10 best pest control companies in Stratford, Connecticut

Common pests such as rats, flies and mice can regularly get into living spaces in Stratford. While you can try DIY removal and prevention techniques, an active infestation most likely requires the attention of a pest control company. These experienced pest experts in Stratford can diagnose the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home and family. Insects and small animals can spread disease, damage the structure of your home and contaminate food.

An experienced pest control company can reduce these risks. A pest professional will spot infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from closing entry points to using traps or pesticides. 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 Stratford

Look for pest control companies in Stratford 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 Stratford?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. Check for these signs of common Stratford pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Rats: Signs of rats include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing skittering in your walls or ceiling. Rats can eat through walls, doors and food packaging to create more entry points for themselves.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might catch a quick view of one 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.
• Ticks: Though ticks usually stay close to the ground outside, they can make their way into your home via shoes, clothing or pets. Inside, female ticks lay eggs in upholstery, on curtains or in carpet fibers. Nests may also be hidden along baseboards, in corners and in the lining or pockets of clothing.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths are common household pests. Clothes moths feed on wool and cotton, leaving behind trenches, silky furrows, tunnels and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths penetrate plastic food packaging and leave web-like residue in pantry corners. Moths are attracted to light, ripe fruit and fermented sugar.
• Spiders: Seeing more spiderwebs and spiders than usual is the clearest sign of spider infestations. Additional clues include a significant number of other insects for the spiders to feed on and visible egg sacs. While spiders found in homes are generally harmless, brown recluses and black widows deliver venemous bites that require medical attention.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless, flat, reddish-brown insects about the size of apple seeds. Common in hospitals, apartment buildings and hotels, they travel on clothing, purses, backpacks and used furniture. They conceal themselves during the day in beds or cracks and crevices. Then they become active at night. You may have an infestation if you find the bugs themselves or blood smears on mattresses or bedding.

How can you prevent pests in your Stratford home?

Fighting a pest infestation can be difficult, so preventative measures are the most effective method to prevent future problems. Though infestations often require expert intervention, you can take action to keep pests away before they make their way into your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, bugs and small animals can significantly harm your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control professional to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal openings or apply pesticides in specific areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally 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 clean and disinfected when not being used. Promptly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can take refuge in tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves in your yard. One of the easiest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard clear of debris and properly maintained with mowed grass and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, find out if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen service in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small openings will stop insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as small as half an inch wide. Be sure to address holes in your roof or siding and seal damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on pest prevention and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to make sure you hire a pest control company that can meet your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications according to the agency's standards and the laws of the affected states, territories and tribes.

Pest control technicians in Connecticut must pass an exam to get a Supervisory, Operational or Private Applicator License issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environment.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will be determined by factors such as the pest type, property location, treatment type and infestation severity. Generally, pest control professionals do not recommend only a single treatment, since insects are often at different phases of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in hard-to-access areas.

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 starting.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest problem to go away will vary based on the infestation nature and extent, 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 see increased activity after the initial treatment, as it can force 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 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 several hours to dry, and you'll have to leave the house while it dries.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. You must stay elsewhere during that time.

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 removed from the area, including animals, food and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer environmentally conscious methods for managing 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, using humane traps for rodents and using less harmful ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a single treatment, while others offer ongoing treatments to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the options available with your service professional.

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.