Rodent Control in the River Arts District

An industrial district turned arts district

The River Arts District runs along the French Broad River west of downtown. It was an industrial area for most of its life, and over about four decades artists moved into the warehouses and mills. Smithsonian magazine counted studios and galleries for more than 300 artists there before 2024.

Then came Hurricane Helene. Smithsonian reported that the French Broad crested at a record 24.67 feet, about a foot above the mark set in the Great Flood of 1916, and that floodwaters damaged an estimated 80 percent of the district's buildings.

Rodent pressure after the flood

Riverside rail yards, brush and debris have always given Norway rats places to live here. After the flood, that pressure changed shape. Pest Control Technology magazine reported in October 2024 that an Asheville pest control company saw more customers asking for rodent service, which its owner tied to wet ground and flooding. Damaged buildings, debris piles and gutted ground floors give rats new cover, and repairs open new gaps where pipes, conduits and doors were replaced.

For a studio, gallery, brewery or restaurant reopening here, a rodent plan usually means:

• An inspection of the building shell, including floor drains, utility entries and doors that were replaced after the flood.
• Exterior tamper-resistant bait stations along the walls and near dumpsters, if used.
• Interior traps in storage, kitchens and work areas.
• Sealing new and old gaps with metal and masonry.
• Monthly service with written reports, especially for food and drink businesses.

Studios, artists and late hours

Studio buildings here hold a lot of what mice like: paper, canvas, fabric, packing material and food from long days of work. Artists who share a building should agree on simple rules, like no food left out overnight, trash taken out daily and supplies stored in sealed bins. Report droppings to the building owner right away, with the date and where you found them, so the provider can follow the trail through the building.

Services people call about in River Arts District

• Commercial Rodent Control
• Restaurant Rodent Control
• Rat Control
• Exclusion and Sealing
• Droppings Cleanup

River Arts District rodent questions