A technician closing a gap at the base of a wall with metal mesh

Rodents and mice in Al Taqwa Makkah

Al Taqwa is a new neighbourhood south of Al Misfalah on a steep hill around Qawz Al Nakasah. An informal settlement clinging to the steep slope has been cleared under the slum redevelopment programme and replaced with land grant schemes and new building. Al Taqwa Street is the main axis on the old Yemen road. The steep terrain, unstable soil and rapid construction create ideal rodent conditions.

Call now Message us on WhatsApp

Targeted, not broadcast

Product goes into cracks and runways, never sprayed across open surfaces.
Told before we start

What we will use, where it goes, and what to cover or move before we arrive.
A follow-up visit

We return after the first treatment, because what survives it does not show on the day.
Homes and businesses

Apartments and villas, and kitchens and stores that need a record of each visit.

Why they keep coming back in Al Taqwa

New houses on the steep slope are built quickly on weak foundations and contractors rush. Gaps around bases are large and pipes are not properly sealed. Rodents enter from the first day of occupancy. The method is set out in full on how we approach Rodents and mice.

The first reason

Steep terrain and weak foundations

The district is built on very steep slopes and building on slopes means complex foundations. Contractors do not focus on detail and foundations may be weak. Unstable soil causes gaps to appear around bases quickly.

The second reason

Rapid building and previous informal settlement

The scheme builds quickly on land that was an informal settlement. Soil is disturbed and old pipes may lie beneath unremoved. Gaps and small collapses provide rodent routes from underground.

The third reason

Proximity to the street and popular shops

Al Taqwa Street and roads near the old Yemen road host small popular shops with abundant food waste. Rodents move easily from the street to houses on the hillside.

Al Taqwa on the map

Al Taqwa sits about 1.5 km from Al Misfalah and about 2 km from Al Khalidiyah.

Open in Google Maps

Before treatment

What we read in the building before any bait goes down

A newly built district on a steep hill south of Al Misfalah around Qawz Al Nakasah. Informal housing clusters have been removed and replaced with grant schemes and modern buildings. Unstable hillside soil and Al Taqwa Street as the main commercial axis.

An exterior door with a narrow gap at the threshold

The gap under the door

The gap under doors may be zero at first but soil settlement on the slope causes door warp. The rear door facing the slope is most vulnerable to gaps.

Pipes passing through a concrete wall from outside

Pipe and conduit openings

Pipe openings at the foundation on the lower side of the slope are very large and unsealed. Drainage pipes may be loose and soil may shift away from pipes.

An electrical cable with its outer sheath damaged

Gnaw marks

Gnaw marks may not appear but you will find small droppings around the foundation and on the slope below the house.

The corner between a skirting board and a tiled floor

The run along the wall

The run along the wall traces the slope from below with rodents climbing the external wall at night. Greasy marks appear on the external wall and foundation.

Palm fronds touching the edge of a building roof

The route from above

The route from above may come from houses higher on the slope via shared walls or via shared drainage channels.

Sacks of grain stored on a storeroom floor

The water and the food on offer

Water from drainage, leaking pipes and seepage from damp soil supplies constant drinking water. Food from the street, garden and scraps on the slope supplies abundant nourishment.

How we work

1
Inspect and trace the runs

We work the perimeter, the kitchen, the store and the false ceiling, establish the species, the entry points and the water source, and mark the station positions before anything is carried in.
2
Close the openings

Metal mesh, mortar and base strips at the gaps, around pipe sleeves and at vents, because foam and silicone are gnawed through within days.
3
Secured bait and traps

Closed stations fixed on the runs outside the building, and traps rather than loose bait indoors, so that anything that dies stays somewhere we can reach.
4
The follow-up visit

We read the take at each station, replenish what has gone, remove anything found, and close any opening that showed itself once the movement settled.

What rodent control includes

Inspection and a station map

Entry points, runs and station positions recorded, so the same points are checked on every visit.
Sealing pipes and drains

Floor traps, pipe sleeves, vents and the air conditioning drain line, the routes that arrive from outside the unit.
Secured bait stations

Closed and fixed on the outside runs, out of reach of children and animals, while indoors we work with traps.
Treating the nest site

A rodent leaves parasites and nesting material behind, so the nest is removed and the void it sat in is treated.
Aftercare instructions

Stock lifted off the floor, droppings cleaned damp with disinfectant instead of swept dry, and pet bowls emptied at night.
A scheduled follow-up

A set date after the first visit: read the take, replenish the bait, remove anything found and close what is still open.

Landmarks of Al Taqwa

In Al Taqwa most entry points cluster near Al Taqwa Street where small popular shops concentrate, and at Qawz Al Nakasah on the old Yemen road where the busy street hosts numerous traders and eateries.

Al Taqwa Street
Qawz Al Nakasah
Ibrahim Al Khalil Street
Jabal Sharaf

Questions about this district

Why do rodents come to new houses on a steep slope?

Houses on steep slopes have complex foundations and unstable soil causing gaps to appear readily. Rapid construction means large gaps around pipes. The steep terrain allows rodents to enter from below easily.

Does unstable hill soil help rodents to tunnel?

Yes. Hill soil mixed with sand and gravel is weak and rodents tunnel easily. When soil slips on the slope it creates new gaps that rodents use.

How do we protect a house on a steep slope?

Inspect foundations from every side especially the lower side. Seal all gaps with solid material. Use secure stations around the house especially on the lower side.

Are old pipes beneath the ground from the former informal settlement a problem?

Yes. Old pipes and disturbed soil may provide underground routes for rodents. Inspect the foundation for signs of soil weakness or deterioration.

Do houses on slopes need more frequent maintenance?

Yes. Steep terrain and unstable soil mean continuous small movement. Check external walls and foundations regularly for new cracks and seal them immediately.

What if we find a rodent burrow on the slope below the house?

Try to follow the burrow and determine if it heads towards the house. Use secure stations around the burrow and at the house base. You may need repeated treatment because rodents arrive from the street and slope constantly.

How much does rodents and mice in Al Taqwa cost?

It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Al Taqwa.