Pest control in Lansing
Ingham County, Mid-Michigan
Lansing's housing ranges from early 1900s wood-frame homes on the east side and in REO Town to post-war neighborhoods on the south side, with student housing just over the line in East Lansing. The Grand and Red Cedar rivers meet downtown, and the River Trail follows both. Mice, bed bugs and termites are the steady calls across the capital city.
Animal in the house right now? Here's what to do.
Areas we cover
- Downtown
- Old Town
- REO Town
- Eastside
- Westside
- Moores Park
- Groesbeck
- Colonial Village
- Walnut
- South Lansing
- East Lansing
The pests Lansing homeowners call about most
- 01
Mice
Peak Sep to Nov
Older east side and west side homes often have balloon framing and fieldstone or block foundations, which give mice open paths from the basement into the walls.
$150 to $450typical
- 02
Bed bugs
Peak Jun to Sep
Constant student moves in East Lansing and dense rentals near downtown keep bed bugs circulating, and they cross the city line easily.
$500 to $2,500typical
- 03
Cockroaches
Peak Jun to Sep
German cockroaches turn up most in older apartment buildings and converted multi-unit houses where kitchens back up to each other.
$150 to $500typical
- 04
Termites
Peak Apr to May
Ingham County is within eastern subterranean termite range. Homes with wood porches on soil and moist basements are most at risk.
$1,200 to $3,500typical
- 05
Carpenter ants
Peak Apr to Jun
Big street trees on older blocks shade roofs and keep fascia and porch wood damp, which carpenter ants take advantage of.
$200 to $600typical
- 06
Mosquitoes
Peak Jun to Aug
The Grand and Red Cedar river corridors, Potter Park and low wet areas near the rivers have heavier mosquito pressure in summer.
$60 to $120typical
Older east side and west side homes
Many of the houses on Lansing's east side and around Moores Park and the west side were built for autoworkers and state employees in the first half of the 1900s. Most are two-story wood-frame houses with porches, basements and plenty of additions over the years. Old balloon-framed walls run open from basement to attic, so a mouse that gets in at the foundation can reach the second floor without ever being seen.
Sealing those homes takes more than plugging a hole or two. A thorough exterminator will check where utilities enter, the sill plate, any crawlspace under an addition and the attic, then set traps for the mice already inside. For termites, look for mud tubes on basement walls and soft wood around old porches, and get an inspection if you are buying.
Rivers, rentals and East Lansing
The Grand River and Red Cedar River meet near downtown, and the Lansing River Trail follows them past Old Town, REO Town and Potter Park Zoo. Homes near the river corridors see more mosquitoes, spiders and raccoons, and high water in low areas can push mice and other pests toward basements. Keeping window wells covered and gutters draining away from the house helps in those neighborhoods.
Michigan State students and staff live on both sides of the city line, and rental turnover in East Lansing and nearby Lansing neighborhoods spreads bed bugs and cockroaches from unit to unit. Used furniture from curbside piles at the end of the semester is a common source. Landlords who inspect between tenants catch problems while they are still small.
Pest control in Lansing: common questions
Can I get quotes for East Lansing and nearby townships too?
Yes. You can request quotes for homes in Lansing, East Lansing and surrounding communities such as Okemos, Holt and Delta Township. Pest problems do not stop at the city line, especially in neighborhoods near Michigan State where many renters live. Enter your address on the quote form so you are matched with companies that serve your area.
What are the signs of termites in a Lansing home?
Pencil-width mud tubes on foundation walls, wood that sounds hollow or crumbles, and swarms of small winged insects indoors in spring, often near basement windows. Swarmers look like ants but have straight antennae, a thick waist and wings of equal length. If you find any of these, have a licensed inspector look before treating.
Why do mice come back every fall?
Because the entry points are still there. Traps and bait remove the mice inside, but older Lansing homes usually have several gaps around the foundation and utilities. Unless those are sealed, the next group moves in when temperatures drop. Ask each company whether exclusion work is included or priced separately.
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