Daga Archives | Topbest Pest Control Services

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023

Most Common Places To Find Rodents In Your Home

What are the common places to find rodents in your home?

Behind the kitchen cabinets
Inside the unused drawers
Inside the walls
Attics
Any secluded location

Have you been hearing scratching or scampering around your house? You may be dealing with a rodent infestation. Even though it can be challenging to tell whether you have rodents in your home, once you start noticing the damage and waste they leave behind, you’ll want them gone. If you suspect you are dealing with a rodent infestation, here are the five common places to find rodents in your home. Read on!

Rodents have a destructive habit of gnawing through wires, cords, food pantries, and even storage items. Droppings, a musty smell, and even greasy marks left behind on their usual routes are some more indicators. Rodents like to hang out in similar spaces, and it’s a good idea to check these areas frequently in your home to make sure that you can catch signs of rodent infestation before they cause costly damage.

Behind The Kitchen Cabinets

One of the favorite hiding places of rodents in a home is behind the kitchen cabinets. This is an ideal place for them to set up their own shelter since they have easy access to the drawers and cabinets that have food. Rodents can easily chew through bags and packaging to get the food inside.

Inside The Unused Drawers

If you have unused or infrequently used drawers in your kitchen or other areas around the home, that is likely where rodents are building their nests.

Inside The Walls

Have you ever experienced hearing scratches at night before you sleep? These noises can be caused by rodents climbing, digging, crawling, or chewing inside the walls of your bedroom. Since rodents are usually active at night, they make their nests inside the walls.

Attics

Another common place where you can find rodents in your home is the attic. It’s easy for small rats to find small cracks and squeeze their tiny bodies to take shelter in the attic.

Rodents also often make nests in attics for insulation. From there, they will make their way through other parts of your home where they can find food.

Any Secluded Location

Rodents love to stay or build nests in any secluded parts of your house such as rooms that are infrequently used. Their hiding spots or shelters commonly include the spot you check the least. Moreover, they are also likely to build their own homes inside old furniture or other objects they can intrude in.

Signs Of A Rodent Infestation

Rodents tend to stay or build nests in areas that are usually quiet, dark, and unused. To determine if your home is infested with rodents, check the following signs:

Tiny, dark droppings in the backs of your kitchen drawer and other common hiding places
Unexplained holes or bites in your clothing, fabric, etc.
Chewed holes in your kitchen cabinets, drawers, etc.
Unexplained holes in food packaging.
Tiny footprints in spilled powders such as flour and other material.
Gnawing, scampering, or scratching noises inside the wall voids.

How To Keep Rodents Away From Your Home

Nobody wants to suffer from a rodent infestation. They’re a threat to people’s health and they damage properties. Fortunately, we have some tips to help you figure out how to get rid of rodents in your home.

Inspect Your Home

Conduct a home inspection inside your house to find out where they’re coming from. Look at their potential access points such as drains, vents, and appliance lines. Once you know their access areas, you can seal the entry points and set traps.

Clean Up

After inspecting your home, clean up the places where these rodents usually hide and nest. It’s better to eliminate their hiding places than use poison to get rid of them. Try moving the objects away from the walls or cleaning up the clutter.

More so, keep all the food in closed storage, clean up any spills, and keep your pipes clean and dry.

Call A Professional Pest Management Company

If your house is infested with rodents and you think you need some help, don’t hesitate to contact a professional pest management company to help you eliminate them.

As the leading pest control management company in Manila, Topbest can help you identify the entry points for rodents, locate their nesting and food cache areas, and immediately get them out of your house by using safe chemicals to avoid damaging your home.

Key Takeaway

When it comes to the field of pest control and management, experts from Topbest are your best partner to clean up the most common places to find rodents in your home! We offer pest control services in Manila, Philippines with the right tools, knowledge, and professionals so that the rodents in your house would be aware of us and get out of sight fast!

If you’re having a headache getting rid of pests in your home, don’t hesitate to leave Topbest a message! You can simply consult with us by clicking here!

November 23, 2022

4 Industries Prone to Rodent Infestation

$4 Industries Prone to Rodent Infestation$

Which industries are prone to rodent infestation?

Wholesale food
Restaurant and cafe
Retail
Manufacturing

Here at Topbest, not only do we take pride in our pest control services, we also pride ourselves in knowing our industry well and educating others about how to prevent pests in their homes and businesses.

If you’re a business owner, the last thing you want is pests anywhere near your products, materials or equipment. Because of that, if your industry is prone to rodent infestation, you need to take extra care to prevent their entry and infestation.

If your enterprise belongs to any of the following industries, you might want to consider pest control measures against rats and mice. Here are 4 industries prone to rodent infestation:

Wholesale food

When you consider establishments that may be at risk of rodent infestation, you’ll probably think of places containing food, and lots of it. And you’re right, because wholesale food stores, such as groceries and food warehouses, are prime targets for rodents.

Rats and mice are hungry pests that know how to find food in even the most well-secured places. And, the moment they find a food source, they’re all set to start infesting your building. Thus, most places selling wholesale food like supermarkets and trading companies are susceptible.

