The manager of a logistics warehouse in Delson, on the South Shore, reported to our team unusual damage to pallets of goods and traces of rodents in the pallet storage areas. Delson, an industrial and residential municipality neighbouring Saint-Constant and crossed by busy arteries, is home to several warehouses and loading areas whose configuration offers many refuges for rats. Loading docks, perimeter embankments and packaging waste left behind at the end of the day create ideal conditions for the establishment of a Norway rat colony in a large building. Managing this infestation in a continuously operating warehouse presented the major challenge of not interrupting operations while permanently eliminating the colony and preventing any recurrence. Our exterminator in Delson mobilized a reinforced team for this large-scale intervention.
Infestation assessment in a large industrial building
The inspection covered the entire warehouse: loading docks, pallet aisles, technical room, staff break room, transit areas and full outdoor perimeter. The technicians identified several centres of activity concentrated near the quays, where a gap of ten centimetres or more between the sectional doors and the ground allowed the free entry of rodents. Characteristic biological traces, namely large quantities of droppings, greasy drippings on the metal underpinnings and food caches formed of food packaging debris, were found in four separate aisles. The rodent infestation inspection also uncovered galleries dug into the exterior earthen embankments along the foundation, confirming the existence of an active burrow directly feeding the interior infestation. The depth and branching of these galleries indicated a well-established colony for at least a month and a half, if not more. Damage to pallets of food packaging was also noted, raising legitimate concerns about the compliance of the products stored.
Simultaneous two-part treatment plan
The intervention plan was structured to act simultaneously inside and outside the building, taking into account the constraints of circulation and the working schedules of the staff. Outside, underground bait stations were introduced directly into the identified galleries and placed at regular intervals along the foundations, with first-generation rodenticides to reduce the risk of bioaccumulation in the surrounding wildlife. Inside, high-capacity industrial mechanical traps have been installed at the docks, in the technical corridors and in the high-activity areas, arranged in such a way as not to interfere with forklift traffic or handling operations. Bi-weekly monitoring visits made it possible to adjust the system according to the evolution of the catches and to check the progress of the control. All the methods used are described on our page dedicated to the extermination of rats in industrial and logistics environments.
Closure of access, prevention and planned follow-up
Once the rodent population was under control, our team proceeded with the permanent closure of vulnerable accesses. Reinforced door bottom seals were installed on all loading docks, foundation cracks were filled with rodent-resistant hydraulic mortar, and stainless steel rodent grates were attached to the low air vents. A customized pest prevention plan was provided to the warehouse manager, including a monthly inspection schedule, a reporting procedure for employees, and specific guidelines on the management of packaging waste and food products stored on site. For comparable references, see our case study on rats in a South Shore warehouse. At our extermination services in Quebec, we also offer annual pest management contracts adapted to the specific needs of logistics and industrial companies, including scheduled inspections on a regular basis and rapid interventions in the event of early detection of new signs of activity.