Which Pests Should Restaurant Owner's Be Watching For In Spring?

As a restaurant owner, there are so many things to prepare for in spring. Business tends to die down a little bit in the winter just because people tend to go out less when it’s rainy. Now that spring is here, you’ll need to make sure your restaurant is clean and pest free for your new wave of customers.

Not only does your restaurant see a bunch more customers in spring, but you’ll probably see more activity with pests in your area as well. Pests are more active in the spring due to the same reasons people are: it’s easier to get around when there’s no rain to worry about. Here are the three 3 pests you need to keep an eye out for this spring. 

Rodents

Rodents are a common pest problem for restaurant owners. They are often drawn into restaurants for the shelter and abundance of food that can be found. Sometimes restaurant owners store trash bins or dumpsters near a back door to the restaurant for ease of access when taking out the trash. The problem with this scenario is that the food waste is just the sort of thing rodents enjoy snacking on. The close proximity to an entrance increases the likelihood that the rodents will find a way into the building. Keeping the trash stored properly and emptied regularly can help reduce a rodent problem. Restaurant owners can also get commercial pest control services on a regular schedule to make sure that rodents do not become an issue.

Roaches

Like rodents, roaches enjoy the food waste and crumbs they can find in a restaurant. They are much smaller than rodents and can find their way into a building through very small breaches. Another thing that can attract roaches into a restaurant is water. They need water and look for locations where they have easy access to it. Leaky pipes and sinks filled with dishes and water can create an ideal environment for roaches to thrive in. The skill that roaches have for getting inside of buildings makes it especially crucial for restaurant owners to have regularly scheduled pest control services.

Ants

Spills happen on a regular basis in just about every restaurant. Between the cooks, wait staff and patrons some food and drink is bound to wind up on the ground and other surfaces. Sometimes all it takes to lead to an ant invasion in a restaurant is a small, forgotten spill. It is important to be diligent about cleaning up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen so ants do not have the time to find them. Ants will also invade trash that has been left out or improperly stored.

Rodents, roaches, and ants are some of the most common pests that cause problems for restaurant owners. There is never a time that they will stop looking for food so being proactive is essential for restaurant owners who want to keep pests out of the kitchen. Properly disposing of food waste, promptly cleaning up spills, and scheduling regular pest control services will all go a long way toward maintaining a pest-free restaurant.