Restaurants and cafes

Another player in the food industry are restaurants and cafes. For the same reason that wholesale food suppliers are prone to rodent infestation, restaurants and cafes are likely areas for rodents to fester in due to the food—either fresh or spoiled—in and nearby.

In fact, restaurants and cafes might be more likely to have an infestation if they are in the city. Rats are city dwellers because that’s where their food supply is, so establishments within or near the city are doubly at risk.

Retail

You might think rats only infest food industries, but in actuality, most rodents are very opportunistic. Additionally, because malls are so common, it’s possible for rats to eat somewhere and nest someplace else—for example, in a retail store. It’s additionally possible that shoppers and patrons who were allowed to bring food inside have left crumbs that rats and mice will gladly sniff out.

This is especially troubling for people who work in stores that sell products like fabric, because the slightest whiff of food on your products could mean rodents gnawing and tearing them.

Manufacturing

Due to their sheer size and closeness to rodent food sources, warehouses and factories could also be susceptible to the feisty little things. Buildings like these are often huge and hard to keep sanitized, since you’d have to keep cleaning them regularly. Unfortunately, a dirty area is very prone to all kinds of pests, rodents included.

Additionally, if your warehouse or factory is close to a food source like a farm, a bakery or a kitchen, you can expect a mouse or two to come running every so often. Your best bet is to keep the place as clean as you can and get pest control service every so often.

How to Prevent Rodent Infestation

If your business is at risk of a rodent infestation, prevention is always step one. To start with, you can avert a rodent infestation by keeping your work spaces, offices and factories clean.

The less food you have around your workplace, the better, so a good precaution is to have your employees or workers eat in places other than their workspace. This will minimize the risk of crumbs, spills or stains on important things like products, office equipment, appliances, materials and machinery.

Another way to avoid rodent infestation is to have your work space cleaned regularly. Hire an in-house cleaner, or if you can’t afford one, there are a number of cleaning services online that can do regular deep-cleaning sprees once a week or so.

Additionally, rodents can’t infest your workplace if they can’t get in. So pay attention to your place of business. Try to observe where rats or mice might be able to get in through, such as cracks in the walls, spaces in the roof, unlocked doors, chimneys or toilets. If you can, seal them up so they don’t let in pests. If you can’t, at least make sure there’s no food nearby to lead the pests to where you are.

Key Takeaway

Finally, should the worst outcome occur—in case your business has already been infested—there’s no need to panic. Simply call us, and we’ll take care of the problem for you.

At Topbest Philippines, we’re more than a pest control service. Among the usual pests in homes and business areas, we understand that rats and mice are particularly strong carriers of diseases, and we want to prevent illness in the Philippines as much as possible.

So we work to not only clear your homes and businesses from these pests, we also provide services to prevent it from happening again.

October 12, 2022October 28, 2022

3 Reasons Why Rodents Keep Coming Back

What are the reasons why rodents keep coming back?

Rodents reproduce rapidly
Your property is providing their needs
Your current pest treatment is not addressing the root cause of the infestation

Rodents are a problem the moment they take up residence in your home. This is why rodent prevention and control in the Philippines is a must. Experiencing a recurring rodent infestation once can be frustrating — so a recurring one takes that stress and irritation to a new level. But why do these pests decide to infest your home, no matter what you do? Here are 3 reasons why rodents keep coming back. We also provide tips on how to get rid of a rodent infestation.

Rodents reproduce rapidly

A rodent infestation can be a persistent one because these types of pests reproduce rapidly.

A typical female rodent can give birth to up to 10 litters a year. Per litter of rodents, they produce an average of 8 pups. In addition, rodents reach sexual maturity in around 6 weeks. Therefore, every littler of rodents is ready to reproduce in less than 2 months.

You might have thought you’ve already gotten rid of plenty of them, but if you leave even just a pair of rodents in your home, then another infestation will crop up in time.

Your property is providing their needs

Another reason why your rodent problem seems to keep happening is that they consider your home to be the best area to provide their two most important needs: food and shelter.

Even if you keep a relatively clean household, you can still end up with a recurrent rodent problem if you miss a few key elements. Rodents can sniff out even the smallest unguarded food source, shelter, or entrance into your home, so you have to keep an eye out. Here are a few of the things that attract rodents back onto your property:

Keeping food out in the open — even pet food left unattended in food bowls or outdoor feeders can be very attractive to rodents.
Keeping food in containers that are not airtight. Rodents have an excellent sense of smell that can detect unprotected food, even when they’re in your pantry or cabinets.
Using outdoor feeders that are easy to access. Rodents can climb up just about any surface, so make sure that the feeder you’re using is pest-proof to prevent them from accessing this food source.
Unsealed holes or gaps on the outdoor perimeter of your home. If there are any small entrances on your home’s exterior, make sure they’re sealed to prevent them from entering your home.
Open windows or doors — rodents can also climb up to the second floor of your home and enter through any open windows or doors.

If you make your home inaccessible and remove possible food sources, then rodents will likely be less driven to live on your property.

Your current pest treatment is not addressing the root cause of the infestation

If you’re using store-bought pest treatments and DIY pest control techniques, then you might have been able to catch a few rodents, or even reduce their numbers with poison.

