Fort Dodge, Iowa Pest Guide
Fort Dodge is the county seat of Webster County and sits along the Des Moines River. It is a major commercial center for north-central and northwest Iowa, on U.S. Routes 20 and 169.
This page pulls together the pest issues Fort Dodge homeowners tend to run into, local places to get help, and how to check that a pest company holds a current Iowa license.
Seasonal pests around Fort Dodge
ISU Extension's seasonal guidance applies statewide, including Fort Dodge:
- April-June: ant hills. Soil-nesting ants are most active in wet spring weather. Flattening mounds is usually enough. Ants in Iowa.
- July-September: yellowjackets. Colonies peak around State Fair time with up to roughly 5,000 workers per nest, according to ISU. Wasp nest removal.
- September-October: boxelder bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs. These accidental invaders gather on sunny walls and slip into gaps. ISU recommends sealing openings.
- October onward: mice. Native mice move indoors for winter. Mice in your Iowa home this fall.
Bed bugs aren't seasonal. If you suspect them, start with our bed bug guide.
Emerald ash borer in Webster County
The state's list of officially confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) sites, last updated at the end of 2022, includes these Webster County locations: Fort Dodge (2020); Gowrie (2021). In October 2024, IDALS announced that EAB had been confirmed in all 99 Iowa counties. IDALS says an infested tree is typically killed within two to four years. Signs include canopy thinning, leafy sprouts from the trunk, S-shaped galleries under the bark, bark splitting, woodpecker damage and 1/8-inch D-shaped exit holes. If you own ash trees, get advice from a qualified tree care professional.
Local help in Fort Dodge
- County Extension office: ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County lists its office at 822 Central Ave., Suite 102, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 (phone 515-576-2119). Extension offices are a good first stop for research-based yard, garden and pest information.
- Insect identification: the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic in Ames identifies insects mailed in by Iowans. Check its page for current forms and fees.
- Ticks: ISU's Medical Entomology Laboratory offers a free tick identification service by mail. It identifies the tick but does not test it for disease.
- Mosquitoes: the same ISU lab has run Iowa's mosquito surveillance program for about 50 years with state health partners, monitoring West Nile virus and mosquito numbers. Current data is on the Iowa Mosquito Surveillance website linked from its page.
Guides for Fort Dodge homeowners
- Ant Exterminator Near Waukee: What to Expect and How to Choose a Pro
- Asian Lady Beetles in Iowa Homes
- Bed Bug Signs and What to Do in the Des Moines Metro
- Boxelder Bugs in Iowa Homes
- Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in Iowa Homes
- Carpenter Ants in Iowa Homes: Signs, Nests and Fixes
- Cluster Flies in Iowa Attics and Homes
- Emerald Ash Borer in Iowa: All 99 Counties and What Ash Owners Can Do
- How to Get Rid of Ants in Iowa
- Mice in Your Iowa Home This Fall
- Wasp Nest Removal Near Waukee, Iowa
How to check a pest company's license in Fort Dodge
Iowa requires anyone in the business of applying pesticides to another person's property to be licensed and certified by the state. To check a company:
- Open the IDALS license lookup and choose Search By Company/License.
- Type part of the company's name, or pick the county WEBSTER - 94 to see every company registered there.
- Check that the expiration date is in the future. Expiration dates in the lookup fall on December 31.
When we searched Webster County on 10/21/2026, the lookup returned 123 company records. That count includes every license type (lawn care, agriculture, golf courses and pest control) and some expired records, so narrow it down by name. A company is listed under the county of its own address, so a company that serves Fort Dodge may be listed under a neighboring county. Our guide on choosing a licensed pest pro has a checklist of questions to ask.
Local pest pros in Fort Dodge
Don's Pest Control
LicensedFort Dodge
Towns named on its site: Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge company providing general residential and commercial pest control.
- General pest control
- Mice & rodents
- Wasps & stinging insects
- Cockroaches
- Ants
- Spiders
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Fort Dodge, IA area.
IDALS company license record found (01317-000), checked 2026-10-21.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), searched by company name and by county on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 01317-000: DON'S PEST CONTROL, Fort Dodge (Webster County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.donspestmgmt.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Orkin (Fort Dodge branch)
LicensedFort Dodge
Towns named on its site: Fort Dodge, Carroll, Sioux City
1003 Central Ave Ste 15, Fort Dodge, IA
National company's Fort Dodge branch (part of its North Sioux City branch) serving north-central and western Iowa.
- General pest control
- Termites
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Branch #536X in Fort Dodge, with branch #536 in North Sioux City, SD; the page lists Fort Dodge, Carroll, Manson, Rockwell City, Sac City, Sioux City and other towns.
IDALS company license record found (02001-000), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name ('Orkin') on 2026-10-22. No Fort Dodge record; found active company license 02001-000: ORKIN, North Sioux City (listed as Out of State), expiration 2026-12-31 - the North Sioux City branch #536 is shown on the Fort Dodge page as serving Fort Dodge.
