Pest control in Detroit
Wayne County, Metro Detroit
Detroit's housing is old, dense in places and empty in others, and pests take advantage of both. Brick bungalows and two-flats from the 1910s to 1940s have settled foundations and gaps around old utility lines, while vacant lots and empty houses give rats and raccoons room to breed. We connect you with licensed, insured exterminators who work these blocks every week.
Animal in the house right now? Here's what to do.
Areas we cover
- Corktown
- Mexicantown
- Midtown
- Woodbridge
- Indian Village
- Boston-Edison
- Jefferson-Chalmers
- Rosedale Park
- Grandmont
- Bagley
- East English Village
- Palmer Park
The pests Detroit homeowners call about most
- 01
Rats
Peak Sep to Dec
Vacant lots, alleys behind commercial strips and overgrown empty houses give Norway rats food and burrowing space. Detroit has appeared near the top of national rat city lists published by pest control companies.
$250 to $600typical
- 02
Mice
Peak Sep to Nov
House mice move into older brick homes every fall through gaps around gas lines, old coal chute openings and settled basement walls.
$150 to $450typical
- 03
Bed bugs
Peak Jun to Sep
Detroit has also appeared near the top of national bed bug lists. Apartment buildings, two-flats and frequent moves make it easy for them to travel between units.
$500 to $2,500typical
- 04
Cockroaches
Peak Jun to Sep
German cockroaches are mostly an apartment and shared-wall problem here, spreading through the plumbing chases that connect units.
$150 to $500typical
- 05
Termites
Peak Apr to May
Eastern subterranean termites are active across southeast Michigan and feed on damp sill plates, porch framing and any wood in contact with soil.
$1,200 to $3,500typical
- 06
Wildlife
Peak Mar to Jun
Raccoons, squirrels and opossums nest in attics and under porches, especially on blocks with empty houses nearby.
$300 to $1,500typical
Why older Detroit homes let pests in
Most of Detroit's single-family houses were built before 1950, and many have been through several owners, a few furnace swaps and decades of freeze and thaw. Every one of those changes can leave an opening. A mouse needs a gap about the width of a pencil, and old brick homes are full of them: where the gas line enters, around basement glass block, along the sill plate and under back porch additions that were never sealed to the main house.
In two-flats and older apartment buildings, the problem multiplies because units share walls, plumbing and heating chases. If one unit has German cockroaches or bed bugs, the neighbors usually end up with them too. A good exterminator here treats the building as a whole when possible, and pairs treatment with sealing the gaps that let pests move between units.
Rats, vacant lots and the riverfront
Detroit has thousands of vacant lots and empty structures, and those are ideal places for rats to burrow. Tall weeds, dumped trash and collapsing garages give them cover, and occupied homes next door give them food. If you are seeing burrows along your foundation, chewed garbage carts or droppings in the garage, deal with it early. Rat colonies grow fast once they settle in.
Along the Detroit River, in Jefferson-Chalmers with its canals and near Belle Isle, mosquitoes and spiders are a bigger summer complaint than in the city's interior. On the west side, homes near Rouge Park and the Rouge River see more raccoons, skunks and mosquitoes. A local technician who knows which part of the city you live in will check for different things on each side of town.
Pest control in Detroit: common questions
Is Detroit really bad for bed bugs?
Detroit has appeared near the top of national bed bug lists published by pest control companies. That reflects how many apartments and multi-unit homes the city has and how often people move, not how clean anyone's home is. Bed bugs travel in luggage, used furniture and moving boxes. Treatment usually means heat or two to three visits with follow-up inspections.
What should I do about rats coming from a vacant lot next door?
Start with your own property: keep trash carts closed, remove wood piles and clutter along the fence, and seal gaps in the garage and foundation. An exterminator can set tamper-resistant bait stations along your side of the property line and locate burrows. You can also report the lot to the city so the weeds and debris get addressed.
How much does pest control cost in Detroit?
It depends on the pest and the size of the building. A one-time mouse or ant treatment costs far less than heat treating a two-flat for bed bugs. See our pest control cost guide for typical Michigan price ranges, then compare free quotes from local companies before you choose.
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