However, this is just a band-aid solution. It does not really solve the root cause of your rodent infestation, which are: what’s attracting them to your property; how they’re entering your home.

Also, as mentioned, rodents breed fast. If you can’t effectively control their numbers, this problem is going to get out of hand very quickly.

What you need is a method that provides two things: control and prevention. This is where an expert in household pest control, like Topbest, comes in. With our years of experience and well-trained pest professional team, we know the most effective methods for rodent prevention. We can correct your current pest infestation methods. Our team can also help you identify possible rodent entry points to prevent future infestations!

All in all, working with our team can save you time, money, and stress in the long run. We have several services and products for rodent prevention and control in the Philippines!

How can you tell if all the rodents are gone?

On your own, there are a few telltale signs of a rodent problem that you can keep an eye out for after you receive help from a pest control company like Topbest.

One of the most common signs is rodent droppings around food sources and in small and dark spaces (such as in cupboards and under your sink), nesting material (such as shredded paper or plant matter), and signs of chewing on walls and on food packaging.

However, a thorough home inspection — care of your pest control company — can not only determine what kind of rodent you’re dealing with, but also what’s attracting them to your home. An inspection will also reveal how effective their current pest control efforts are.

Key Takeaway

Knowing the reasons why rodents keep coming back is only one part of the solution. If you’re dealing with a rodent problem, then always work with an expert — Topbest can help you send those rodents scurrying for cover!

Using our combination of pest control and prevention techniques, our team can solve your pest woes by addressing the root of your problem. And, we even provide the means to prevent a future rodent infestation in your home! Contact us today to get started — we offer free consultation!

August 27, 2022September 7, 2022

How To Keep Rats Away During Rainy Season

How do you keep rats away during the rainy season?

Perform an inspection
Clean up clutter
Get rid of food sources
Close entryways
Call a professional pest control team

During the rainy season — when temperatures drop and the surroundings are wet — rats are more likely to seek a warm and dry shelter with a steady source of food and water. Your home, commercial establishment, or industrial facility can provide all these things and invite rats to get through small openings into the property. Rats can also reproduce very quickly, cause a serious infestation, damage your property, and spread diseases. To prevent these, below are some tips on rodent control and how to keep rats away during the rainy season.

Perform an Inspection

The sooner you see rats on your property, the better you can take action. Perform an inspection to check for signs of a rat infestation. Below are some tips you can follow:

Listen for scurrying and gnawing sounds, especially after dark.
Look for hiding places in and around stored materials and furniture.
Look for signs of chewing and gnawing on doors, windows, baseboards, electrical cords, and other materials.
Inspect foundations, walls, and embankments for freshly dug earth.
Check rub marks and dark smears near pipes, beams, edges of stairs, and hallways.
Spot droppings near walls, pathways, and food supplies. Fresh droppings, which are soft and dark, are a sign of an infestation.
Check for daily signs of feeding by placing some food where rats can eat.

If you don’t have a current infestation but don’t want to risk it either, it would be best to examine your property and look for entry points, clutter, and food sources that can invite rats in.

Clean Up Clutter

To prevent rats from choosing your property as their home during the rainy season, it’s best to clean regularly. Clutter is an attractive nest for rodents, and they love to live where there are plenty of nesting materials that can provide warmth. This includes cardboard, shredded newspaper, and the like.

Make sure to get rid of common rat shelters. To do this, ensure that appliances and cabinets are flush against the wall, or check and clean behind them regularly. Replace wooden floors with poured concrete. Throw away junk piles and keep the property clean and trash-free. Check areas you don’t clean often — such as basements and attics — where rats can sneak in.

Get Rid Of Food Sources

During the rainy season, your property can be an attractive shelter for rats because it can provide them with a steady supply of food. That’s why one of the best ways to keep them away is to remove food and water sources.

Make sure that all food and water are covered in rodent-proof containers. This type of container is made of thick plastic, glass, or metal, and has a tight lid. Always feed your pets only enough food and throw away the rest.

After cooking and eating, make sure to wash dishes, pans, and other cooking utensils. Leftover food must be removed. Make sure to dispose of garbage often and always have trash covered properly.

Close Entryways

To keep rats away during the rainy season, think of all the places where they can get in, and seal those. Rats can easily enter buildings through cracks or holes in walls. They can easily get in through open doors, windows, grates, or vents.

If possible, invest in self-closing doors to ensure that entryways are always sealed. Always perform regular inspections to check if doors and windows close tightly. If you want to keep a window open, use metal screens.

Call A Professional Pest Control Team

If you already see rats in your home, you can remove them through traps. Be careful because this method requires caution. For an effective rat infestation solution, you can call an expert pest control team like Topbest. Don’t wait too long because one rat can quickly result in a major rat infestation. This is especially important during the rainy season when many rats seek a warm shelter where they can also find food! A pest professional can help you with rat prevention too.

Our trained pest control experts here at Topbest will be able to locate the root of the problem and deal with it properly. Rest assured because we are trained and experienced in combating pests in a non-toxic and environmentally sound way.

