Pests to know in Eau Claire
Termites in Eau Claire
UW-Madison entomologists say termites are quite rare in Wisconsin and occur only in isolated pockets, where damage develops slowly compared with southern states.[5]
Invasive species reported here
Eau Claire's Forestry Division has removed more than 8,000 public ash trees since emerald ash borer was found in Wisconsin in 2008, while diversifying the city's tree canopy.[4]
Pests local experts flag
The blacklegged ticks that spread Lyme disease live in every Wisconsin county, and Lyme is the state's most common tick-borne illness.[8]
Climate
Central Eau Claire (ZIP 54701) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 4b, where the average coldest winter night is -25 to -20°F.[10]
Public agencies that handle pests
- The health department investigates and enforces state, county, and city rules on insect infestations that matter for public health, and advises residents on controlling disease-carrying insects.[1]
- The Eau Claire City-County Health Department does not test ticks brought in by residents; it points people to the state's online tick identification program instead.[1]
- If you wake up with a bat in the room, Eau Claire health officials ask you to capture it without releasing it so it can be tested for rabies, then call the health department.[2]
Local rules and responsibilities
- Under local housing rules, an Eau Claire tenant must handle pests when only their own unit is infested; the owner is responsible when two or more units or shared areas are affected.[3]
- Owners are also responsible when a pest problem stems from failing to keep the home rodent-proof or reasonably insect-proof.[3]
Hiring a licensed company
In Wisconsin, any business doing commercial pest control must hold a state license renewed every year, and that includes sole proprietors.[7]
Free local help
UW-Madison Extension Eau Claire County fields residents' gardening questions and links them to UW-Madison's Insect Diagnostic Lab and Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.[6]
Through the year
- Spring to Fall
- The Eau Claire City-County Health Department traps and identifies mosquitoes from May to September, placing traps around the City of Eau Claire and Eau Claire County to monitor local species.[1]
- Spring to Fall
- Local health officials say tick-bite prevention is most needed in Wisconsin from April through October.[1]
- Summer to Fall
- Wisconsin health officials say West Nile virus risk is highest in August and September, though it exists whenever mosquitoes are active.[9]
Sources
- Eau Claire City-County Health Department, “Insects: Ticks, Mosquitoes.” www.eauclairecounty.gov/departments/health/health_topics/insects_ticks_mosquitoes.php (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Eau Claire City-County Health Department, “Animals: Animal Bites & Rabies.” www.eauclairecounty.gov/departments/health/health_topics/animals_animal_bites_rabies_keeping_chickens.php (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Eau Claire City-County Health Department, “Housing Inspections - Eau Claire City & County.” www.eauclairecounty.gov/departments/health/inspections_testing/housing_inspections_eau_claire_city_and_county.php (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Eau Claire, “Boulevard Tree Information.” www.eauclairewi.gov/488/Boulevard-Tree-Information (accessed 2026-10-06)
- UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab, “Termite Worker.” insectid.wisc.edu/2014/05/20/termite-worker/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- UW-Madison Extension Eau Claire County, “Gardening & Horticulture Resources.” eauclaire.extension.wisc.edu/horticulture-2/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Wisconsin DATCP, “Structural Pesticide Applications Compliance Checklist.” datcp.wi.gov/Documents/HTCStructural.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services, “Lyme Disease.” www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/tick/lyme.htm (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services, “About West Nile Virus.” www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mosquito/wnv-about.htm (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 54701 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/54701.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)