Chew marks are some of the most visible signs you’ve got a rodent problem. And if your business is in the food manufacturing and processing sector, that kind of problem can quickly become serious damage.
But why do rodents love to chew in the first place, and when should you call for rat pest control services? Here’s what you need to know when dealing with these invasive pests.
Rodent Chewing and the Costs Are Hard to Swallow
From 1930 to 2022, rodent-related damages cost at least 87.5 million USD (nearly 5 billion PHP) every year, and the cost only increases year after year.
No business is safe. Whether it’s food manufacturing, restaurants, or logistics, rodents find a way in. And once they’re in, they chew through anything, including your walls, wires, pipes, furniture, and so on and so forth.
But the real danger is the pathogens they carry. Rats and mice can spread diseases like leptospirosis and salmonellosis, making them a health hazard as much as operational.
TRAIN of Thought: Always Gnawing, as Their Teeth Won’t Stop Growing
Did you gnaw? Rodents chew because it’s for their survival. Their front teeth (incisors) don’t stop growing. If they stop gnawing, their teeth would get so long they couldn’t eat, groom, or open their jaws properly.
Chewing also sharpens their teeth. The front side is harder than the back, so each bite grinds them into a sharp edge. Similar to how you would sharpen a kitchen knife by grinding one side more than the other.
For these rodents, their teeth are more than for eating. Gnawing is their all-around survival tool. They chew to feel their surroundings, break barriers, collect nesting materials, and so on. The problem is this instinct can lead to chewed wires, structural damage, and headaches for us.
How to Identify Rodent Chew Marks
Because of the damage that rodents pose, it’s important to recognize the signs you have a rodent infestation as early as possible. Here are 4 signs to look out for.
1. Rough Bite Marks on Surfaces
Chew marks often appear as jagged, uneven edges on wood, plastic, cardboard, and even soft metals. You may also notice 2 tooth marks from their sharp front teeth. Fresh bites appear lighter in color than older ones.
In food manufacturing environments, it’s best to check shelving, baseboards, crates, and door frames. Look closely at corners and out-of-the-way spots where rodents can gnaw without being noticed.
2. Holes in Storage Materials
Another sign of gnawing is holes. Rats and mice can create small to medium-sized holes in sacks, boxes, and plastic bins as they search for food. These irregular openings often appear on food packaging stored in warm, dark areas.
Rodents are opportunistic feeders that target any accessible food source. Even sealed or packaged goods aren’t safe. Check for tiny holes around pallets, in back rooms, or near the floor of stacked inventory.
3. Chewed Electrical Wiring
Rodents also chew non-food materials. As established earlier, they chew to relieve themselves and wear down their growing teeth. Chewed wires might look stripped or show exposed copper.
This isn’t just inconvenient, but dangerous. Electrical damage can shut down your machinery and could spark fires. Inspect all wiring in and around machinery regularly. Focus on low-traffic areas, and if you spot damage, act fast!
4. Shredded Debris in Corners
Once rodents have access to food and water, they start to settle in. Rodents gather soft materials like paper, plastic wrap, and fabric to build their nests. You might spot piles of shredded packaging in hidden corners or behind equipment.
Check under unused machinery, cabinets, and behind stacked boxes for signs of shredded debris. This is an often overlooked sign of an active rat infestation.
What Can’t Rats Chew Through?
Common materials like wood, plastic, insulation foam, rubber, and even thin aluminium are no match for rodents’ strong teeth. But they also have limits.
Heavy-duty wire mesh is too tough for rats to bite because there’s nothing solid for their teeth to grab. Concrete, brick, and real stone are just too hard for them to chew through. Thick sheet metal blocks their way completely if it’s installed properly.
If you’re serious about rodent-proofing, use strong, chew-resistant wire mesh or sheet metal and install it around utility lines, vents, or roof edges. Store grain and other edibles in containers rats cannot bite through. Trim shrubs so they cannot climb on these plants..
But this only works for prevention. If you’ve already seen chew marks or other signs of rats in the building, what should you do next?
How to Get Rid of Rodents Quickly
If you’re looking to get rid of mice and rats fast, the most effective approach is to bring in professionals right away. ENTECH uses an Integrated Pest Management approach, designed to eliminate rodents at the source and prevent them from coming back.
One key part of this strategy is understanding chewing behavior. These marks help our team pinpoint where rats are entering, how they’re moving through the space, and even signs of stress or nesting.
From there, we apply a full-circle solution that relies less on chemical sprays and more on targeted, site-specific methods such as exclusion programs through strategic baiting, especially when in manufacturing environments where product safety and operational integrity can’t be compromised.
How ENTECH Contained a Rodent Infestation Before it Reached the Facility
In May 2025, our monitoring stations picked up increased rat activity just outside the perimeter of a food manufacturing facility. Several rodents were captured and safely removed before they had a chance to enter the production zone. This response was part of our ongoing rodent exclusion program, which focuses on preventing entry before it becomes a bigger issue.
Our operations team noted that the sudden spike in rodent movement was likely caused by unusually heavy rainfall that month. Flooding forces rats to search for new shelter and food. The facility is also surrounded by residential and commercial structures beyond direct control, which contribute to the rodent activity along the boundaries.
Despite these external factors, ENTECH’s rodent control measures proved effective in catching rats and mice in the area. Our continuous monitoring also allowed us to adjust strategies for long-term protection, giving our clients the peace of mind that their facility is protected.
Need Professional Help with Rodents?
If you’re looking for rodent control services, don’t wait for them to chew you out of business. ENTECH can offer you a complete solution that works in the long term.
Contact us today to see how we can help.