10 best pest control companies in Athens, Alabama

In Athens, snakes, fleas and mice are common pests. You can take action yourself to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. These pest control professionals in Athens can identify the problem and resolve it safely and effectively.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home and family. Insects and small animals can cause long-term damage to your home, contaminate your food supplies and spread disease.

Bringing in expert pest controllers decreases these risks. A pest professional will find infestations and treat them in a variety of ways, from plugging holes to using traps or chemicals. When the proper fixes are implemented, you can get rid of infestations for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Athens

Look for pest control companies in Athens 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 Athens?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally affect the same regions. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in Athens:

• Rats: If you hear scratching in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long, you may have a rat problem. Rats chew through food bags, doors and walls, forming entryways for themselves.
• Wasps: A surge of wasp activity, including frequent indoor appearances, may signal that there's a nest nearby. Wasp nests can be in trees or in your home, but they can also be underground, which you may not realize until you step on one. More hostile than bees, wasps readily swarm, so don't attempt to remove a wasp nest on your own. Seek assistance from pest management experts to remove a wasp nest as they have the tools to do so safely.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one darting by or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often damage furniture and have a musk. They construct nests with scavenged bits and pieces and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Bees: Indications of a bee infestation include hearing the sound of buzzing or humming inside your walls, finding dark smears on your walls and seeing more bees than usual. A strange odor may also come from your walls. This happens when mold and fungi grow inside due to honey seeping into the walls or bees dying. Bees can also harm your family and pets, as their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, wingless insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in apartment buildings and hotels, they can hitch a ride on belongings, such as purses, backpacks, clothing and secondhand furniture. They hide in your bed and in nooks and crannies during the day then come out at night. When you have an infestation, you may spot the insects or find bloody marks on your mattress or other furniture.
• Fleas: If you notice your pet has black flecks on its skin and it's scratching more than usual, you may have a flea problem. Although fleas can't live on human skin or hair, if you have an infestation, you'll often find red, itchy marks near your feet and ankles from them leaping up and biting. Fleas also spread disease, such as the bubonic plague.
• Spiders: The best way to know you have a spider infestation is a significant increase in spiderwebs in and around your home. Visible egg sacs and lots of other insects that the spiders can feed on are some other signs of an infestation. Aside from hazardous brown recluses and black widows, which have venomous bites, most spiders found in homes are harmless.

How can you prevent pests in your Athens home?

While an infestation will probably require professional help, the best way to avoid infestations is to take preventative steps.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are problematic and can cause considerable damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control company about taking preventative measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing gaps, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are usually in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will deter them from settling in. Store food at least six inches above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters are kept clean and sanitized when not being used. Regularly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

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

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small access points will prevent insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for example, can squeeze into holes as small as half an 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 pest exclusion.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To find a pest control provider with the proper qualifications for your individual needs, ask the following questions during the hiring process.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors 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.

Pest control professionals in Alabama are required to have a Commercial Applicator Permit. They are certified through the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest specialist will make a treatment schedule based on the location of your property, type of pest, severity of the infestation and type of treatment. Pest control companies typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are frequently at different stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hidden spots.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be only done in the warmer months, while others occur across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from getting a foothold.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest problem to disappear depends on the infestation type and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may perceive a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring further treatments. On the other hand, you might notice increased activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests out of hiding. Fortunately, this should subside within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

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 another place to stay.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely come back to the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as food, animals and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for treating infestations. These companies employ products that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Some examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing up gaps for pests, setting catch-and-release traps for rodents, and using pesticides derived from organic ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place if pests return before a certain date. Companies may offer a one-time treatment or ongoing treatments to resolve a stubborn pest problem. Ask your service provider what options they offer.

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.