Des Plaines has one of the most persistent rodent problems in the northwest suburbs, and the reasons aren’t hard to find. The Des Plaines River runs right through the city. Thousands of acres of forest preserve land border residential neighborhoods. Busy commercial corridors along Mannheim Road, Oakton Street, and Rand Road attract rodents with food sources. And the city’s post-war housing stock — built mostly in the 1950s and 1960s — has decades of settling that creates entry points mice exploit every fall.
Quick Kill Exterminating has been keeping Des Plaines homes rodent-free since 1990. We combine professional trapping, thorough exclusion, and ongoing monitoring — the only approach that works long-term in a city with this many rodent sources.
The Des Plaines River. The river corridor running through the city is a highway for rodents. Homes along the river and Des Plaines River Road see the heaviest activity, but the population extends into neighborhoods well beyond the immediate riverbank.
Forest preserve borders. The belt of Cook County Forest Preserve land along the river and I-294 supports large populations of field mice, deer mice, and Norway rats. These preserves connect directly to residential neighborhoods, providing a constant supply of rodents.
Commercial corridors and restaurants. Mannheim Road, Oakton Street, Dempster Street, Rand Road, and the O’Hare area attract rodents with food waste from restaurants, hotels, and food service operations. These populations spread into adjacent residential areas.
Post-war housing with abundant entry points. Des Plaines’ 1950s-60s ranches, split-levels, and Cape Cods have attached garages, crawl spaces, and foundations with 60-70 years of settling. Gaps around utility lines, garage doors, dryer vents, and deteriorated weatherstripping give mice easy access.
Multi-unit housing. Des Plaines has a significant number of apartments, condos, and townhomes where rodents travel through shared walls, utility chases, and mechanical rooms.
The most common invader. Small (2-4 inches), gray or brown, with large ears. They squeeze through gaps as small as a dime. A single female produces 5-10 litters per year — a small fall problem snowballs fast.
Signs of mice:
Common near the river and forest preserves. White bellies, brown upper bodies. Deer mice carry hantavirus — don’t sweep or vacuum droppings. Call us for safe cleanup.
More common in Des Plaines than in many surrounding suburbs due to the river corridor, commercial areas, and denser development. Large (up to 10 inches), brown or gray. They burrow along foundations and under slabs. Rat infestations require aggressive treatment.
September – October: Rodent season begins. Mice probe foundations as nights cool. Best time for preventive exclusion.
November – February: Peak season. Mice are nesting and breeding inside walls, attics, basements, and garages.
March – April: Some move outdoors. Good time for exclusion before the next fall.
May – August: Lowest indoor activity, but outdoor populations are building.
We inspect the home’s interior, attic, basement, crawl space, garage, foundation perimeter, roofline, and utility entries. In multi-unit buildings, we assess shared walls and utility chases.
Professional-grade traps placed along confirmed travel routes, near entry points, and in nesting areas. Checked regularly until activity stops.
We seal gaps with steel wool, copper mesh, metal flashing, and caulk. Common entry points in Des Plaines homes:
We monitor and re-inspect after treatment. Quarterly maintenance is strongly recommended — the river, forest preserves, and commercial corridors ensure fresh rodent pressure every fall.
Store-bought traps only catch a few. If you’re catching mice regularly, many more are behind the walls.
Poison creates problems. Risky for kids and pets. Poisoned mice die in walls, causing odors for weeks.
Without exclusion, they keep returning. Des Plaines’ river and forest preserves guarantee a constant supply. Sealing entry points is the only long-term solution.
It’s a warning sign. Mice are social — where there’s one, there are almost always more.
Yes. Multi-unit buildings often require coordinated treatment across units, as rodents travel through shared walls and utility chases.
Yes. We use mechanical trapping — not poison — in occupied homes. Exclusion work is non-toxic.
Most infestations resolve within two to four weeks. We monitor until activity fully stops.
Depends on home size, severity, and exclusion needed. Free quote — call (847) 724-1511.
Quick Kill Exterminating Co. has been keeping Des Plaines homes rodent-free since 1990. We’re your local Des Plaines pest control experts — based in nearby Wheeling and in your community every day.
Other Des Plaines pest control services: Ant Extermination · Mosquito Control · General Pest Control