10 best pest control companies in Boston, Massachusetts

In Boston, you may face pests such as mice, flies and rats. While you can consider DIY removal and prevention techniques, an active infestation most likely requires a pest control professional's help. A professional pest control service in Boston can safely pinpoint, address and solve your pest problems.

Letting a pest problem go untreated can introduce a variety of risks to you, your loved ones and your pets. Insects and small animals can pass on disease, damage your home's structure and contaminate food.

Hiring pest control pros can significantly lower the damage from an infestation. They'll identify where pests have nested, and tailor a treatment plan that could include closing off entry points, using traps or applying pesticides. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be resolved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Boston

Look for pest control companies in Boston with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Boston?

Different pests invade different areas. Here are some indications of common pests in Boston.

• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a musky smell and damage household items by nibbling through them. They build nests from scavenged materials and torn fibers. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear scurrying in your walls or ceiling, you may have a rat problem. Rats also create entryways for themselves by chewing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Ants: Numerous ant species might infest your property. Carpenter ants target wood while fire ants go after oily or greasy food debris. Both of these two varieties bite, while pavement ants don't. Pavement ants also frequently find their way indoors. Spotting a trail of ants in your home means a a larger infestion is nearby.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches come out at night and scatter when you switch a light on. With a serious infestation, however, you may see them during the day. Their nesting spots tend to be in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Cockroaches often leave egg casings, droppings that look like brown or black specks and brown stains on walls and floors. They can spread disease and worsen respiratory issues and allergies.
• Flies: It's common to spot a few flies inside your home during the summer, but an excessive number likely signals an infestation. Flies leave feces resembling clusters of black dots by drains, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during warmer seasons, nesting among wood, overgrown grass, debris and rock piles. Shed snake skins and snake eggs point to infestations. To test if you have a snake infestation, sprinkle flour on the ground where you suspect they're nesting. If you see snake trails in the flour, you know it's time to seek professional pest management help.

How can you prevent pests in your Boston home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are things you can do before pests become a problem to prevent them from getting a foothold in your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are troublesome and can cause extensive damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control professional about taking preventative measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing cracks and holes, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will deter them from settling in. Store food at least six inches above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters are kept clean and sanitized when not being used. Quickly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters tidy.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, trash, leaves and standing water create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your lawn and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen cover your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entrances will discourage insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for example, can squeeze into holes as tiny as a half-inch in diameter. Don't neglect holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in pest exclusion.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To find a pest control provider with the proper qualifications for your individual needs, ask the following questions during the hiring process.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the application of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources issues commercial applicator licenses and certifications to those providing pest control services in Massachusetts. Professionals must have a Commercial Applicator License or Certification in order to practice.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will depend on factors such as the pest type, treatment type, infestation severity and property location. Generally, pest control professionals do not recommend only a single treatment, since insects are often at different phases of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in hard-to-access areas.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be only done in the warmer months, while others last across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from getting a foothold.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time it will take for your pest problem to go away depends on the type and severity of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might see a decline in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring additional treatments. Conversely, you could see a surge in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should decrease within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to remain in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company places a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to find another place to stay during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as plants, animals and food.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest management companies offer green solutions for managing infestations. These companies employ products that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Examples include sealing areas where pests can enter, trapping rodents or using pesticides made from organic materials.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place if pests return before a certain date. Companies may offer a single treatment or continuous services to resolve a stubborn pest problem. Ask your service provider what options they offer.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.