Silver Bullet Pest ControlPest Control Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ — Licensed Exterminator for Wooded Lots and Older Homes
Scratching above the bedroom ceiling at dawn, carpenter bees drilling the porch trim, ticks on the dog after a walk along the brook? Silver Bullet Pest Control handles pest control in Ho-Ho-Kus for older houses, newer homes on big wooded lots and the small businesses in the borough's downtown. We're based in Garfield and schedule Ho-Ho-Kus visits on our regular northwest Bergen route.
NJ License 90568B • Licensed by NJ Fish and Wildlife for wildlife work • 4.9 stars on Google • 15+ years • Hablamos español
Text a photo of the bug, the droppings or the hole in the trim to 973-510-2585 and we'll tell you what you're dealing with.
- ✓ Same-day appointments often available
- ✓ Licensed & insured in NJ
- ✓ Homes & businesses
- ✓ English & Español
Who handles pest control in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control provides pest control in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ as a licensed exterminator (NJ License 90568B) based in Garfield, about 25 to 35 minutes away by Route 17 — call or text 973-510-2585 for a free estimate; hablamos español. We treat mice and rats, carpenter ants, termites, wasps and carpenter bees, bed bugs and roaches, keep squirrels and raccoons out of attics with one-way doors and sealing, and spray yards for ticks and mosquitoes. Same-day appointments are often available, though most Ho-Ho-Kus visits are booked a day or two ahead.
Pest control in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ starts with the trees
Ho-Ho-Kus is a small, leafy borough in northwest Bergen County. It sits just north of Ridgewood — a separate town, even though people often lump the two together — with Waldwick, Allendale, Saddle River, Wyckoff and Washington Township around it. Route 17 runs along its eastern side, NJ Transit trains stop at the station near the downtown, and the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook winds through the middle of town. The Hermitage, the historic stone house on Franklin Turnpike, is the landmark most visitors know.
For pests, what matters is how people live here. Most homes are single-family houses on generous lots with big old oaks and maples: older colonials and Victorians with deep eaves, stone foundations and wood porches, plus newer and expanded homes with large attics, finished basements and decks. Many backyards end in woods or run down toward the brook.
That means the calls we get from Ho-Ho-Kus look different from the calls we get in Garfield or Passaic. Fewer apartment roach jobs, more animals in the attic, more insects in the wood of the house itself, and more ticks in the yard. The sections below follow that order.
Ho-Ho-Kus quick facts
| Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ | |
|---|---|
| County | Bergen County (northwest) |
| Distance from our base | Garfield, usually about 25 to 35 minutes by Route 17, depending on traffic |
| Typical homes | Single-family houses on wooded lots — older colonials and Victorians, plus newer and expanded homes |
| Most common calls | Squirrels and raccoons in attics, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, ticks, mice in the fall |
| Natural features | Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, mature tree cover, wooded backyards |
| Neighboring towns | Ridgewood, Waldwick, Allendale, Saddle River, Wyckoff, Washington Township |
| Scheduling | Same-day often available; most visits booked a day or two ahead |
| Estimates | Free |
| License | NJ License 90568B; licensed by NJ Fish and Wildlife for wildlife work |
Squirrels, raccoons and flying squirrels in Ho-Ho-Kus attics
Tall trees over the roof are a ramp straight to the attic. These are the three animals we find most:
Gray squirrels
- Running and rolling sounds in the morning and late afternoon
- A chewed hole at a roof corner, gable vent or soffit
- Shredded insulation or leaves in the attic
Gray squirrels move into attics in fall and again in late winter when they're ready to have young. We find every entry, put a one-way door on the active hole so the squirrels leave on their own, and seal the rest. We don't trap and relocate animals. Our crew also repairs chewed soffits, fascia and trim so the house is closed up properly.
Raccoons
- Heavy thumping at night
- A torn-up roof vent, soffit or chimney top
- Matted, flattened insulation and a strong odor
Raccoons are strong enough to rip open a roof vent or soffit, and mothers often pick attics and chimneys to raise their young in spring. We make sure no young are left behind before we close anything up, use exclusion so the animals leave, install chimney caps and repair the damage. If the insulation is soiled, we do HEPA cleanup and replace it.
