Pest control in Oregon

What to know about pest control in Oregon

Many pest problems in Oregon homes start with moisture, from carpenter ants and dampwood termites in wet wood to ants trailing into kitchens. Any business that applies pesticides to someone else's property must hold a license from the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Common pests in Oregon

Oregon State University Extension points to these pests as common problems for Oregon homes.

• Odorous house ants. Oregon State says they are the most common ants inside homes in western Oregon. They are small, dark brown or black, and give off a strong smell when crushed. See ants.
• Carpenter ants. Piles of sawdust in a crawl space can be a sign of them. Keep tree branches and shrubs trimmed back from the house, since ants use them as bridges.
• Dampwood and subterranean termites. Pacific dampwood termites and western subterranean termites both damage buildings in the Pacific Northwest. Dampwood termites nest inside moist, water-damaged wood, so fixing leaks is part of the cure. See our termite page.
• Rodents. Oregon State's yearly home inspection checklist includes removing rodent nests from crawl spaces and attics, since they can bring mites and fleas. See rodents.

Who licenses pest control companies in Oregon

The Oregon Department of Agriculture licenses pest control businesses and the people who work for them. A business that advertises pesticide application or applies pesticides to someone else's property must be licensed as a commercial pesticide operator. Its applicators need their own commercial applicator licenses, and each license lists the types of work the person may do, such as structural or general pest control. The department's pesticide licensing hub explains the rules, and its license search lets you look up a company or applicator.

How to check a company before you hire

1. Look up the company and the applicator in the department's license search, and check that the categories fit the work.
2. Ask which pest they found and what they saw that shows it.
3. Ask whether moisture is part of the problem and what repairs they recommend.
4. Get the treatment plan, the cost and any warranty in writing, including follow-up visits.
5. Read reviews from other customers. Compare the companies on this page, and write a review once the work is done. You can also see how reviews work.