Listing source: https://www.orkin.com/locations/iowa-ia/fort-dodge-pest-control (checked 2026-10-22).
Smitty's Lawn and Landscape
LicensedFort Dodge
Towns named on its site: Fort Dodge
2305 2nd Ave. North, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Family-owned Fort Dodge lawn, landscape and garden business whose services include perimeter pest control and mosquito, flea and tick treatments.
- General pest control
- Mosquitoes
- Ticks
Service area (their words): Its service area list names Fort Dodge, Duncombe, Coalville, Eagle Grove, Humboldt, Webster City, Manson and Rockwell City.
IDALS company license record found (05588-000), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name ('Smitty') on 2026-10-22. Found active company license 05588-000: SMITTY'S LAWN & LANDSCAPE, Fort Dodge (Webster County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://smittyslawnandlandscape.com/service/, https://smittyslawnandlandscape.com/service/pest-control/ (checked 2026-10-22).
Springer Professional Home Services
LicensedDes Moines
Towns named on its site: Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Ames, Newton, Oskaloosa, Marshalltown, Indianola, Grimes, Waukee, Altoona, Fort Dodge, Ottumwa
1320 NE 60th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
Des Moines company offering residential and commercial pest, termite, bed bug, mosquito and wildlife services across central Iowa.
- General pest control
- Ants
- Bed bugs
- Wasps & stinging insects
- Mice & rodents
- Termites
- Wildlife
- Mosquitoes
- Spiders
- Ticks
- Cockroaches
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Central Iowa since 1989; its homepage names Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Ames, Newton, Oskaloosa, Marshalltown, Indianola, Norwalk, Grimes, Waukee, Pleasant Hill, Altoona, De Soto and Perry. It also has service pages for Fort Dodge and Ottumwa.
IDALS company license record found (02848-000), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name ('Springer') on 2026-10-22. Found active company license 02848-000: SPRINGER PROFESSIONAL HOME SERVICES, Des Moines (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://trustspringer.com/, https://trustspringer.com/jasper-county/newton/, https://trustspringer.com/webster-county/fort-dodge/, https://trustspringer.com/wapello-county/ottumwa/ (checked 2026-10-22).
ValuTech Pest Control
LicensedFort Dodge
Towns named on its site: Fort Dodge
2104 7th Avenue North, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Locally owned Fort Dodge company providing pest control for commercial and residential customers.
- General pest control
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Central and North Central Iowa.
IDALS company license record found (09123-000), checked 2026-10-21.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), searched by company name and by county on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 09123-000: VALUTECH PEST CONTROL, Fort Dodge (Webster County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://valutechpestcontrol.com/, https://valutechpestcontrol.com/services (checked 2026-10-21).
See all 77 listed companies by town →
Listings are informational, not endorsements or rankings, and no company paid to be listed. Details come from each company’s own website. Always verify an Iowa pesticide license with IDALS before hiring. Companies can request a correction or removal.
Is your business missing or wrong? Contact us with your website and the towns you serve.
Frequently asked questions
What county is Fort Dodge in?
Fort Dodge is in Webster County, Iowa. The county matters for two things: which ISU Extension office is closest, and which county to choose in the IDALS license lookup.
Has emerald ash borer reached Fort Dodge?
Yes. The state's confirmed-site list includes Fort Dodge (2020), Gowrie (2021) in Webster County, and IDALS confirmed EAB in all 99 counties in October 2024.
How do I know a pest company in Fort Dodge is licensed?
Search the company's name in the IDALS lookup and check that the expiration date hasn't passed. A company saying it's licensed is not the same as a current state record.
Where is the Webster County Extension office?
ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County lists its address as 822 Central Ave., Suite 102, in Fort Dodge. Its phone number is 515-576-2119.
Nearby towns we cover
More towns in Northern & Central Iowa
Sources
- Fort Dodge, Iowa - Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-21)
- ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County (checked 2026-10-21)
- EAB Confirmed Locations in Iowa (list last updated 12/30/2022) - IowaTreePests.com / IDALS (checked 2026-10-21)
- Emerald Ash Borer Now Confirmed in all 99 Counties - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-21)
- How to Manage Ant Mounds in Lawns, Gardens, and Pastures - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Yellowjacket Wasp - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- It is Accidental Invader Season Again - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Mice: Damage Management - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Submitting an insect for identification - ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (checked 2026-10-21)
- Tick Surveillance - ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory (Dr. Ryan C. Smith) (checked 2026-10-21)
- Mosquito Surveillance - ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory (Dr. Ryan C. Smith) (checked 2026-10-21)
- Pesticide applicator and company license lookup - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-21)
We link to the original sources so you can read them yourself. Product names are not endorsements.