Flying squirrels
- Light scurrying sounds after dark, not in the daytime
- Tiny entry gaps at roof vents and ridge lines
- Droppings collected in one corner of the attic
Flying squirrels are small, active only at night and very common in wooded North Jersey neighborhoods — many homeowners never see one. They fit through gaps that look too small to matter, so finding every gap is the whole job. We do flying squirrel removal and exclusion with one-way devices and full sealing.
Carpenter ants, carpenter bees and termites in older Ho-Ho-Kus homes
All three go after wood. Here's how to tell them apart:
| Carpenter ants | Carpenter bees | Subterranean termites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you see | Large black ants inside, often at night; small piles of sawdust-like debris | Big, shiny-backed bees hovering at the eaves; perfectly round holes in trim | Mud tubes on the foundation; winged swarmers indoors in spring |
| Where in the house | Damp wood — porch posts, window sills, roof leaks, wood touching soil | Unpainted or weathered wood — fascia, porch ceilings, decks, railings | Wood near the ground — sill plates, joists, basement framing |
| Do they eat wood? | No, they tunnel through it to nest | No, they drill tunnels to lay eggs | Yes |
| What we do | Find the nest, treat it and the moisture source; we can repair damaged wood | Treat the holes and the surrounding wood | Inspect, treat, then repair sill plates, joists and framing ourselves |
| Read more | Carpenter ant control | Carpenter bee treatment | Termite inspection |
Selling a Ho-Ho-Kus house? We also do VA / NPMA-33 wood-destroying insect reports — see NPMA-33 WDI reports. Not sure whether you have flying ants or termites? Read carpenter ants vs. termites.
Ticks and mosquitoes along the brook and the tree line
Wooded backyards with deer passing through are prime tick country. What helps:
Where ticks wait
The edge between lawn and woods, leaf piles, stone walls and ground cover. Mowing that edge short and keeping play areas away from it makes a real difference.
Why they're everywhere
Deer, mice and chipmunks carry ticks into yards. A fence helps with deer, but mice and chipmunks still bring ticks in.
Mosquito breeding spots
Clogged gutters, buckets, tarps, planter saucers and low wet corners near the brook. Dumping standing water weekly cuts down the next batch.
Yard treatment
We spray yards for ticks, mosquitoes and fleas. Mosquito treatment starts from $95 plus tax, with a free estimate for the property.
More on tick spray for yards and mosquito control. Pets that roam the yard should also be on tick prevention from your vet.
Exterminator in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ: every pest we treat
Ho-Ho-Kus doesn't have its own topic pages yet, so each pest links to our New Jersey page:
| Pest | What it usually looks like in Ho-Ho-Kus | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Mice and rats | Mice in the basement and garage once nights turn cold; rats near compost, bird feeders and sheds | Mouse and rat control |
| Roaches | Usually a few big water bugs in a damp basement; German roaches are less common in single-family homes | Water bug control |
| Bed bugs | Brought home from travel, college dorms or used furniture | Bed bug treatment |
| Ants | Odorous house ants in kitchens in spring; carpenter ants in damp wood | Ant control in NJ |
| Termites | Swarmers in a basement in spring; mud tubes on old foundations | Termite control |
| Wasps and bees | Yellow jackets in the lawn and stone walls; hornets in the trees; honey bee swarms | Bee and wasp removal |
| Squirrels and raccoons | Attics, chimneys, soffits and under decks | Wildlife exclusion |
| Mosquitoes and ticks | Wooded yard edges and wet spots near the brook | Flea and tick control |
| Stink bugs and lady beetles | Gathering on sunny siding in fall | Stink bug control |
Honey bees are never exterminated — we relocate them with a local beekeeper.
How a Ho-Ho-Kus visit works
Call or text
Tell us what you're seeing and send a photo if you can. We'll often know the pest before we arrive and can tell you if it's urgent.
Schedule
We set a time on our northwest Bergen route. Same-day is often available, but most Ho-Ho-Kus visits are booked a day or two out.
Inspect the whole property
Roofline, attic, foundation, garage, decks and yard edge — on a wooded lot the cause is often outside the room where you noticed the problem.