Key Takeaway

The method of how to keep rats away during the rainy season is similar to what you should be doing all year round. First, you need to perform an inspection, so you know the next steps to take. You can prevent rats from targeting your home by cleaning up areas where they can take shelter. Get rid of food sources and seal off entry points to your property.

If you’re having a rat infestation problem, don’t hesitate to call us here at Topbest! One of our most effective services is rodent prevention and control. We can help you keep rats away during this rainy season in the Philippines, so you don’t have to worry about the damage, disease, and contamination caused by rats! Click here to schedule a free consultation.

August 25, 2022October 5, 2022

5 Businesses That Are At Risk For Rodent Infestation

What businesses are at risk for rodent infestation?

Restaurants
Factories
Warehouses
Commercial Businesses
Retail stores

Rodents pose a huge problem to many businesses. They can damage furniture, products, and machinery, and they can even spread various diseases to people around. There are businesses facing a higher risk for rodent infestation compared to others because of various factors. These can be the amount of food or water on the premises or even just multiple access points for the tiny creatures.

That’s why it’s best to keep this problem under control by hiring a trusted rodent prevention and control service. Read on to find out if you’re part of the businesses at high risk of rodent infestation!

Restaurants

Restaurants are one of the most rodent-infiltrated industries. It is difficult for many restaurant employees and owners to admit that they have a rodent problem. The reality is that there may be rats lingering in a place where you have a good meal.

Since most restaurants are found in cities, you can expect rats to be a common visitor in your establishment. They often linger outside buildings, specifically the places where food is thrown away. It’s easy for them to escape back into the sewers while getting easy access to food both outside and inside restaurant buildings.

You need to seek help for rodent prevention immediately to handle the problem. Think of the huge amount of food and drink in restaurants as a siren call to rodents. If you don’t get this issue under control, your business might end up suffering the consequences.

Factories

Factories are also one of the businesses at risk for rodent infestation. Its wide internal landscape provides rodents with everything they need to build a home.

No matter what type of factory it is, rodents can easily find their necessities inside: food, nesting material, and hiding spaces. It can be difficult to keep rodent prevention in control because of the space. That’s why it’s important to find trusted pest control services to keep your rodent problems in check.

If left alone, rats and mice can chew their way through the different materials in a factory from its products to the expensive machinery. You can also expect rodents to multiply quickly. Once you see droppings, large gaps, and bite marks, call your most trusted rodent prevention service.

Warehouses

During rainy and colder seasons, rats and mice find shelter in warehouses. Like factories, they also have a wide space for nesting and shelter.

Warehouses have many access points for these pesky rodents. With shipments constantly coming and going, its doors are left wide open for intruders to enter. The amount of freights and cargo also give rodents a lot of places to hide.

Rodents are capable of causing extensive amounts of damage. They can chew through boxes and even find their way inside freights. Rodent prevention experts might be able to spot them upon inspection. So, it’s best to call them in during the first sighting of rodents. You can also watch out for chew marks and droppings.

Commercial Businesses

Conducting business in the city has its advantages, however, it’s commercial businesses that are at high risk of a rodent infestation. Just like office workers, rats are city dwellers. This is because of the huge amount of food and water supply available. To prevent infestations, conduct quarterly rodent control to ensure your business is safe from these pests.

Commercial businesses provide many entry points for rodents compared to residential homes. That means they have more opportunities to seek shelter in buildings. If your building is not well maintained, then it’s highly likely rodents will enter the premises. This can quickly lead to an infestation.

On top of that, commercial business buildings have been left vacant due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This vacancy provided rodents the opportunities to seek solace in the empty space. Before calling your working staff back into the office, contact a rodent prevention and control service. Don’t put your employees at risk of contracting various illnesses that rodents may carry.

Retail stores

Retail stores may not be serving food that rodents are attracted to, but they provide rodents with a place to rest and nest. On top of that, retail stores are always surrounded by restaurants, making them the perfect hiding spot for them.

Another entry point for rodents in retail stores is through inventory shipments. Employees may carry boxes and crates daily. The open doors are an opportunity for them to enter the building. Remember that mice easily squeeze through holes and tights spices as small as a dime.

Find a rodent prevention and control service that helps you secure various entry points to prevent rodents from entering the premises.

Key Takeaway

No business wants a rodent infestation. These pests can damage and destroy important products and machines and also carry illnesses that harm the staff. Now that you know the different businesses at risk for rodent infestation, it’s best to act not on its prevention and control.

That’s why you should not hesitate to book a free pest inspection with us here at Topbest! We are a reputable pest control service in the Philippines that you can rely on to solve your rodent problems.

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

Importance Of Rodent Control During Rainy Season

What is the importance of rodent control during the rainy season?

Rodents will seek shelter when it rains
Rodents can easily get inside through small holes
Rodents can reproduce quickly
Rodents can cause damage to your property and spread diseases
Rodents can be hard to control and manage

Rodents, specifically rats and mice, are pests that can cause health problems and property damage. While rodents can cause an infestation all year round, there are certain reasons why you pay more close attention to them during the rainy season. When it rains, rodents will find shelter where they can keep themselves dry and have access to the things they need for survival, such as food. Before you have a serious infestation, you might want to consider rodent control services from pest control experts.

