If you’re a commercial property owner in Maryland, you already have enough on your plate; you shouldn’t have to worry about pests, too. An infestation can bring operations to a halt overnight and ruin your reputation just as fast.
At Womack Pest Control, we understand how fast an issue can spiral out of control; that’s why we’ve been keeping businesses pest-free since 1943. From restaurants and office buildings to warehouses and distribution centers, every type of commercial property has its own pest issues.
Here’s what Maryland business owners and property managers need to know.
The Top Pest Threats for Maryland Commercial Properties
After over 80 years in business, we know exactly which pests cause Maryland businesses the most headaches. These are the ones we get called about the most
Rodents & Wildlife
- Mice & Rats: Chew wires, contaminate food, spread disease, and create fire risks.
- Squirrels: Chew through wiring and insulation, causing hidden but expensive damage.
- Deer: Damage landscaping and outdoor spaces around commercial properties.
- Snakes: Frequently seen in warehouses or near loading docks, creating safety issues.
Insects That Pose Health & Safety Risks
- Cockroaches: Thrive in the kitchens, restrooms, and break rooms; they spread bacteria and allergens.
- Flies: Contaminate food and surfaces, resulting in failed health inspections.
- Ants: Small but relentless, particularly around food prep areas, offices, and storage.
- Bees & Wasps: Disrupt outdoor dining or entryways and create liability issues with stings.
- Ticks: Carry Lyme disease and create health issues on properties with outdoor green spaces.
- Mosquitoes: Seasonal but infamous for making outdoor spaces unusable.
Occasional Invaders
- Spiders: One of the most-searched pest issues in Maryland, often causing fear and complaints among employees and tenants.
Restaurants
If you’re in the food service industry, you know how fast word gets around. One diner spots a cockroach or a mouse, and suddenly it’s not just their issue: it’s on social media, in your reviews, and maybe in the hands of the health inspector.
Under industry guidelines for commercial pest control, restaurants have the most at stake. One sighting doesn’t just raise an eyebrow, but it can jeopardize compliance and customer trust.
Typical restaurant threats are:
- Rodents are looking for scraps and shelter.
- Cockroaches hide in warm kitchens and spread bacteria.
- Flies and ants that might seem insignificant, but still break health codes.
For restaurants, pests aren’t just a nuisance; they’re a compliance problem. Regular inspections and preventive treatments safeguard your customers and your brand.
Offices
It’s easy to think that offices are “low risk,” but we’ve seen how quickly a small pest problem can escalate into tenant complaints or disgruntled employees.
What we see most:
- Mice and rats nesting behind walls or chewing on wires create both safety risks and costly repairs.
- Cockroaches are introduced through deliveries or personal items, multiplying in break rooms.
- Ants marching straight into snack drawers and kitchenettes.
We’ve seen how quickly a small problem in an office can get out of hand. Employees don’t want to have to deal with pests at work, and property managers don’t want tenant complaints attached to something preventable.
Warehouses
Warehouses have a whole different fight on their hands. With wide loading docks and constant deliveries, pests have ample opportunity to sneak inside.
The big threats:
- Stored product pests, such as beetles and moths, infest food goods.
- Rodents chewing through packaging and contaminating the stocks.
- Termites cause hidden structural damage that can go unnoticed until it’s expensive.
In warehouses, a pest problem isn’t just about looks; it can hit the bottom line. From damaged goods to product recalls, the costs add up quickly.
Why Knowing This Matters
Pests are more than just a nuisance. One sighting in the wrong location can set off a chain reaction that’s difficult to recover from.
- Damaged Reputation: All it takes is one customer taking a photo of a roach in a restaurant or an employee complaining online about mice in the break room. Bad news travels fast, and once it’s out there, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
- Expensive Health Compliance and Liability: Health inspectors don’t simply issue warnings for pests. They issue fines, shutdown notices, and citations that go directly to your record. For warehouses and property managers, that can translate to insurance issues or lost contracts, and it’s not inexpensive.
- Hazards Pests Pose: Rodents don’t simply nibble on food; they gnaw on wires and ignite fire hazards. Cockroaches cause asthma and allergies. Flies and beetles infest the inventory. Beyond the “ick” factor, pests pose very real hazards for people and property.
At the end of the day, pests cost more than treatments; they cost trust, time, and money. That’s why smart businesses don’t wait until there’s an issue. They prevent it before it ever arrives.
The Smarter Way Forward
Business owners sometimes wonder if year-round pest control is really necessary. Our response is, “Yes!”. Because pests don’t take a season off, and neither should your protection.
With a year-round plan, you receive:
- Consistent protection all year round: in every season.
- Early detection before issues become costly emergencies.
- Custom solutions for your specific property type or requirement.
- Documentation you can trust for audits, inspections, or compliance checks.
It’s not simply about getting rid of pests; it’s about keeping them away.
Let’s Protect Your Property Together
At Womack Pest Control, we’ve been a family-owned business for more than four generations since 1943, which is why businesses have trusted us. That means we’ve grown up in Maryland, we know the pests here better than anyone, and we’ve established long-term relationships with businesses throughout the state.
We’ve been doing this long enough to know it’s about more than eradicating pests. It’s about safeguarding your business, your people, and your good name. Whether you own a restaurant, manage office space, or manage a warehouse, we’re here to ensure pests aren’t on your list of concerns. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s create a year-round plan that keeps your business safe, compliant, and pest-free.