Rodent Control in Des Moines, IA

The house mouse is the most common unwanted resident in Iowa homes. Look for them in attics, walls, and basements.

These rodents are small and highly adaptable to their environment. They can be either gray or brown and are notorious carriers of disease. These pests can cause significant property damage and contaminate food.

Norway rats are very hardy and dig extensive burrows. They can gnaw through wood and wiring, and their excrement poses health risks.

Meadow and prairie voles are active year-round and tend to thrive in grassy areas, gardens, and meadows. They are often mistaken for mice, but they have thicker bodies and shorter tails.

These rodents dig extensive burrows that can disrupt your lawns and damage plant roots in both ornamental and agricultural gardens.

Ground squirrels can cause significant damage to yards and open spaces and attract predators like coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. They don’t generally come inside your home, but they often damage patios and sidewalks with their burrows.

Gray, flying, and fox squirrels often enter chimneys, attics, and other sheltered areas to make their nests. Doing so damages insulation, wood, and wiring. Their droppings can also carry diseases.

Chipmunks build burrows near patios, foundations, and garden beds, where they can potentially damage your home’s structures. They store food underground and remain active almost all year, only becoming dormant in the coldest part of winter.

These rodents also attract additional problematic creatures, such as weasels, foxes, and skunks.

Groundhogs are very common in Iowa, and although they prefer the edges of naturally wooded areas, they sometimes burrow near homes and gardens. When this happens, it can cause significant structural damage to your foundation, deck, or outbuildings.

Look for muskrats around wetlands, ponds, and streams. Their burrows can damage banks, irrigation systems, and water lines. They also attract additional predators, such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes.