Pest control in Alaska

What to know about pest control in Alaska

Pest control in Alaska looks different from the rest of the country. Carpenter ants are found across the state and can damage log and wood homes. The state also handles licensing in its own way, which matters when you compare companies.

Common pests in Alaska

State agencies and the US Forest Service flag these pests for Alaska homeowners.

• Carpenter ants. The US Forest Service reports carpenter ants throughout Alaska, where they damage house logs and moist wood. They tunnel into wood to nest and can cause serious structural damage over time. See our page on ants.
• Bed bugs. The state's pesticide program publishes a step-by-step bed bug guide for Alaskans and suggests calling a pest control company when home steps aren't enough. In Anchorage, landlords have extra requirements. See our page on bed bugs.
• Ticks. Alaska has six native tick species that mostly feed on small wild animals and birds. New, non-native ticks have been found in recent years, often arriving on pets that traveled outside the state. The state asks residents to save and submit any tick they find for identification. See our page on fleas and ticks.

Who licenses pest control companies in Alaska

The Pesticide Control Program at the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation regulates pesticide use in the state. Alaska certifies individual applicators rather than issuing a separate pest control business license. Anyone who applies pesticides on property other than their own must be a certified pesticide applicator, and DEC issues each one a certified applicator number and card. Read more on the DEC Pesticide Control Program page and its page on becoming a certified applicator.

How to check a company before you hire

1. Ask for the certified applicator number of the person who will treat your home, and confirm it with DEC. The program's main page links to a certified applicator search.
2. Ask what pest they found, what they plan to use, and why. A good company explains its plan before it starts.
3. Get the treatment plan, any follow-up visits and any guarantee in writing.
4. Read reviews from other customers and see how each company handled problems. You can also write a review of a company you've used, and read how reviews work on our site.