Pest control in Traverse City
Grand Traverse County, Northern Michigan
Traverse City sits at the base of Grand Traverse Bay, with older homes in Slabtown, the Central Neighborhood and Boardman, newer houses in the surrounding townships, and cherry orchards out on Old Mission Peninsula. Cold winters and lots of seasonal homes shape the pest list here: cluster flies, mice, carpenter ants and bats come up far more than termites.
Animal in the house right now? Here's what to do.
Areas we cover
- Slabtown
- Central Neighborhood
- Boardman
- Old Towne
- Traverse Heights
- Grand Traverse Commons
- Old Mission Peninsula
- Garfield Township
- East Bay Township
- Elmwood Township
The pests Traverse City homeowners call about most
- 01
Cluster flies
Peak Mar and Sep to Oct
Cluster flies develop in lawns and fields over the summer, then pack into attics and upper walls each fall, especially in older homes and those near open land.
$150 to $400typical
- 02
Mice
Peak Sep to Nov
Mice move into houses and cottages as soon as the cold arrives, and seasonal homes left empty for months give them time to settle in.
$150 to $450typical
- 03
Carpenter ants
Peak Apr to Jun
Pine, maple and oak around homes, plus cedar decks and wood-sided cottages, give carpenter ants plenty of nesting wood.
$200 to $600typical
- 04
Asian lady beetles
Peak Oct
Lady beetles gather on sunny walls near orchards and woods each fall before moving inside.
$150 to $400typical
- 05
Bats
Peak Jun to Aug
Bats roost in attics, cottages and boathouses near the water, and are most noticed in summer when young are in the roost.
$400 to $1,500typical
- 06
Wildlife
Peak Mar to Jun
Raccoons and squirrels move into garages, sheds and empty cottages over the winter.
$300 to $1,500typical
Fall invaders in a northern town
Fall comes early in Traverse City, and the overwintering insects arrive with it. Cluster flies are the classic northern Michigan complaint. They develop in lawns and fields over the summer, then gather on the sunny side of houses in September and work into attics and wall voids. On warm winter days they wake up and collect at windows, often in rooms that are rarely used.
Asian lady beetles do the same thing, and homes near the orchards and woods outside town tend to get the most. Sealing gaps around window trim, siding, soffits and attic vents in August is the best defense, along with an exterior treatment timed for late summer. After they are already in the walls, a shop vacuum does more good than any spray.
Cottages, seasonal homes and bats
Plenty of homes around Traverse City, on Old Mission Peninsula and along both arms of the bay sit empty for part of the year. A closed-up cottage is quiet, sheltered and full of nesting material, which is ideal for mice, squirrels and raccoons. Owners often find the damage in spring: chewed insulation, droppings in drawers and nests in mattresses. Exclusion work and bait stations set before closing up in fall prevent most of it.
Bats are the other common call. Big brown and little brown bats roost in attics, cupolas and boathouses near the water, and they can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. They are best handled with exclusion: one-way devices that let them leave but not return, installed outside the summer months when flightless young are in the roost. A company experienced with bats will know the timing.
Pest control in Traverse City: common questions
Do I need to worry about termites in Traverse City?
Much less than in southern Michigan. Eastern subterranean termites are concentrated in the southern Lower Peninsula and are rarely the concern this far north. Carpenter ants are the wood-damaging insect most Grand Traverse County homeowners actually deal with, especially in damp decks, log homes and cedar siding.
How do I keep mice out of a cottage over winter?
Before closing up, seal gaps around pipes, vents and foundation openings with steel wool and caulk or metal flashing, remove all food including pet food and birdseed, and store bedding in sealed bins. Bait stations or traps checked by a local company over the winter catch any that still get in.
When should I schedule service for cluster flies?
Late August to early September, before the flies start gathering on your siding. A perimeter treatment around windows, eaves and attic vents, plus sealing visible gaps, reduces how many get inside. Our pest calendar shows when fall invaders typically arrive in Michigan.
Get a licensed pest pro in Traverse City.
One short form. A licensed, insured pest control company that serves your town follows up with a free quote.