Rodents Will Seek Shelter When It Rains

During the rainy season, temperatures drop, especially during the evenings. As the rain accumulates water on the ground, rodents will seek shelter. Unfortunately, rodents are attracted to warmth. The warmth your home offers during the rainy season is like an invitation for mice and rats to get in through small openings. For this reason, you’d want to consider rodent control during the rainy season.

You can find rodents nesting in wall voids, storage boxes, attics, crawl spaces, cabinets, and behind or under home appliances. Look for attractive nesting material that can provide warmth, such as shredded newspaper, fabric, or cardboard. Schedule a pest control inspection if you suspect you have a rodent infestation and can’t find their nesting area!

Rodents Can Easily Get Inside Through Small Holes

Due to their small size, rats and mice can get into your home, even when you think you’ve closed all entryways. Because of their body shape, rodents can fit in a hole one-fourth of an inch or larger. They can enter through gaps in your windows, ceilings, bathroom drains, drain pipes, holes in piping, and even sewer lines.

Aside from that, rats will do anything to survive, including treading water for days. They will also survive after being flushed down a toilet.

You need to understand rat entry points to avoid infestations. Fortunately, expert rodent control teams know the entry points of these destructive pests and apply the necessary preventive methods to keep them away from your home for good.

Rodents Can Reproduce Quickly

Once rodents have established a nest in your home, they can be extremely challenging and exhausting to get rid of. Your home can provide them with everything they need, such as food, water, and warm shelter. They need all these to reproduce and survive. Once rodents start reproducing, the numbers can go up fast.

Rats can reproduce very quickly. The typical gestation for a rat is only 21 to 24 days and they can reach their breeding age in 8 to 12 weeks.

The same also goes for mice. They will breed continually, regardless of the season or climate. A mouse can reach sexual maturity in just 35 days after birth. A female mouse will produce 5 to 8 offspring. Don’t let your home get invaded by hordes of rodents by seeking the help of pest control services.

Rodents Can Cause Damage to Your Property and Spread Diseases

The top reason why you will need rodent control services during the rainy season is that rats and mice are notorious for causing damage to properties and spreading diseases.

Rats and mice can cause considerable structural damage to your property. For example, mice will chew on anything that they think will be useful in building their nest. They can gnaw and burrow into furniture to create a snug nest. Wiring, car engines, and insulation are also not safe from their gnawing. In addition, rodents carry many diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, tularemia, salmonella, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).

Protect your loved ones’ health and yourself from major repair costs by seeking rodent control help, especially during the rainy season when rodents seek shelter in your home.

Rodents Can Be Hard To Control And Manage

There are things that you can do to prevent rats from seeking shelter in your home during the rainy season. This includes closing and sealing any gaps that they can enter. Cutting off their food supply, cleaning up clutter and garbage, and getting rid of any potential hiding places can also help.

While the above tips can be helpful, however, it is still possible for rats and mice to get into your home during the rainy season. If you see any signs of infestation, it’s beneficial to choose professional rodent control services over DIY pest control. The wrong usage of products can put you at risk. The wrong solution can also worsen the rodent infestation you are dealing with.

Pest control teams are the ones that are trained and experienced in eliminating rodents. They won’t leave any inch of your home unchecked and will apply safe yet effective rodent control methods. With their expertise, you can completely get rid of your rodent infestation, even during the rainy season.

Key Takeaway

You may need rodent control because rats and mice can seek shelter in your home during the rainy season. They can get in cracks and gaps in your property. Once they’ve established their nesting place, they will reproduce and cause a problematic infestation. The problem is that rodent infestation can cause health problems and costly property damage.

Now that you know the importance of rodent control during the rainy season, don’t hesitate to avail our professional pest control services here at Topbest!

At Topbest, we have been providing pest control services since 1997 and we only use proven pest control techniques to help clients across Metro Manila and provincial areas in the Philippines eliminate their rodent problems. We also only use non-toxic and environmentally friendly methods to ensure all your loved ones’ safety. If you need help, you can contact us here today. We also offer free pest consultations!

September 20, 2021

Similarities and Differences of Rats Vs Mice Pest Control

What should you know about rats vs mice pest control?

Size
Living area
Diet
Behavior
Damage

Plenty of people won’t be able to differentiate between rats and mice. They look similar and most homeowners confuse them to be one and the same. But knowing their differences is vital as it can affect your pest control activities. A professional pest control team can adjust their tactics and strategy depending on what type of rodent they’re dealing with. To help you, here are some things you should know about rats vs mice pest control.

Size

The most obvious difference between the two rodents is their size. Mice are typically smaller than rats. They also have thin tails covered in hair, smaller heads, and tiny feet. Their nose is pointed and their ears are large.

Compared to that, rats are larger and heavier. Almost everything is the opposite—such as smaller ears, large feet, and thick hairless tails. To give you a reference, mice can weigh between 10 to 50 grams while rats can be as heavy as 300 grams.

