Go pest-free this winter

Here’s how to keep those pesky pests at bay through the coming months

by Alice Sinia

Each year, fall brings a sense of renewal and the return of many professional sports. After the hot summer, people emerge to enjoy indoor activities again, and they flock in droves to stadiums, entertainment venues, and gyms.

However, more patrons also mean more pests. To best protect your customers and visitors from nuisance pest dangers, consider the following common irritants and make sure you have a plan to prevent them from taking over.

STADIUMS

Nothing brings people together like the shared experience of supporting their favourite sports team. With spectator capacity back to pre-COVID-19 levels and a full schedule of games, there is no shortage of activity in stadiums across the country and with that comes pest conducive factors — food, water, and shelter. You do not want anything to ruin the big game, so it’s essential to have an effective pest management program in place.

These three simple prevention steps go a long way in keeping your facility safe: • Exclusion — keep them out by sealing gaps, voids, cracks, and crevices • Sanitation — maintain cleanliness throughout the facility, especially garbage management • Good storage practice — store food product properly and remove waste quickly

Birds

When birds invade an indoor space, they are often considered pests as they can cause property damage, carry disease, and contaminate food. More than 60 diseases have been associated with bird droppings. These diseases can become airborne, putting both spectators and athletes in danger. Some effective repellent measures include:

• Taste aversion, where product containing an active ingredient with an unpleasant scent and taste deters birds from a food supply • Sight and sound aversion, which make birds believe an area is unsafe • Physical barriers, such as netting or

spikes, that prevent birds from nesting and roosting in the designated area

Flies

These insects are drawn to light and food. They reproduce quickly and can carry several diseases. While they cannot be eliminated entirely, their influx indoors can be kept at low non-noticeable levels. They can be effectively controlled by installing Insect Light Traps (ILTs) throughout the facility. Their favourite hotspots are warm places and unattended food, so be strategic about the traps’ placement to make the most impact on your guests’ experience.

Cockroaches

Known for their ability to spread diseases like E. Coli and salmonella, these creepy crawlers’ presence increases with cooler temps. Cockroaches are attracted to the moisture and food debris from the crowd, so it’s important to stop them before they enter the stadium. Reduce and eliminate any entry points by applying caulk, silicone, and foam to any gaps and openings. Also, make sure your team’s waste removal plan includes eliminating clutter and cleaning of any areas where food is served, eaten, or thrown away.

Rodents

Rats and mice populations increase quickly, so it’s imperative to address the concern before it becomes an issue. Rodents leave a path of droppings around the stadium, and their urine can transmit diseases. Not only are these pests a threat to humans, but they also can cause structural and equipment damage. For new venues, make sure you hire an expert to apply rodent control starting three months before you open; once food is moved into the stadium, rodents quickly follow. If you are already in operation, store all food products in rodent-proof containers, inspect regularly for signs of rodent activity, and be vigilant by training staff to identify the tell-tell signs of rodents.

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES

From theaters to concert venues, prevention is key to keeping patrons’ experiences pest free. Consider these steps to avoid having pests take centre stage. • Disinfect food areas and high touch point areas daily • Seal small cracks and gaps around doors, windows, in exterior walls, and in the foundation so pests won’t wander inside • Throw trash out immediately in a covered can or dumpster away from the building • Clean up any spills immediately to avoid any sweet residue from building up on floors, seats, or other surfaces

Rodents

Rats and mice are attracted to food left behind by patrons. Because these pests live out of sight and are often unnoticed until they reach infestation levels, it may be hard to detect their activity unless you know what to look for. Make it a daily and weekly task to check for discarded food in the venue and around waste disposal areas. Also, disinfect high-traffic areas regularly.

German cockroaches

The movie theater is the perfect place for people to check out the latest horror film, but we’d rather keep the creepiness on screen! However, cockroaches love the quiet, dark, and snackfilled floor these venues provide. Sometimes, it may even be the patrons that are bringing in these unwanted guests. Roaches are notorious for transmitting diseases that cause diarrhoea or food poisoning, and their excrement can trigger asthma and allergies in children. To minimize roach activity, do routine and thorough cleaning of each theatre, especially seat crevices and the floor beneath each seat.

Ants

Food waste and sticky residue provide an open invitation for ants. They have a fascinating ability to smell, and once they find a food source, they leave an invisible pheromone trail for others to follow. Cleaning up spills quickly is key to removing an ant’s reason to visit your venue.

GYMS

Cooler temperatures and New Year’s resolutions will soon cause an influx in gym memberships and activity. Do not let the presence of more people give the term gym rat a new meaning.

Follow these five tips to help prepare for and prevent infestations:

• Remove standing water and moisture from shower and sink areas • Tightly cover stored product such as protein powders • Inspect areas daily that have exercise mats and weights to ensure no pests are hiding • Keep doors closed. Pests will use the door as an invitation to enter • Seal cracks and crevices. This includes air conditioning lines and vents as the smallest gap serves as an opening for pests

Bed bugs

These insects feast on blood, and there is plenty of it pumping at the gym. Their flat bodies make it easy for them to hide making them nearly undetectable, and they are often brought into locker rooms on backpacks, purses, clothing, and towels. Any public space — like a gym or yoga studio — can be a hotbed for these bugs’ activity, so make sure you have a plan in place to help keep patrons from taking unnoticed hitchhikers home. Inspect high-risk areas daily for possible infestation. Also, be sure all areas, equipment, and laundry are disinfected and washed appropriately.

Dust mites

Although these mites aren’t a huge threat to humans, they can cause a variety of allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, and itchy skin, and may trigger your asthma. Minimize mite activity by vacuuming, washing towels daily in hot water, and keep humidity less than 50 per cent inside the main areas.

Whether you are managing a big or small facility, prevention is the best first step in keeping your patrons’ experience free from pests. Create an environment that is welcoming and enjoyable for guests and staff alike by building a comprehensive pest management plan with a qualified provider. /

Alice Sinia, Ph.D. is Quality Assurance Manager of Regulatory/Lab Services for Orkin Canada, focusing on government regulations pertaining to the pest control industry.