Pest control in Royal Oak
Oakland County, Metro Detroit
Royal Oak is mostly 1920s to 1940s bungalows, colonials and Tudors on small lots under big old trees, with a busy downtown of restaurants and bars along Main Street and Washington Avenue. Older housing means mice and carpenter ants, the restaurant district means rats, and the mature tree canopy means squirrels and raccoons in attics.
Animal in the house right now? Here's what to do.
Areas we cover
- Downtown Royal Oak
- Woodward corridor
- Berkley
- Ferndale
- Huntington Woods
- Pleasant Ridge
- Clawson
- Madison Heights
- Birmingham
- Troy
- Royal Oak Township
The pests Royal Oak homeowners call about most
- 01
Mice
Peak Sep to Nov
Bungalows approaching 100 years old have settled foundations, old utility openings and attic gaps that mice use every fall.
$150 to $450typical
- 02
Rats
Peak Sep to Dec
Restaurant dumpsters and alleys downtown, plus garages and compost bins in the surrounding blocks, support rats in parts of the city.
$250 to $600typical
- 03
Carpenter ants
Peak Apr to Jun
Large old maples and oaks shade roofs and porches, and damp porch framing is a common carpenter ant nest site.
$200 to $600typical
- 04
Wildlife
Peak Mar to Jun
Squirrels and raccoons travel the tree canopy and get into attics through roof vents, soffits and gaps at the chimney.
$300 to $1,500typical
- 05
Termites
Peak Apr to May
Older Royal Oak homes with wood porches, basement stairs on soil or damp crawlspaces are within eastern subterranean termite range.
$1,200 to $3,500typical
Bungalows and old trees
Royal Oak's housing went up fast in the 1920s and again after World War II, and many of those small brick and wood-frame houses still have original windows, porches and basements. They are solidly built, but nearly a century of settling opens gaps at the foundation, around old utility lines and where porches and additions meet the main house. Mice use those gaps every fall.
The trees are the other half of the story. Royal Oak has a dense canopy of mature street and yard trees, and many branches now hang over roofs. That gives squirrels and raccoons a bridge into attics and keeps porches and roof edges damp enough for carpenter ants. Trimming limbs back and replacing soft fascia boards prevents a lot of calls.
Downtown restaurants and rats
Downtown Royal Oak has a dense cluster of restaurants and bars, which means dumpsters, grease bins and alleys. Rats follow that food and spread into nearby residential blocks, where they find garages, compost bins, bird feeders and dog food. Residents within a few blocks of downtown and along Woodward tend to see them more than people on the edges of the city.
Burrows near a garage slab, gnawed holes at the bottom of a garage door or droppings near pet food all mean it is time to act. Rats breed quickly, and they do not stop at one yard. A local company can set tamper-resistant bait stations, find burrows and seal the garage. Cleaning up food sources on your own property makes the treatment last.
Pest control in Royal Oak: common questions
Why do squirrels keep getting into my attic?
Royal Oak's mature trees put branches within jumping distance of many roofs, and older homes often have gaps at soffits, roof vents and around chimneys. Squirrels chew those gaps larger. The fix is trimming branches back, installing heavy screening over vents and sealing gaps after the animals are out, ideally outside the spring nesting season.
Are rats only a problem near downtown?
They are most common near downtown and commercial corridors, but any yard with easy food, such as uncovered compost, bird seed spilled on the ground or pet food in an open garage, can attract them. Secure those first. If you see signs, call early, since a small problem is much easier to fix.
Do I need a termite inspection for a 1920s house?
If you are buying, yes. Termites are active throughout southeast Michigan, and homes this age often have wood porches, steps or basement supports in contact with soil. A licensed inspector will check the foundation, basement and crawlspaces for mud tubes and damaged wood.
Get a licensed pest pro in Royal Oak.
One short form. A licensed, insured pest control company that serves your town follows up with a free quote.