Pest control in Farmington Hills
Oakland County, Metro Detroit
Much of Farmington Hills is wooded: winding subdivisions from the 1960s through the 1990s, ravine lots along branches of the Rouge River and large parks like Heritage Park. All those trees mean carpenter ants, wildlife and ticks show up here more than in denser suburbs closer to Detroit. Mice and lady beetles follow in fall, often straight from the woods.
Animal in the house right now? Here's what to do.
Areas we cover
- Farmington
- Novi
- West Bloomfield
- Livonia
- Southfield
- Franklin
- Bingham Farms
- Orchard Lake Road corridor
- Grand River Avenue corridor
- Heritage Park area
The pests Farmington Hills homeowners call about most
- 01
Carpenter ants
Peak Apr to Jun
Wooded lots and ravines keep a lot of moisture around houses, and carpenter ants nest in damp decks, window frames and dead limbs.
$200 to $600typical
- 02
Wildlife
Peak Mar to Jun
Raccoons, squirrels, skunks and woodchucks live in the woods behind many subdivisions and move under decks and into attics.
$300 to $1,500typical
- 03
Ticks
Peak May to Jul
Blacklegged ticks are increasingly found in southeast Michigan's wooded areas, and homes backing onto woods or brushy ravines carry the most risk.
$75 to $150typical
- 04
Mice
Peak Sep to Nov
Deer mice and house mice move from wooded lots into garages and basements in fall.
$150 to $450typical
- 05
Asian lady beetles
Peak Oct
Two-story homes beside the woods often get heavy numbers of lady beetles each October.
$150 to $400typical
Wooded lots and ravine homes
Many Farmington Hills subdivisions kept their mature trees, and the result is shaded yards, curving streets and homes backing onto ravines and creek beds that feed the Rouge River. It is a big reason people move here. It also means wood stays damp longer, leaves pile up against foundations, and the distance between the woods and your house is short. Carpenter ants are the top spring call for that reason.
The fixes are mostly practical. Trim branches back from the roof, keep mulch and firewood away from the foundation, and repair rotted deck boards and window trim. A technician will look for satellite ant nests in the house and the parent colony in nearby stumps or dead trees, because treating only the indoor nest often fails.
Wildlife and ticks at the edge of the woods
Heritage Park, the Rouge River corridors and wooded common areas give raccoons, skunks, opossums and woodchucks places to live close to homes. They come into yards for garbage, bird seed and grubs, and some move under decks or into attics. A wildlife specialist can remove animals humanely and seal the entry point so the next one cannot use it.
Ticks are the other concern. Blacklegged ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, are spreading in southeast Michigan, and wooded and brushy edges are where they wait. If your yard backs onto woods, keep a strip of mowed grass or wood chips between the lawn and the trees, keep play sets away from the edge, and check kids and dogs after they have been out back.
Pest control in Farmington Hills: common questions
How do I keep raccoons out of my garbage?
Store carts in the garage or a shed until the morning of pickup, use carts with tight lids, and rinse them now and then to cut odor. Take in bird feeders and pet food at night. If raccoons are getting into the house or under a deck, have a professional handle removal and exclusion.
Are ticks a problem in Farmington Hills?
They are more common than they used to be. Blacklegged ticks have spread from the west side of Michigan into the southeast, and the wooded parks and ravines around Farmington Hills provide the shade and leaf litter they prefer. Use repellent outdoors, check for ticks after time in the woods, and talk to a doctor about any bite that concerns you.
Do I need to treat for carpenter ants every year?
Not always. If the colony is found and eliminated and the moisture problem is fixed, they may not return for years. On heavily wooded lots, new colonies can move in from the trees, so many homeowners make a spring inspection and treatment part of their routine.
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