Photo Album: Sanitation inspection finds rodents in East Brunswick, NJ

Recently, I was sent to a restaurant in East Brunswick, NJ, that found itself with a well-entrenched mouse infestation. Cowleys was contacted after significant mouse activity was observed in their storage room. This was a prime example of poor sanitation and hygiene practices combined with structural deficiencies leading to insect and rodent issues. As a matter of preventing insect and rodent problems, addressing cleanliness both inside and outside will prevent pests from being drawn inside.

Mice entry double door.

The exit doors were in a state of disrepair with large gaps.

Mice entry under door.

This was a no brainer. They didn't even have to duck to get through this opening.

Mice easy entry

Here's another entry point we found during our inspection. he customer made an attempt to seal the door bottom, but there was still a wide opening. When it comes to insects and mice, you have to do it right or you may as well not do it at all.

Food debris.

As a matter of preventing insect and rodent problems, addressing cleanliness both inside and outside will prevent pests from being drawn inside. When there are outside attractants, which are often neglected or overlooked, pests will often find their way inside. Here, there were numerous structural issues and blatant sanitization problems that needed to be addressed and corrected immediately.

Dumpster mess.

When there are outside attractants, which are often neglected or overlooked, pests will often find their way inside. Here, there were numerous structural issues and blatant sanitization problems that needed to be addressed and corrected immediately. The exterior of this facility had numerous problems, not the least of which was the dumpster area, which was a mess by any standard. The rear parking area was covered with garbage. Dumpster areas need to be kept clean with lids that securely close and no garbage on the ground. Periodically, they should be power washed to clean out the built-up residue. Unkept dumpsters are major attractants for rodents, flies, and other insects. With the outside garbage and easy entry points into the building, it was no surprise to me that there was a rodent issue.

Disgusting mess

There was food debris that had literally molded onto the top of the equipment as well as inside the refrigerator motor housing.There was so much accumulated food debris that the motor had burnt out! I can apply treatments to resolve the current infestation and will need to work with management to institute proper sanitation protocols by the kitchen staff that are enforced. When using IPM practices to keep down the amount of application, pest elimination requires prevention through proper interior and exterior sanitation and identifying and excluding pest entry points. I am committed to working with this restaurant and get it in proper condition and inhospitable to pests, so that there are fewer issues, and when they do arise, any infestations will be easy to treat.