Wapello County · 52501
Pest Control in Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is one of our home markets — we run jobs across Wapello County every week. The Des Moines River cuts through downtown, which means heavy mosquito pressure for half the year, and Ottumwa's older industrial buildings, Pickwick neighborhood Victorians, and IHCC student rentals all bring their own pest challenges. We're veteran-owned, headquartered just up the road in Albia, and our techs know this town.
Ottumwa by the numbers
Quick facts about Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa.
- Founded
- 1843
- Population
- ~25,000
- County
- Wapello County (seat)
- Elevation
- 650 ft
- Land area
- ~16 sq mi
- On the river
- Des Moines River
- Major employer
- John Deere Ottumwa Works
- Notable
- Hometown of 'Radar' O'Reilly
A short history of Ottumwa
Ottumwa was founded in 1843 on a bend of the Des Moines River and incorporated in 1857. The name comes from a Sauk and Meskwaki word often translated as 'rippling waters' or 'place of rest.' For its first century the city's economy ran on river trade, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and meatpacking — at one point the John Morrell & Co. plant employed thousands and made Ottumwa one of the largest pork-processing cities in the United States.
John Deere Ottumwa Works opened in 1947 and is still one of the city's largest employers, producing hay and forage equipment for global markets. Indian Hills Community College, founded in 1966, brings thousands of students to town each year.
Ottumwa is also the fictional hometown of Corporal Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly from M*A*S*H, and a small Radar statue stands downtown. The city served as the regional anchor of southeast Iowa for more than 150 years and remains the largest city in the area we serve south of Des Moines.
Services we provide in Ottumwa
- Ant Control
- Cockroach Control
- Bed Bug Treatment
- Rodent Control & Exclusion
- Termite Inspection & Treatment
- Spider Control
- Mosquito Control
- Box Elder & Asian Beetle Control
- Commercial Pest Control
- Agricultural & Barn Pest Control
- Quarterly Maintenance Plan
Common Ottumwa pest problems
Spring through fall, the Des Moines River corridor through Ottumwa is one of the worst mosquito environments in the state. We treat yards in Pickwick, North Court, and homes anywhere within a mile of the river — barrier sprays cut bites by 80–90% for 3–4 weeks at a time.
Older Ottumwa homes — especially in the Pickwick and downtown areas — have stone and brick foundations that make perfect rodent entry points. Mouse and rat work makes up a big share of our Ottumwa service calls in fall and winter.
Industrial Ottumwa (the airport area, food processing facilities, the Bridge View Center surroundings) sees commercial pest pressure year-round — flies, rodents, stored-product pests. We service multiple commercial accounts in this corridor.
Carpenter ants love Ottumwa's older neighborhoods. April through June we run multiple carpenter ant calls per week, especially in homes with mature trees, wood porches, and any history of moisture damage.
Neighborhoods we serve in Ottumwa
- Pickwick
- North Court
- Downtown
- IHCC Area
- Industrial / Airport
- South Ottumwa
Why Ottumwa homeowners choose Pest Control Techs
We're 25 minutes from downtown Ottumwa. When you call, we're not dispatching from a state away — we're already in Wapello County most days. Same-day service is our default for Ottumwa, not an exception.
We also service Eldon, Agency, Blakesburg, Ottumwa Heights, and the Lake Wapello State Park area in the same trips.
Our full service area
Ottumwa is part of our Central & Southeast Iowa coverage area.
"Showed up the same day, professional, fair price. Easy to recommend to anyone in Ottumwa."
— Recent Ottumwa customer
Ottumwa pest control FAQ
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