Even restaurants known for their impeccable cleanliness can become infested with pests. Critters like cockroaches, rodents and ants may find your restaurant the perfect place to call home. To treat an infestation, you must first know that you have one. Here are a few signs that your restaurant may have a pest problem.

Contaminated Food

If you or one of your staff members discover evidence of contaminated food, then you may have a pest infestation. Evidence of contaminated food may consist of holes or tears in any stored sacks of grain or flour. You could also come across food scattered around these bags.

Nests

When pests infest your restaurant, you may spot nests. Different pests make different kinds of homes, so if you see something suspicious but are unsure of what it is, contact a pest control company. Search under furniture and in dark corners. Some pests make nests inside the walls of a structure. When you’re alone in your restaurant, keep things quiet and listen for rustling or skittery noises. Shredded materials like cardboard, cotton, wood and newspapers are other signs that pests are nesting in your establishment. If you have an ant infestation, then you’ll see small piles of dirt or soil.

Excrement

Pests leave droppings wherever they live. If you have a rodent infestation, then you’ll see small, black or brown pellets. Small cockroaches produce excrement that may remind you of black pepper or coffee grounds while large bugs expel droppings that are cylinder shaped. Large cockroach infestations also have an unpleasant odor. Keep in mind that cockroaches are nocturnal, so if you spot one during the day, then you probably have an infestation because seeing one when the sun is out means that there’s likely a lot of them.

Pay Attention to Customer Complaints

Pay attention if a customer complains about seeing the signs of pest activity. Your customers may spot evidence of them in their food or on the table. They may even see an actual bug or rodent in your eatery. It’s important to believe them because doing so may give you the chance to get rid of the infestation before it gains a foothold. Established infestations are harder to exterminate. If someone complains about pests, call a pest professional to complete a thorough and expert search of your business.

Staying in Business

By handling pest infestations right away, you’ll be more likely to keep your restaurant open and in operation. When customers hear rumors about a restaurant having a pest problem, they’re likely to avoid eating there. Nests, noises, contaminated food and droppings are a few signs that pests are residing in your establishment. Pest infestations are best handled by the professionals, so if you spot signs that you have one, contact experts like ABC Exterminating. We are proud to deal with infestations quickly and effectively in Bridgeport, CT and surrounding Connecticut and New York areas, so don’t hesitate to call!