4 best pest control companies in Rapid City, South Dakota

Pests frequently seen in Rapid City are snakes, bees and flies. DIY prevention techniques may improve your pest problem, but you may need to bring in a pest control company for an existing infestation. Qualified pest specialists in the Rapid City area have the expertise to inspect your home and treat your pest problem.

Pests that infest your property put your home and family at risk. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food supplies and spread disease.

Bringing in expert pest controllers decreases these dangers. A technician will locate nesting areas, and create an extermination plan, using methods such as shutting off entry points, capturing pests or applying chemicals. Once the right solution is applied, pests can be kept in check for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Rapid City

Look for pest control companies in Rapid City 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 Rapid City?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. Check for these indications of common Rapid City pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Ticks: Though ticks typically stay close to the ground outside, they can make their way into your home via pets, clothing or shoes. Inside, female ticks can lay eggs in upholstery, in carpet fibers or on curtains. Nests may also be hidden in corners, in the lining or pockets of clothing and along baseboards.
• Snakes: Snakes commonly nest among overgrown grass, rock piles, wood and debris and are more active during the spring and summer months. Signs of a snake infestation include snake eggs and shed snake skins. To test for a snake infestation, sprinkle flour near where you think a snake is nesting. If you find a trail through the flour, contact a pest control professional right away.
• Bees: You may have a bee infestation if you hear humming inside your walls, notice more bees than usual either inside or outside your home or see dark stains on your walls. An odd smell coming from your walls is another sign of a bee infestation, as bees dying or honey seeping into the walls can lead to mold or fungi. Bees are also a risk to your family and pets because their stings can provoke allergic reactions.
• Flies: Flies often buzz around homes in the summer, but a noticeable increase could mean an infestation. Fly droppings look like black specks and are often found in around sink drains, trash and high shelves. Another sign of an infestation is finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• 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 indications of an infestation. Aside from dangerous brown recluses and black widows, which have venomous bites, most spiders found in homes are harmless.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart by quickly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a noticeable musky smell and damage household items by nibbling through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• Rats: Signs of a rat infestation include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing scurrying in your walls or ceiling. Rats also create entryways for themselves by eating through walls, doors and food packaging.

How can you prevent pests in your Rapid City home?

While an infestation will usually require professional extermination, the best way to prevent infestations is to implement preventative steps.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

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

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Pests mainly seek food, so making food hard to reach will keep them on their way. Keep food a minimum of half a foot off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters stay clean and disinfected between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in trash, standing water, tall grass and leaves. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the simplest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen cover your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small openings into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just a half-inch in diameter. Repair cracks in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest prevention services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

A Commercial or Private Applicator License is required for practicing pest control professionals working in South Dakota. These licenses are issued through the South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will depend on factors such as the pest type, infestation severity, treatment type and property location. 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 difficult-to-reach places.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be limited to 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?

The time needed to resolve your pest problem will vary based on the nature and extent of the infestation, along with the pest's life cycle. After the pest control specialist applies the initial treatment, you may notice less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting additional treatments. Alternatively, you may see more pests following the first treatment, as it can force pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should taper off within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can remain in your home for some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. If your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take hours to dry, during which time you'll need to vacate the premises.

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 find alternative accommodations during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should tell you what items you must remove from the space such as animals, food and plants before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer green solutions 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, trapping rodents and using pesticides derived from natural sources.

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 continuous service to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options with your pest control expert.

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.