Keeping your establishment free of rodents and roaches is crucial for a healthy business! 

Bugs, rodents, and roaches - if you're inviting them in through the back entrance, they'll soon be driving your valued clientele out the front door! Foodservice and Hospitality spoke to several restaurant operators and pest-control experts to get some ideas on suitable pest-control systems, how much they cost and how much time and effort should be devoted to eliminating these pesky critters. 

Villainous Vermin 
Aside from losing the business of disgusted customers who spot mice scurrying across the floor, thee are numerous other practical reasons to be vigilant about pest control. Cockroaches, mice, rats, and flies can carry pathogenic organisms linked to food borne illness, while rodents and ants can also cause structural and property damage. Carpenter ants, for instance are a voracious species that can weaken building's foundation. Similarly, mice and rats can gnaw on electrical wiring and cause fire hazards. 

Back Room Maneuvers 
 Pest Control is a main concern for restaurant owners. Because of the amount and variety of food stores and moved around on a daily basis, the kitchen is clearly the main battleground. The chance of infestation increase by 100 to 200 times within a restaurant setting simply because of the volume of food stored and processed everyday. Pest control at an upscale steakhouse - which serves an average of 1,200 guests per weekend starts with proper screening of produce that enters the premise. Kitchen staff must be trained to carefully look for flies and other bugs as well as signs of decay or mold. Kitchen staff must clean floors and work areas four to five times though out the day to ensure that proper cleanliness is kept this includes cleaning equipment like stoves, burners, and prep tables routinely. There are certain spots in every restaurant that will required a bit more careful attention. For instance, the bar area can be notorious as a breeding spot for minuscule airborne pests that thrive on fermenting brew and liquor spilled on floors and in various nooks and crannies. The solution is to make sure the area is constantly cleaned and no spills are left lying around. A restaurants garbage and recycling bins can also tend to be rodent and roach magnets. Back entrances to the kitchen should always be secure, and holes or loose caulking should be patched to prevent infiltration of pests. 

Equipment Options 
Insect monitors are available and are usually made out of cardboard strips, tri-fold tents or boxes that have glue surfaces. Some monitors may contain pyrethrin or fipronil chemicals that can kill roaches and insects on contact or when eaten. Other devices have see-through windows, while some designs are cylindrical and may be suspended on ceilings or above ground to catch flies and bugs. For rodents the usual monitors and traps available are polypropylene boxes equipped with easy shut click catches or spring-loaded trap doors. Some models have compartments that can handle a wide variety of granular, powder or gel-type baits or even glue strips. Rodents die from ingesting the bait. Some outdoor models have waterproof bait compartments to preserve the bait. Larger traps are often made of steel mesh wires and metal plates and can be used outdoors as well. Inquire about products available by phoning Bugland today! 

Humane Alternative 
For a humane alternative, some traps allow operators to release rodents in locations away from the premises. One model even allows for a delayed release to minimize contact between rodent and trapper. Repellants are also available for those who have ethical concerns about killing rodents. These dry granules emit odours that repel mice and rats for up to three months. Electronic pest chasers are also small plastic devices that can be plugged in the electrical outlets to emit an ultra-high-pitched sound that is safe for humans and non-rodent pets. 

Basic Inspection Practices 
- Inspection of premises for signs of infestation, such as rodent or cockroach droppings, insect or mice burrows and presence of fruit flies 
- Assessment reports and recommendations of an action plan 
- Set up of baits, traps, or chemical spray, followed by a clean-up procedure 
- Follow-up inspections and education of staff on proper in-house pest control procedures 

To Keep UP 
The Key to keeping pests under control is to keep clean. Cost-conscious restaurants should remember that having a pest-control process and educated staff could cut down on insurance costs and expensive outsourced pest-management jobs and equipment. Educate your staff today with the help of Bugland Pest Management Service!