This means that mice can fit in smaller crevices leading into your home. By knowing what type of rodent you’re dealing with, you can improve your pest control activities—such as searching for their habitat.

Living Area

Rats and mice will clash if they find each other in the same area. Because of that, there’s a high chance that you’re only dealing with one pest problem. For instance, if you notice a rodent infestation near food sources and in indoor areas—such as your kitchen—you probably have a mouse population in your home. These creatures like to be cozy and will use soft fibrous materials such as strips of clothing or paper in their nest.

Compared to that, rats are creatures who like to dig. They will find homes under buildings, plants, and debris. Other types of rats also like to live in high places such as roofs and on top of trees.

Diet

Both mice and rats will feed on almost anything—both fresh or dried food. But mice prefer cereal grains and plants while rats might also feed on animal carcasses. Unlike rats who require a water source to survive, mice don’t need that much water to live. Both creatures are omnivorous and will eat grains, meat, and vegetables.

If you don’t want to attract rodents into your home, remove all food sources indoors and outdoors. Clean up the food debris left on the kitchen counter, cover trash cans, and store your food in airtight containers. Gardens can also attract both rats and mice, so make sure to remove dropped fruits regularly.

Behavior

Although smaller, mice are bolder rodents compared to rats. They like to investigate new things and live closer to humans. Because of this, they’re more likely to be baited by a trap. Compared to that, rats fear new things. You have to place unset traps in their paths so that they get used to it first.

Both rats and mice are great climbers. A mouse can stand on its hind legs and can jump high. Because of their small size, they’re also fast runners. As nocturnal creatures, they don’t like bright lights and move throughout the night. Although mice are good swimmers, a rat will also live in sewers or go through broken drains in buildings.

Damage

Both rats and mice can cause serious damage to you and your home. They can help spread rodent-borne diseases such as rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and more. These creatures can also cause structural damage because of their habit of gnawing. For instance, mice will chew on materials that they can use for their homes—such as clothes, wood, or paper.

These rodents also reproduce quickly, which can make the infestation problem more concerning if neglected. They will have between 6 to 10 liters per year depending on the species.

Key Takeaway

Rats and mice have different appearances, living preferences, and behavior. But both of them can cause serious damage to your home. By knowing their specific characteristics, you would have a better understanding of how to control and eliminate an infestation.

If you’re having trouble understanding rats vs mice pest control, our professional pest control team can help you! We can provide a free inspection and implement tested and proven solutions to solve your infestation for good.

September 3, 2021

5 Rat Bait Tips to Try When You Have an Infestation

What are the rat bait tips to try when you have an infestation?

Eliminate their food and water source
Choose your bait wisely
Provide food sampling before baiting
Disguise your rat bait
Place the rat baits in key locations

Rats are problematic because they have a keen sense of smell and hearing. That’s why they move fast when they detect humans. To capture them, one of the most effective ways is to use bait—that’s why even pest control services use it. But rats are also smart creatures. They avoid strange objects, prefer familiar undercover pathways, and use the shortest route to move from place to place. That’s why they approach most homemade baits with caution. Keep on reading for some rat bait tips!

Eliminate Their Food and Water Source

One of the main reasons why rats are not going for your baits is if there’s an abundant source of food and water in your home. By nature, rats are neophobic—which means that they’re very wary of new and strange things. If possible, they will stick with their current food and water sources, such as the pet food bowl, garbage can, or leaky pipes.

If you want to make the rat bait effective, eliminate these sources. Clean up the pet food bowl, cover the garbage can with a lid, or fix pipes. Keep your home clean and hygienic, so they can’t find any source of food. Without other sources, they are more likely to go for your bait.

Choose Your Bait Wisely

The right bait will attract rats in no time. That’s why the food you put in the trap must be similar to the usual food they eat. Indoor and outdoor rats might have a different diet too. In the wild, rats might eat plants, fruits, and seeds. But in the city, you see rats eating meat, pet food, and most types of human food found in the trash.

Some people find that smelly baits usually attract rats. This might be because they have a strong sense of smell and like to live in damp and moldy places. For some ideas, you can use cheese, peanut butter, and the like. Another tip is to make the rat bait small. They are more likely to go for the food if it is easy to handle with their paws.

Provide Food Sampling Before Baiting

As rats are neophobic creatures, they are also wary when trying a new food for the first time. They will only eat small amounts at the beginning so they can check for any signs of sickness. That’s why it’s very important to precondition them before they feel safe enough to consume the bait.

To do this, you can leave small pieces of food around your trap to attract the rats. By doing this, they will feel more comfortable going near the trap and overcoming their fear of strange things. Put bait around the entryway and the walls of the trap too. This encourages the rats to step into the device so they can get more food.

Disguise Your Rat Bait

Another tip on acclimating rats to the trap is by disguising it. To do this, get an empty cardboard box. Place the trap inside the container without setting it. Cover it with sawdust or other similar materials. Make a trail of food going inside the box, with the final piece above the unset trap. Once the rats are used to eating the food, you can set the trap.

This method can prevent rats from being “trap-shy”. Make sure that you don’t set the triggers at first, because most of them will get spooked if they accidentally set it off while sniffing around. When this happens, they will not return to the trap.

