Mayfair Pest Control & Wildlife Removal

Pest Control in Mayfair, Chicago

Mayfair is a compact, residential slice of the Northwest Side between Pulaski Road and Lamon Avenue, with Lawrence Avenue to the north. North Mayfair holds a bungalow historic district listed on the National Register, where block after block of 1910s and 1920s brick bungalows still show their original stone trim and art glass. The Kennedy Expressway cuts diagonally through the area near the point where the Edens splits off, and the Metra Union Pacific Northwest tracks run alongside. Homeowners here enjoy a stable, quiet neighborhood, but the expressway embankments, rail lines and century-old masonry all play a part in the mice, rats and ants that show up in Mayfair homes.

North Mayfair bungalows and aging masonry

The bungalows in the North Mayfair historic district were built well, but a hundred years of freeze-thaw cycles take a toll. Mortar at the base of walls softens, limestone sills separate slightly from brick and original wood basement windows warp. Each of those gaps can admit house mice, and in older homes with plaster walls, mice can travel between floors unnoticed. Carpenter ants also find their way into damp window framing and back porches. Because many owners want to preserve original details, exclusion work should be done carefully with mesh and sealants that do not damage the masonry. A licensed exterminator can pinpoint where rodents are entering and recommend fixes that respect the home.

Rats along the Kennedy and Metra corridor in Mayfair

Mayfair's expressway embankments and rail right-of-way are long, grassy strips that rarely get disturbed, which makes them useful to Norway rats. From there, rats move into alleys, burrowing beside garages and under concrete pads. Fresh holes near the base of a fence, gnawed garbage carts and droppings in the garage are the usual signs. Rats are cautious, so traps and bait stations need to be placed along their established runways. Homes on blocks that back onto the Kennedy or the tracks often benefit from ongoing monitoring rather than a single visit. Removing pet food, bird seed and fallen fruit from yards also makes a big difference.

Mayfair parkways, attics and fall squirrel activity

Parkway elms, maples and honey locusts shade much of Mayfair, and squirrels use those branches to reach bungalow rooftops. The low-pitched attics on these homes often have small vents at the gable ends or dormers, and squirrels chew those screens to get inside, especially in late summer and fall as they prepare for winter. Scratching overhead in the early morning, chewed wood at roof corners and insulation dragged into piles are common signs. Wildlife specialists typically install a one-way exit, confirm the animals are out and then seal the hole with metal flashing or heavy screening. Trimming branches back from the roofline helps keep them from returning.

Areas served in Mayfair: North Mayfair, North Mayfair Bungalow Historic District, Montrose Avenue, Lawrence Avenue, Pulaski Road, Kennedy and Edens junction area.