Rodent Exclusion in Seed Warehouses

April 2026 Edition - by: Christina Cline, ACE

Seed warehouses are vulnerable to rodent infestations in their own unique ways. What I’ve seen with the first steps of assessing for rodents in these facilities is the abundance of food, the endless supply of nesting materials from seed products to packing material, and the often-overlooked entry points from the exterior for rodents to squeeze through. Whether you have a small warehouse that you keep your seed and equipment in, or you have a large production facility with many moving parts to your operation; rodent prevention is crucial.             

Knowing what to look for in terms of structural deficiencies of the structure can help indicate the entry points for external rodent pressure. Rodents can enter through some tight spaces with mice needing just 6mm, or a 1/4inch and rats a gap of roughly 12mm or 1/2inch. Some common areas to look out for would be gaps under man doors, overhead doors, and dock doors; typically seen at the base where daylight can be seen shining through. Other areas include cracks in the foundation and walls, joints in the floor, any pipe, vent or electrical entries from the exterior, and roofline gaps usually seen along the fascia or soffit. The best way I’ve found to find the holes is turning off all lights and walking around to look for daylight shining in.

Rodent exclusions can be time-consuming and extremely detail-oriented while performing. The materials used to fix these areas can be found at a local hardware store, but if you want something that will last and you get more bang for your buck; shift your focus to more industrially built exclusion materials. All exterior entry points located should be sealed with industrial rodent resistant materials such as Exludor hardware cloth with a caulk bead over the material to hold in place and make the exclusion more aesthetically pleasing. Door and dock management for exclusion would include a tight fitting weatherstripping at the threshold of the doors and dock plates should have sweeps around the edges. Vents should be covered with hardware cloth, and all pipes entering the structure should have a metal plate guard around the point of entry to eliminate the gap around the pipe. As far as floor joints go, we have been seeing it increasingly where small rodents will get into the joints and begin to chew out the sealant used to keep the joints closed. If the joints are open, they begin to collect spilled products which can act as a food source for the rodents and the joints then become the perfect harborage. Sealing the joints with a steel mesh and placing a sealant over the cloth will deter the rodents from the joints while also keeping product from accumulating in the joints.

Rodent exclusion is a foundational practice for seed warehouse management. By preventing access, reducing attractants, and maintaining building integrity, warehouses can protect valuable inventory, meet regulatory standards, and avoid costly disruptions. Investing in proactive exclusion measures pays dividends in operational efficiency, product quality, and long-term profitability.