moving parts. Your commercial specialist works out the logistics of preventing the introduction and spread of product pests and integrates it seamlessly into your workflow.    

Seven Warehouse Pest-Prevention Tips

Pest control is a team effort. While your commercial service technician will handle many of the tasks required, there are ways you and your team can help. Some are general best practices, while others are alterations that can guard against pest infestations.

1. Manage Trash: Many pests are drawn to the scent of rotting organic matter. They can be lured onto your property by the sent of a dumpster or a trash receptacle, and find their way inside. It is essential to remove trash from your property routinely and deodorize the locations where trash is kept. It is beneficial to also move dumpsters and trash receptacles away from exterior doorways and truck bays.

2. Protect Doors: Flies and other pests can come in through open doors. Train employees to only keep doors open as long as necessary. Consider replacing white lights in entryways with yellow lights which do not attract insects. If necessary, have an air curtain installed to push air (and insects) out when doors are opened.

3. Seal Potential Entry Points And Guard Against Entry: Pests come in through tiny gaps, cracks, and holes in your exterior. Seal potential entry points to keep pests from getting inside. The tools for this job are a caulking gun, high-quality silcone caulk, cans of spray foam, wire mesh, and metal flashing. Replace weatherstripping, door sweeps, screens, and vent covers as necessary. Trim branches away from exterior walls and rooflines. Put wire mesh in the downspouts of your gutter system to allow water to run out and keep pests from running up.

4. Keep Things Clean: Pests can smell unsanitary conditions from a distances and the scent will bring them into your facility. Clean and disinfect all areas to reduce this attractant. It is most important to do this in any zone where food is present, such as breakrooms, kitchens, and food-production areas. Make an effort to remove clutter as well. Pests are drawn to tight spaces and will hide in stacked items. They are particularly fond of cardboard, paper, and wood.

5. Clean Drains: If you have drains that help to remove moisture from your warehouse facility, these can become a breeding site for flies or cockroaches. Routine cleanings can prevent infestations. When applying drain cleaner, make sure to apply it around the outside edge so that it runs down evenly and provides complete coverage. We recommend using a biological drain cleaner for this task. These products will help your drains last longer because they aren't nearly as harsh as chemical cleaners. On top of this, a biological cleaner is scientifically designed to use beneficial bacteria to clean clogs.

6. Seal Products In Plastic: A coating of plastic helps to keep pests out and smells that attract pests in. While not impervious to the teeth of a mouse or rat, rodents won't know to get into stored food items if they can't smell them.

7. Use Plastic Pallets: Some pests are attracted to wood and they may get into cracks and gaps in wood pallets or drill tiny holes in them. Mice and rats like to chew on wood and are attracted to wood pallets. Plastic pallets are resistant to pest infestation. They are also easier to clean and disinfect than wood pallets.    

Effective Pest Control Solutions for Warehouses In Fort Worth 

Managing the logistics of commercial pest control in a warehouse is a complicated task. It pays to have a commercial specialist handle this for you, and it pays to go with a pest control provider that uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Why? Because IPM offers an integrated solution that protects your products, equipment, workforce, and facility. IPM is considered the gold standard of pest control and is accepted by the U.S. government and third-party auditors. When you have an IPM plan in place, you'll be ready for audits and inspections, both scheduled and unscheduled.

At All-Safe Pest & Termite, we specialize in protecting properties from termite damage. While termite damage can be a threat to a warehouse, our commercial service technicians go far beyond termite control. We customize IPM programs for the businesses we service and put in place protocols for dealing with common commercial pests. We offer fast response times for emergencies and same-day service. We have an on-staff entomologist who guides the insect control programs we apply in commercial environments, and all of our technicians are licensed and state-certified career professionals. You'll always gets the highest level of service and professionalism.

For more information, or to schedule a service visit, connect with All-Safe Pest & Termite today. We look forward to helping to put in place a warehouse pest control plan that meets and exceeds all government regulatory standards to keep your business running smoothly.