Pest Control in Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood sits at the northern tip of Manhattan, north of Dyckman Street and bordered by the Hudson River, the Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek. It is home to Inwood Hill Park, which contains the island's last natural forest and salt marsh. The neighborhood has a large Dominican community and a lively restaurant and nightlife scene along Dyckman Street, while quieter residential blocks feature spacious prewar Art Deco apartment buildings. The Dyckman Farmhouse, built around 1784, is the oldest remaining farmhouse in Manhattan. Columbia's athletic complex sits on the northern edge. The A train terminates at 207th Street, and the 1 runs along the elevated tracks on Tenth Avenue.
Also known as: Upper Manhattan.
About Inwood
Lenape people lived in the area, and legend says Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan near what is now Inwood Hill Park. Dutch farmers, including the Dyckman family, worked the land for centuries. The area stayed rural until the subway arrived in the early 1900s and apartment buildings followed in the 1920s and 1930s. Irish and Jewish residents were later joined by a large Dominican population, and a 2018 rezoning spurred new development.
Common Pest Problems in Inwood
Inwood Hill Park's forest, salt marsh and rocky ridges make Inwood unique in Manhattan, supporting raccoons that den in the woods and sometimes explore trash areas, building courtyards and roof spaces. Squirrels are abundant and can get into apartment buildings near the park. Waterfront areas along the Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek provide rats with shelter, and the restaurant strip along Dyckman Street feeds them. Park visitors leaving food behind attract rats too.
Prewar apartment buildings share walls and plumbing, allowing mice and German cockroaches to travel between units. Basements near the river and marsh tend to be damp, attracting house centipedes. The elevated 1 train and the rail yard near 207th Street also provide habitat for rats and pigeons. Inwood's position between two rivers and its low-lying areas near Sherman Creek mean moisture can affect basements, and new construction following the 2018 rezoning has disturbed soil and pushed rodents into nearby buildings.