Irving Park Pest Control & Wildlife Removal

Pest Control in Irving Park, Chicago

Irving Park began around 1870 as a railroad suburb along what is now the Metra Union Pacific Northwest line, and it joined Chicago in 1889. Its oldest section, Old Irving Park, still has large Victorian and Queen Anne homes on deep, tree-shaded lots. To the southwest, the Villa District preserves a collection of bungalows and Prairie-style homes built between 1907 and 1922 on curving streets near Pulaski and Addison. Independence Park and Kilbourn Park provide green space, and the Kennedy Expressway and Blue Line run through the neighborhood. Mature trees, tall rooflines and century-old wood framing make Irving Park a hotspot for squirrels and bats in attics, and mice in basements.

Old Irving Park Victorians and attic wildlife

Old Irving Park's Victorian homes feature steep roofs, turrets, dormers and decorative trim, all of which create gaps and joints where animals can get in. Squirrels leap from oaks, elms and maples onto rooflines and chew through soffits and vents. Big brown bats can squeeze into attics through narrow openings and roost there through summer. Raccoons use trees and porches to reach roofs. Wildlife specialists inspect the entire roofline, time bat exclusions to avoid trapping young, and seal openings so animals cannot return. Trimming limbs away from roofs helps prevent future problems.

The Villa District's bungalows and basement mice

The Villa District, a Chicago landmark district, is known for its bungalows with stone and stucco details, wide front porches and deep basements. These homes are more than a century old, and their foundations have settled over time. House mice slip in through gaps around utility lines, basement windows and porch foundations. Once inside, they nest in insulation, under basement stairs and in cardboard storage, and they chew on stored holiday decorations and dry goods. Sealing foundation-level gaps, setting traps and removing clutter help. A local exterminator can inspect for less obvious entry points, including gaps where porches meet the main foundation.

The Kennedy, the Metra line and Irving Park rats

The Kennedy Expressway and the Metra UP-NW line both run through Irving Park, and their embankments provide cover for Norway rats. Rats venture into nearby alleys, garages and yards, particularly where garbage carts are left open or gardens offer food. Construction or maintenance along these corridors can push rats into residential areas, and the tall grass and ballast along the tracks near the Irving Park Metra station make a comfortable home base. Homes backing onto the embankments see the most traffic. Exterior bait stations, sealed garage doors and secured garbage help. A professional can set up a rodent control plan that accounts for nearby rail and expressway corridors.

Areas served in Irving Park: Old Irving Park, The Villa District, Independence Park, Kilbourn Park, Irving Park Metra station, Six Corners edge, Keeler Avenue.