An industrial distribution warehouse in the commercial area of Saint-Hyacinthe, on the South Shore, reported an infestation of field mice that compromised the integrity of the goods and raised electrical safety concerns. The building, built in the 2000s, is bordered by wasteland that serves as a natural migratory corridor for rodents from Boucherville’s neighbouring agricultural sectors. Communication cables had been severed by field mice in two areas of the warehouse, causing intermittent outages in the inventory system, and damage to packaging had been reported in several storage aisles. The management mandated our team for an emergency intervention.
Comprehensive warehouse audit and mapping of risk areas
An industrial warehouse presents a particular challenge for pest management: large surface area, high ceilings, a multitude of pallets and racks that create inaccessible dark areas, and a constant flow of trucks and delivery people that multiply the opportunities for intrusion. The inspection mobilized two technicians for a full half-day. They mapped the areas of activity by noting faeces, traces of nibbles and galleries in the insulation of the perimeter walls. The entry points were identified mainly at the loading docks, where the airlock seals were worn, and under the rolling doors where the bottom seals had significant gaps. Inside, field mice had colonized the space between the wall cladding and the insulation in several sections, creating a well-established network of galleries.
This mapping served as a basis for the development of a structured intervention plan, validated with the operations manager before implementation. For more information on our methods, see our page on field mice extermination.
Deployment of a large-scale control system
The system set up in this Saint-Hyacinthe warehouse included more than thirty mechanical traps and bait stations, distributed according to a coverage plan established by zone. The external bait stations, locked and identified, were installed along the perimeter walls of the building, with densification at the identified crossing points. Inside, the mechanical traps have been positioned behind the racks, along the walls and in the technical areas, so as not to hinder handling operations. Work crews were briefed on the location of devices to ensure the safety of daily operations. Our previous achievements in an industrial environment, such as this case of field mice in a warehouse, demonstrate our experience in this type of environment.
The loading dock airlock seals were replaced with reinforced models during a planned maintenance weekend. The deficiencies under the roller shutters were corrected by the installation of metal weather stripping. These exclusionary interventions, combined with an awareness of operators not to leave the doors open unnecessarily, have significantly reduced the possibilities of future intrusion.
Long-term management and maintenance program
For a warehouse of this size, a one-off intervention is not enough: a preventive maintenance program was proposed, including monthly inspections and the maintenance of a reduced number of permanent bait stations outside the perimeter. This type of program is particularly relevant for industrial buildings in Saint-Hyacinthe located on the edge of undeveloped land. Rodent decontamination was carried out in the most affected areas to eliminate the chemical traces left by the colony. The damaged cables could be replaced after it was confirmed that the rodents were no longer circulating in the cable trays. See also our field mice in a comparable industrial context and our mouse file in the warehouse for additional examples. Our team, recognized as a certified exterminator on the South Shore and South Shore, is equipped to protect commercial and industrial facilities of all sizes.
The safety of cables and electrical equipment is an issue that is often underestimated during rodent infestations in warehouses. Field mice gnaw on the protective sheaths of the wires to sharpen their incisors, which can cause short circuits or costly breakdowns. An electrical audit carried out after the intervention confirmed the condition of the installations and prioritized the necessary replacements. Taking on this risk is part of professional and comprehensive pest management, which goes beyond simply eliminating rodents to protect the entire company’s assets.