Place The Rat Bait in Key Locations

Other than the rat bait itself, the location where you put it can also make a huge difference. Choose high-activity areas where rats live and go through often. You will know this when you see rat droppings. You have a few options such as:

Dark corners
Under kitchen counters
Near sinks
Behind appliances
Along walls

Depending on the population of rats in your building, you might need to use more bait traps to control an infestation. Other than that, you might also have to wait a few days because they’re naturally cautious creatures.

Key Takeaway

Rats are smart creatures, so you need to follow these rat bait tips if you want your traps to be successful. Get rid of other food sources, slowly acclimate them to the rat trap, choose a bait that is part of their diet, and put your trap in high activity locations.

If you have a severe problem that can’t be fixed with homemade rat baits, you can contact Topbest, a professional pest control team in the Philippines. We can help you control an infestation and get to the root cause of the problem.

August 4, 2021

How to Get Rid of Roof Rats in the Philippines

What are ways to get rid of roof rats?

Sanitation
Exclusion
Baiting and Trapping
Inspection

As much as we might try, it can be difficult to keep your home pest-free. When prevention is not possible, removing the problem becomes your next option. Out of all the pests out there, having rats in your home is one of the worst possible cases you might be experiencing right now. The noise they can make when they invade your roof and the mess they leave in your rooms is something that we’d all like to get rid of. Listed below are some of the best ways to get rid of roof rats in the Philippines.

Sanitation

The best way to keep rats away from your property and out of your roof is to control your infestation before it gets worse. This means that you have to take sanitary procedures to protect your home.

The reason sanitation measures are important in getting rid of roof rats is that pests need a steady supply of food and water to live, and if they can receive that from your home then they will be able to thrive and breed in your house, making your infestation worse.

To reduce the number of roof rats, consider the possible food and water sources they may be getting from inside your property. Storing food in metal or plastic containers, replacing those with ill-fitting lids, and making sure the material is something that can’t be gnawed through (such as glass or hard plastic) is a good first step.

Another thing to consider is that rats can eat pretty much anything, including scraps and pet food. Remember to keep your pet supplies sealed in tight containers as well, and avoid leaving their food out in their bowls for long periods. Dispose of scraps and keep them wrapped up properly in garbage bags to make it harder for rats to access them in your bins.

Gardening is also a key step in this process. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed and their branches away from your residence allows you to see into their plant beds and underneath easily. Removing these hiding spots and entry points to the structure of your house will make it harder for rats to invade.

Rats also use items around your house for making their nests, and removing these sources will reduce the possibility of this from happening. Recycle or properly dispose of paper and cardboard as well as yard debris from your property.

Exclusion

Exclusion is the next step of this process, and this means closing off any possible openings for more rats to come into your home. You can reduce the ease of entry for these pests and subsequently reduce the size of their population by following these tips.

Rodents can enter your home and burrow inside your structure through small openings — they can enter in spaces that are smaller than an inch! They can also fit through holes in your doors, vents, windows, or screens. This is easily done if these fixtures are ill-fitting or damaged.

So take the time to properly inspect your home. Seal any openings that fit the description above. You can seal these with any number of options, such as fine mesh, caulk, sealant, or whatever works for you. Just make sure that the material you’re using can withstand the claws and teeth of a determined rat.

You should also inspect any fixtures that might be outside your home. Flood drains and pipes can also be used by rats to enter inside, but they can be closed off using the same materials. When this is done, double-check if your doors and window screens fit properly. If not, consider getting them repaired or replaced.

Baiting and Trapping

Once you have identified where the rats are coming from and where they’re getting their food and nests from, you can begin to tackle how you want to get rid of them. Roof rats are dangerous and should be removed as soon as you know they are a problem for your household. They can carry diseases, bring in garbage and debris, and even damage your wires and pipes. If left unaddressed, your roof rats can cause additional problems for you and your family.

You could decide to bait them or trap them, both are good options for getting rid of your infestation. Baiting uses rodenticides to attract and kill these rodents. This is a good choice if you have enough outdoor space to set up your bait. This is because rats will sniff out this bait and return periodically to feed in the same spots until the poison kills them. It reduces the chances of them dying inside your home (which can pose the additional problem of finding them in your roof or walls and having to carry them out).

Bait is placed in plastic containers called ‘stations’ which helps prevent other wildlife from eating it. It also prevents rain and moisture from affecting the bait and molding it. Make sure to check them regularly and that these stations have fresh bait until the infestation is dealt with.

Trapping is another option that is used indoors. Trapping does not need rodenticides to work and helps you know when and where the rat is killed. This also reduces the chances of the rat dying elsewhere, where it may be harder to remove.

Rat traps are placed where rats normally travel and usually flush against walls and pathways in your roof. The opening of these traps should be placed perpendicular to the wall for greater efficiency. You can use multiple traps in the same spot as well.

Once these traps are triggered, the rats can be carried out of your home and disposed of outdoors. Traps can be reused as long as the trigger mechanism and doors are still functional, and they tend to be durable as most traps are made of metal.

