10 best pest control companies in Alexandria, Louisiana

In Alexandria, mice, snakes and rats are a regular cause of issues. You can try preventative solutions to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to reach out to a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. Certified pest exterminators in Alexandria know how to accurately identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home, family and pets. Insects and small animals can cause permanent property damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

Hiring a professional pest control company can lower these risks. A technician will identify nesting areas, and create a treatment plan, using methods such as shutting off entry points, capturing pests or spraying pesticides. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest infestation for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Alexandria

Look for pest control companies in Alexandria with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Alexandria?

While pests are all over, the hot spots for different species vary. Check for these signs of common Alexandria pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Flies: It's normal to find the occasional fly buzzing around your home during the summer months, but if you see a large number, you could have an infestation. Flies leave waste that looks like clusters of black dots on high shelves, around trash and near sink drains. The presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in trash or other food waste also suggests an infestation.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches come out at night and scatter when you switch a light on. With a heavy infestation, however, you may see them during the day. Their nesting spots tend to be in basements, kitchens and bathrooms. Cockroaches often leave droppings that look like brown or black specks, brown stains on walls and floors and egg casings. They can spread disease and worsen respiratory issues and allergies.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a musky smell and damage household items by nibbling through them. They build nests from found materials and shredded fiber. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear rustling inside your walls or ceiling.
• Bees: Indications of a bee infestation include finding dark smears on your walls, seeing more bees than usual and hearing the sound of buzzing or humming inside your walls. A strange odor may also come from your walls. This happens when mold and fungi grow inside due to bees dying or honey seeping into the walls. Bees can also harm your family and pets, as their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Ticks: While ticks usually stay close to the ground outside, they can attach to your pets, shoes and clothes and enter your home. Female ticks will then lay eggs in carpet fibers, on curtains or in upholstery once inside your home. They may also nest in the lining or pockets of clothing, along baseboards and in corners.
• Rats: You may have a rat problem if you see a rat, hear scurrying in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long. Rats will also chew into food wrappings and chew through walls and doors to create access points.

How can you prevent pests in your Alexandria home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation usually requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to mitigate the risk of pests.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause significant damage to your home and health if not addressed promptly. Talk to a pest control expert about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off cracks and holes, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are usually looking for food, making food difficult to access will keep them from sticking around. Food should be a minimum of six inches off the floor and a modest distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep sinks, food storage areas and counters clean and disinfected when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash consistently. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, leaves, trash and standing water create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your grass and trimming foliage are among the simplest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, look into whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen operate in your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off entry points will discourage insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for example, can squeeze into holes as little as a half-inch in diameter. Don't neglect holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in blocking pests.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To ensure you hire a pest control provider that's prepared to meet your specific needs, ask these questions.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pest control chemical use through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. In addition, restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be certified following EPA requirements and the laws of relevant states, territories and tribes.

Louisiana requires pest control applicators to be licensed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. They must possess either a Ground Owner-Operator License or an Aerial Owner-Operator License with or without phenoxy endorsement.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment plan a pest professional suggests will vary based on the specific treatment method, the particular pest type, the location of the property and the severity of the infestation. In most cases, pest control services advise against relying on a single treatment to eliminate household pests, as there will likely be insects at different stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot areas.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some carried out only during the warmer seasons and others ongoing throughout the year. To prevent infestations from taking hold, they might also propose preventive treatments every two or three months to stop new infestations from forming.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time it will take for your pest issue to go away depends on the type and severity of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might notice a decrease in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring further treatments. Conversely, you could see a spike in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should subside within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home for some stages of the pest control treatment, such as when the professional is sealing holes and cracks. But if a pesticide is used, it may need hours to dry completely, and you'll have to leave the house while it dries.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to apply the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to find alternative accommodations.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional can gauge the right amount of a product to use, the time needed for it to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the treated location. Before beginning any treatment, your service provider should inform you about what should be taken out of the area, including food, animals and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control services provide green solutions for treating infestations. This means they use techniques with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing areas where pests might get in, trapping rodents and using naturally sourced pesticides.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control companies provide guarantees and warranties in the event that pests reappear before a specific date. To resolve a returning pest issue, specialists may offer a one-time treatment or continued treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the options available.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.