Pest Control in Todt Hill, Staten Island
Todt Hill rises to roughly 400 feet, making it the highest natural point on the Atlantic coastal plain south of Maine and one of the most exclusive places to live in New York City. Winding roads such as Todt Hill Road and Ocean Terrace climb past large homes set on wooded acreage, many hidden behind stone walls and gates. The neighborhood borders the Staten Island Greenbelt, a vast network of woods and trails, and the Richmond County Country Club. Moravian Cemetery, home to the Vanderbilt family mausoleum, lies on the hill's southern flank. A NYCHA development and cooperative apartments near Manor Road add a mix of housing.
About Todt Hill
Todt Hill's name is often traced to a Dutch or German word for dead, possibly referring to its thin, rocky soil, which made farming difficult. The serpentine rock beneath the hill kept development sparse through the nineteenth century, when only a few estates dotted the slopes. After the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened in 1964, affluent families built large custom homes on its wooded lots, and the hill became known as one of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods.
Common Pest Problems in Todt Hill
Few neighborhoods in New York are as intertwined with woodland as Todt Hill. The Greenbelt's forests reach right up to many backyards, and raccoons, squirrels and other wildlife move freely between the trees and the large homes. Big houses with complex rooflines, multiple chimneys and extensive attics offer plenty of potential entry points, and raccoons often take up residence during late winter. Little brown bats sometimes roost in attic spaces and behind shutters, entering through gaps as narrow as half an inch.
The hill's rocky outcrops, stone walls and leaf-covered slopes provide habitat for garter snakes and other nonvenomous species that can wander into garages, pool houses and basements. Extensive landscaped lawns are also prime territory for moles, whose tunnels disrupt carefully maintained turf. Many homes include elaborate decks, pergolas and wooden outbuildings that invite subterranean termites, and the moist, shaded soil under the tree canopy helps colonies thrive for years before anyone notices damage.