Why Pest Control is Crucial for Local Municipalities

Not only can pests like rodents and insects damage city-owned property but they can also impact employee productivity, deter the public from using municipal-run services and even hurt the city's reputation. If you're an office manager for a local municipality, here are some of the reasons why pest control should be on your mind.

Pests target all types of buildings

A municipality is responsible for operating several important public-facing institutions. All these services are run out of buildings that can be just as vulnerable to pests as any other structure, and sometimes even more vulnerable to pests due to their age. That's why staying on top of pest control is so important.

An experienced pest control technician understands how to work around the needs of a business including how to inspect different types of buildings thoroughly and create a plan that works around operating hours and maintenance requirements.

Some of the common buildings a pest control expert would inspect within a local municipality include:

City halls

Essentially a type of office building, a city or town hall has plenty of hiding places for pests. Designed to accommodate large groups of people, they often have a lot of empty spaces and storage areas that go unattended for extended periods of time. This can lead to pest problems that grow under the radar. Managing cleaning schedules, garbage disposal and general maintenance can be a lot to keep track of, but consistent routines will reduce the chance of a pest infestation getting out of hand or popping up just in time for a large meeting.

A technician would make sure to inspect the interior and exterior of the building for signs of a pest infestation and recommend best practices for keeping pests at bay. These best practices may include preventative pesticide treatments, traps, changing employee behaviors, or exclusion.

Courthouses

Foot traffic is high in courthouses which means there are many opportunities for pests to enter the building. Proper cleaning procedures and regular inspections of public areas like restrooms and waiting areas will help catch signs of an infestation so it can be promptly dealt with.

Office buildings

Office buildings usually have a kitchen or cafeteria area, desks full of snacks, multiple restrooms and plenty of garbage disposal areas that need constant upkeep. Not to mention if one office has pests, it's likely they will spread quickly throughout the entire building. Regular inspections and strategic prevention strategies are key to keeping office buildings clear of pests. It's also important to note that hybrid employees that spend some of their time in the office, and some at home, bring unique pest threats. This includes bringing pests from home when they work from the office, or leaving the office for a few days and forgetting food at their desk, giving pests ample opportunity to fuel up and leave a mess in their wake.

Libraries and post offices

Institutions that have a lot of materials going in and out of the building like libraries and post offices can be vulnerable to pests that like to hitch a ride. They can also be vulnerable to pests that live in or consume the cellulose material found in books and mail. A pest control expert will inspect the layout of these buildings and find areas that may need extra attention. Above all, keeping storage areas clean and organized will help ensure a pest problem doesn't go unnoticed.

Learn about the Government and Education Pest Control services we have to offer.

Each pest is unique

Government-run buildings should welcome the public, not pests. But anywhere the public goes, certain types of pests can follow. As long as you know what to watch out for, you can help prevent infestations from causing big problems.

Here are some of the top pests to watch out for in municipal buildings:

• Rodents: Rats and mice are looking for warmth, shelter, and food. Droppings, chewed holes in baseboards and packages and, of course, rodent sightings are all signs that there may be an infestation. Do not allow one sign of a rodent to pass you by without taking the appropriate steps and contacting a pest professional.
• Cockroaches: As scavengers, cockroaches will go where the food is. Watch for cockroach feces and egg casings as well as a musky smell that signals cockroaches are nearby.
• Termites: Older buildings can often become a target for termites that are looking to feast on rotting wood. Keep an eye out for termite damage such as warped doors and window frames or hollow-sounding timber and a quiet clicking noise coming from the walls. Other signs include mud tubes near the foundation of the building.
• Bed bugs: Communal furniture can become a breeding ground for hitchhiking bed bugs. Make sure you are inspecting furniture on a regular basis and monitoring for signs of bed bugs including fecal matter near cracks and crevices (which looks like a small, black dots of ink), cast skins (which looks like small, transparent bed bugs that don't move), or living bed bugs (adults are the size and approximate color of an apple seed).

Long-term pest control is about prevention

To prevent an infestation of any kind of pest in municipal buildings, it's important to be consistent and diligent with sanitary practices and preventative maintenance. Terminix Commercial's Integrated Pest Management program is designed to provide just that.

Our experienced technicians know how to evaluate different types of properties, recommend the best pest control services, and educate employees on how to identify pest issues moving forward. With a long-term pest control program in your corner, the stress of a possible infestation is minimized.

Depending on need, our programs may include:

• Inspections of the building interior and exterior.
• Identification of pests and analysis of activity.
• Treatment of affected areas and implementation of methods for monitoring and controlling pests.
• Recommendations for limiting and preventing pest activity.
• Continuous evaluation of treatment effectiveness and any necessary modifications.
• Education, upon request, of the building's staff, addressing actions and conditions that affect pest activity.

For pest control services, call us at 855-319-4538 to schedule a service or request a free estimate.