Westchester, IL Pest Control & Exterminators

Pest Control in Westchester, IL

Westchester began in the 1920s as a planned community tied to the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad extension, and a handful of early homes from that era still stand. Most of the village, though, was built after World War II, with streets of brick ranches, raised ranches, Georgians and split-levels on larger lots than many near west suburbs. Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve, one of the finest remaining tallgrass prairie and savanna remnants in the region, sits within the village. Salt Creek and forest preserves like Bemis Woods lie to the south, and Addison Creek crosses the eastern side. That open land brings field mice, moles, raccoons and skunks to Westchester yards.

Wolf Road Prairie and Westchester's wildlife neighbors

Wolf Road Prairie is a rare remnant of the tallgrass prairie and oak savanna that once covered this area, and it supports voles, deer mice, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, coyotes and a wide variety of birds and insects. Homes near the preserve see more field rodents in fall, when deer mice and voles move into garages and basements. Skunks dig lawns for grubs and den under decks and porches. Raccoons explore garbage carts and attics. Because the preserve is protected land, the focus is on keeping animals out of homes: sealing gaps, installing chimney caps and securing garbage. Wildlife specialists can remove animals that move in and close the entry points.

Salt Creek, Bemis Woods and the south end of Westchester

South of Westchester, Salt Creek winds through wooded forest preserves including Bemis Woods, and Addison Creek crosses the village's east side before joining it. These waterways bring moisture, and homes in low-lying areas deal with damp soil, occasional basement seepage and the insects that follow: earwigs, millipedes, springtails and house centipedes. The wooded corridors also shelter raccoons, opossums and squirrels, which move into neighborhoods looking for food and shelter. Keeping water moving away from the house is the best defense against these moisture lovers. Exterminators can treat the foundation perimeter in wet years, and wildlife specialists handle any raccoon or opossum that moves under a porch.

Postwar ranches, big lawns and moles

Westchester's postwar ranches and split-levels sit on generous lots with wide lawns, and those lawns are ideal habitat for eastern moles. Raised ridges and mounds appear in spring and fall as moles tunnel for earthworms and grubs. Voles cut runways under snow cover. The homes themselves have predictable weak spots: soffit vents on long ranch rooflines, gaps where siding meets foundation on split-levels, and worn mortar near grade. House mice use these openings in fall, and squirrels chew into soffits. Targeted mole trapping, sealing entry points and trimming trees away from the roof help. A licensed exterminator can inspect and recommend a plan.

Areas served in Westchester: Wolf Road Prairie area, Salt Creek area, Cermak Road corridor, Mannheim Road corridor, Roosevelt Road area, 31st Street area.