Service Scope Guide

Pests and Problems We Do Not Handle — and Who Does

Knowing what falls outside standard pest control scope saves everyone time. This page lists the pest types, animals, and conditions we do not treat, explains why each falls outside our scope, and — where possible — points you toward the right specialist for your situation.

Wildlife — requires a separate licensed operator

Raccoons, squirrels, bats, skunks, opossums, geese, and deer are regulated wildlife in Wisconsin. Trapping, removing, or relocating them requires a Wildlife Damage Control Agent (WDCA) permit from the Wisconsin DNR — a separate license that pest control operators do not hold.

• Raccoons in attic or chimney — contact a Wisconsin DNR-licensed wildlife removal operator
• Squirrels in attic — wildlife removal operator; we can seal confirmed entry points after removal
• Bats — protected species; exclusion restricted June–August (maternal roosting season); contact a bat exclusion specialist
• Skunks and opossums under deck or foundation — wildlife removal operator
• Deer — Wisconsin DNR authorization required for any lethal control

Honeybees — contact a beekeeper

Honeybees are protected pollinators. We do not treat honeybee colonies under any circumstances. If you have a honeybee swarm on a tree branch or an established colony in a wall void, contact a local Wisconsin beekeeper for live relocation. The Wisconsin Beekeepers Association can connect you with a local beekeeper who may retrieve the colony at no charge. We treat all species of wasps and hornets but not honeybees.

Spider mites and plant-feeding mites

Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) are microscopic arachnids that live on and damage plant foliage — they are not related to the spiders entering your home. Spider mite infestations appear as fine webbing on plant leaves with yellowing, stippling, or bronzing of leaf tissue. Treatment requires horticultural oil or miticide products applied directly to affected plants, which falls outside standard pest control licensing and scope. Consult a garden center, certified arborist, or the UW-Extension Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic for plant mite issues.

Drain flies and fruit flies — source problems, not pesticide problems

Drain flies breed in the gelatinous organic film that builds up inside slow or infrequently used drain pipes. Fruit flies breed in overripe produce, fermenting liquids, and moist organic material (compost bins, recycling containers, potted plant soil). Both are source-elimination problems: applying pesticide without eliminating the breeding source provides no lasting relief.

For drain flies: clean affected drains with an enzyme-based drain cleaner (Invade Bio Drain, Drain Gel) applied weekly until breeding material is eliminated. For fruit flies: remove or refrigerate all overripe produce, empty recycling and compost containers frequently, and eliminate any standing liquid under appliances. Neither requires professional pest control.

Lawn fungi and turf diseases

Brown patch, dollar spot, red thread, gray snow mold, and other turf diseases are fungal conditions — not insect or pest problems. Treatment requires fungicide products and correct cultural management (watering timing, mowing height, thatch management), which falls within lawn care service rather than pest control. Contact a lawn care provider for turf disease diagnosis and fungicide treatment.

Crane flies, grasshoppers, and other occasional outdoor insects

Crane flies (often misidentified as "giant mosquitoes") are harmless — they do not bite, sting, or damage structures. Grasshoppers are outdoor agricultural and garden pests for which residential perimeter treatment is not an effective or appropriate solution. Neither warrants professional pest control service.

What we do cover

For a complete list of covered pests and services, see our covered pests page. In brief: ants, cockroaches, bed bugs, termites, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, spiders, silverfish, earwigs, mice, rats, grubs, and general perimeter pest control are all within scope across Wisconsin.