Free estimate and plan
You get a clear plan and a free estimate before any work starts: treatment, exclusion, repairs, follow-up.
Treat, seal and follow up
We do the work, come back when the job calls for it, and close up the entry points so the problem doesn't return next season.
Odors, droppings and dead animals
In a large attic, an animal problem can go on for months before anyone notices. By the time we're called, there may be droppings, urine-soaked insulation and a smell that comes through the ceiling on warm days. Sometimes an animal has died in a wall, a crawl space or a chimney.
We do dead animal removal from attics, walls and around the property. After the animals are out and the house is sealed, we offer odor control and HEPA cleanup, and we remove and replace soiled attic insulation. Cleaning up properly matters: the scent left behind is what draws the next squirrel or mouse to the same spot.
Read more about dead animal removal and attic cleanup and sanitation.
Related pages for Ho-Ho-Kus homeowners
Get a free estimate in Ho-Ho-Kus
Call or text with what you're seeing and a photo if you have one. We'll explain the plan, schedule a visit and give you a free estimate — in English or Spanish.
Why Ho-Ho-Kus homeowners call Silver Bullet
- Licensed: NJ License 90568B, plus NJ Fish and Wildlife licensing for wildlife work
- Wildlife exclusion with one-way doors — no trapping and relocating
- Our own crew repairs chewed trim and termite-damaged wood
- Free estimates, same-day often available
- 4.9 stars on Google and over 15 years of experience
Request Service
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Ho-Ho-Kus pest control questions
Who does pest control in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control does pest control and wildlife exclusion in Ho-Ho-Kus for homes and small businesses. We're licensed (NJ License 90568B), based in Garfield, and give free estimates at 973-510-2585.
How far away are you from Ho-Ho-Kus?
We're based in Garfield, usually about 25 to 35 minutes away by Route 17 depending on traffic. Same-day appointments are often available, but most Ho-Ho-Kus visits are scheduled a day or two ahead.
Is your Ridgewood page the same as Ho-Ho-Kus?
No. Ho-Ho-Kus is its own borough just north of Ridgewood, and this is its own page. We serve both towns, and the wildlife and wood-insect problems are similar because both have older homes and a lot of mature trees.
What's making noise in my attic at night?
Heavy thumping at night usually means raccoons, and light scurrying after dark often means flying squirrels or mice. Gray squirrels are noisiest in the early morning and late afternoon.
Do you trap and relocate squirrels and raccoons?
No. We use one-way doors so the animals leave on their own, then seal and repair the entry points so they can't get back in.
How do I know if I have carpenter bees?
Look for large bees hovering near the eaves or deck and perfectly round holes, about the width of a finger, in unpainted or weathered wood. We offer carpenter bee treatment.
Are big black ants in my kitchen carpenter ants?
They may be, especially if you see them at night or find small piles of wood debris. Carpenter ants nest in damp wood, so we look for the nest and the moisture problem behind it.
Can you treat my yard for ticks?
Yes. We spray yards for ticks, mosquitoes and fleas, focusing on the wooded edges and shady areas where ticks wait. Mosquito treatment starts from $95 plus tax.
Do you repair termite damage?
Yes. After treating the termites, our own crew repairs damaged sill plates, joists, beams and framing.
Do you remove dead animals?
Yes. We remove dead animals from attics, walls and around the property, and can follow up with odor control, HEPA cleanup and insulation replacement.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency service?
No, we don't run a 24-hour line. Call or text and we'll fit urgent problems, like a raccoon in the living space, in as soon as we can.
¿Hablan español?
Sí, hablamos español. Llame o mande un texto al 973-510-2585 para un presupuesto gratis en Ho-Ho-Kus.
Also serving towns near Ho-Ho-Kus
From Garfield we cover Ho-Ho-Kus and the Bergen and Passaic County towns between here and our base.
Recent jobs near Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Real photos from our recent jobs. We show only the street and town, never the customer's exact address.
Bee & wasp removal for a home on Springfield Avenue in Summit, NJ by Silver Bullet Pest Control.
Our service area
Bergen County
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Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B