Inspection

After removing several rats from your home, you may be surprised that your baits or traps are still finding more to get rid of. The fact is that your property might have more rats than you initially thought, which makes the inspection stage important for preventing another infestation.

Inspect the foundation of your home all the way around. Any hole or gap that is even a quarter of an inch wide should be covered or repaired. Make sure to replace any broken or cracked seals around your fixtures, and check if all your doors and windows fit properly in their frames.

Also keep an eye out for gnawing damage, which is a good sign that more rats are trying to access your residence. If this type of damage is left alone, they could wear a new entryway for themselves and their friends.

Key Takeaway

These four ways can help you try and tackle your roof rat problem on your own. By addressing the source of the problem, you can eliminate any possible additional pests and begin to reduce the number of rats in your home. However, if you still feel the need for professional help, Topbest has some of the best solutions in the Philippines to get rid of roof rats. Contact us now to avail of their services!

June 29, 2021

How to Keep Rats Away from Your House

How can you keep rats away from your house?

Use peppermint oil
Place onions in different parts of the house
Spread chili peppers
Seal entry points

Being mammals, rodents, rats, and mice thrive in warm environments. This is why during the rainy season, they’re often found dwelling indoors in order to keep warm and forage for food. As destructive as they are, homeowners need to understand how to keep rats away from the house in order to protect the occupants and the structure itself from their wrath.

All homeowners understand that nothing is as unsightly and unsanitary as spotting a vermin scurrying across the floor. However, the concern goes beyond just that. Rats are known to be carriers of certain diseases like salmonella, hemorrhagic fever, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, and the like. These pests will typically chew through food sources such as scraps, boxes, bags, poultry, fresh produce, and many more. They will oftentimes leave a trail of droppings, contaminating every surface they pass on.

A combination of effective rat control strategies and home remedies is critical to ensuring a rodent-free home. The key is to focus on eliminating potential sources of rat infestations and tactically using available materials and resources to get rid of them. Read on.

Use Peppermint Oil

Rats’ sense of smell is highly sensitive, meaning they are averse to strong scents and pungent odors. This is what makes scents like peppermint oils effective at driving them away from different parts of the home. Unlike rat traps or rodenticides, peppermint oils are natural and chemical-free. They don’t contain toxic ingredients harmful to the body. In fact, many health experts have suggested the use of peppermint oil for a number of digestive issues, aside from being effective anti-rat treatments.

To use peppermint oils as an anti-rodent remedy, you can simply pour a small amount of it in different locations, such as attics, roofing systems, entryways, openings, holes, windows, vents, or any space they can fit in. Keep in mind that the scent from a peppermint oil drop tends to dissipate quickly, so you’ll want to place drops again from time to time.

Another alternative is to put a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls. Similar to what you would do for mothballs, have these placed around every nook and cranny and repeat every few days for optimal results.

Place Onions in Different Parts of the House

While rats and other vermin like to feed on food scraps, they’re not particularly fond of the pungent odor given off by onions. If you don’t want to spend too much money on other treatment products, onions are readily available natural produce that you can use instead.

Rats are discouraged to settle or burrow especially in the presence of these strong odors. Just half a slice of onion placed in openings and inhabited areas are already enough to deter them away from the house.

Not everyone, however, will want their home to smell like these vegetables, which is why they may prefer to dilute the smell by placing the onions in plastic containers with holes punched through them. Another concern is that when consumed, the onions may be toxic to some household pets. Make sure that you take the necessary safety measures to avoid accidents like this.

Spread Chili Peppers

Like onions, chili peppers are also a natural home remedy against these house pests. Rats in particular are repelled against any seasoning that contains capsicum. This is due to the potent smell that’s both painful to them when consumed and irritating to their respiratory systems.

Place a few red chili peppers around the house, preferably in combination with other remedies, such as onion slices or peppermint oils. Similarly, heed caution when spreading these vegetables — indoor household pets may inadvertently eat them, leading to health issues. Note that if you’re conducting rat control that day, keep pets or toddlers away from these areas and direct them to a safe location.

Seal Entry Points

As mentioned before, the main point of entry of rats to your home is found in the cracks and crevices. Whether they’ve been there by design or accidentally, you have to seal every single one you find in order to get rid of the rats in the first place.

Holes can be found in various areas, such as the kitchen, around pipes, sinks, washing machines, dryer vents, attics, basements, or crawl spaces. Fill the holes by applying a patch of steel wool or a wire mesh with fine openings. Keep them in place using a caulk gun. For much larger holes, you may also have them sealed with cement, cloth, or a sturdy metal sheet.

Key Takeaway

Wondering how to keep rats away from your house? You can use the four simple strategies above for a rat-free living space. Be mindful of the different odors that also act as rat repellents. Some examples include peppermint oils, onions, and chili peppers. Place these around entryways and other spaces where these creatures may fit to get the desired outcome. Better yet, have these holes blocked or sealed off so that these pests aren’t given a chance to enter in the first place.

Tried everything but still struggling with a rodent infestation? You may want to keep in touch with our local pest control experts from Topbest! Our rat control techniques focus on safe, preventative methods to get rid of rats in your homes forever. Click here to avail of a free consultation!