Category: Front Range Pest

Most people look forward to spring, with warm days, green grass, and budding flowers. However, it’s also the beginning of general pest and insect season, bringing ants, spiders, stinging insects, and wasps closer to our homes. With proactive measures and expert insights, you can enjoy the warmer months in peace, without unwelcome guests. Here’s your guide to preparing for the upcoming pest season.

Understanding the Threat

Around April, we see a significant increase in pest activity. The warmer temperatures are perfect for ants to start their forays into homes in search of food. Spiders come out of hiding to prey on these insects, often making their way into our living spaces. Stinging insects like wasps and other flying nuisances become more active, building nests that can pose risks to your family and pets.

Early Prevention is Key

• Seal Entry Points: Begin with a thorough inspection of your home. Seal cracks and crevices around windows, doors, and the foundation to block entry points for pests.

• Eliminate Standing Water: Stagnant water is a breeding ground for many insects. Ensure gutters are clean and downspouts are directing water away from your home. Repair leaky faucets and ensure your yard drains properly to discourage pests.

• Keep Your Yard Tidy: Overgrown vegetation can provide shelter and breeding sites for pests. Keep your lawn trimmed and remove debris where insects could nest.

• Store Food and Waste Properly: Ensure food is stored in sealed containers and keep your kitchen clean. Regularly dispose of garbage in sealed receptacles to avoid attracting ants and other pests.

Professional Pest Control Services

While DIY measures are a good start, professional pest control services such as Front Range Pest offer the expertise and resources needed to protect your home. We provide:

• Customized Treatment Plans: Tailored strategies that address your area’s specific pests and your home’s unique vulnerabilities.

• Preventative Treatments: Regularly scheduled treatments throughout the season can prevent infestations before they start.

• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your home is protected against pests allows you to enjoy your summer without worry.

Stay Vigilant

Regularly inspect your home for signs of pests. Catching an issue early can make a significant difference in the ease and cost of treatment. Look for signs like ant trails, spider webs, or wasp nests forming under eaves.

As we embrace the warmer months in Colorado and Wyoming, don’t let pests dampen your spirits. By taking early preventative measures and contacting Front Range Pest for unruly pest situations, you can protect your home and enjoy a pest-free summer. Remember, the key to effective pest management is not just to react but to prepare. So, let’s get ready for the season and ensure our homes and businesses remain a sanctuary setting for us, not for pests.

For a prompt inspection of your pest problem, contact us for a reliable, effective solution! 

Front Range Pest is your trusted, family-owned pest and wildlife control company serving central Colorado and southern Wyoming. Our certified technicians have the expertise and credentials to ensure effective pest management for your home or business. As your all-in-one insect and wildlife specialists, we offer peace of mind by identifying wildlife entry points, removing nuisance pests, sealing access areas, performing cleanup, and making essential repairs. Schedule an inspection with us today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

As the snow melts and the days lengthen, Colorado residents might notice more than just the return of warm weather and blooming flowers. Spring marks the beginning of the roosting season for many bat species, a natural process that can lead to close encounters with these winged inhabitants, particularly in the cozy confines of our attics and barns.

Understanding Bats

Bats are a crucial part of Colorado’s ecosystem, essential in controlling insect populations and pollinating plants. Colorado is home to 18 bat species, including the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) and the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus), known to roost in human structures. Bats inhabit all types of environments throughout the state, ranging from the eastern plains and lofty mountain woodlands to the western deserts and even in urban areas from countryside villages to the heart of Denver. They play a crucial role in pollinating flora and agricultural produce and managing insect numbers, as all species of bats in our region consume insects.

Why Bats Choose Attics

Attics offer a warm, sheltered environment for bats to roost, breed, and rear their young. These spaces mimic the natural cavities found in trees, providing a perfect substitute for bat colonies. During spring, female bats seek out safe places to form maternity colonies and give birth, making attics an attractive option.

If a single bat enters a building, often it’s because a door or window was left open. Typically, the bat will exit on its own if there’s an open window or door. Should the bat remain indoors, you can gently capture and release it with these steps:

• Wear leather gloves, wait for the bat to land, then cover it with a small container.
• Insert a piece of cardboard between the container and the wall, allowing the bat to fall into the container.
• Release the bat outside, ideally near trees or shelter.

Identifying a Bat Infestation

A bat colony in your house can pose a significant health risk to humans and domestic animals, and the noise and odors from a large group can be bothersome. Such colonies often represent maternity roosts. Convincing these bats to vacate can be challenging, as common deterrents like mothballs and ultrasonic devices are ineffective. Moreover, using pesticides or poisons against bats is illegal, as this could lead to dead bats decomposing within your home and increase the risk of exposure to humans and pets. The signs of a bat infestation include:

• Noises: Scratching, squeaking, or crawling sounds in walls or attics, especially at dusk or dawn.
• Guano: Bat droppings resemble mouse droppings but are larger and contain insect parts.
• Stains: Grease marks where bats enter and exit, along with urine stains on walls or insulation.
• Odor: A strong, musky odor from bat guano and urine.

While bats play a beneficial role outdoors, they may cause health risks inside your home. Bat guano can harbor the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease. Moreover, although rare, bats can carry rabies, a risk to humans and pets if bitten.

Preventing and Managing Bat Infestations

If bats have already taken up residence, consider hiring a pest control professional specializing in humane bat removal, such as Front Range Pest. We can implement exclusion methods that allow bats to leave but prevent them from returning without harming them. Excluding bats, especially maternity roosts, is best done in late summer or fall to ensure the young bats can independently forage.

Pre-Spring Bat Inspection & Exclusion:

• Check your attic: Look for entry points, such as cracks or holes in the roof, vents, or eaves.
• Inspect the entire building: Seach for entry points, such as chimneys, vents, and gaps in soffits or joists, and look for signs like staining or bat droppings that indicate entrances.
• Conduct observations: At dusk to see where bats enter/exit the building.
• Monitor Active Entrances: Over several evenings to gauge the size of the bat colony.
• Install One-Way Bat Exclusion Devices: At entrance points, allowing bats to leave but preventing their return.
• Make Needed Repairs: Seal up all other potential entry points near the exclusion sites, including gaps larger than ¼ inch.
• Keep the exclusion devices in place for at least a week to ensure all bats have exited.
• Remove the devices and permanently seal the entry points.
• Maintain the property by trimming tree branches away from the house to limit access.

Coexisting with Bats

It’s important to remember that bats are protected under Colorado law and benefit the environment. Any attempt to remove or deter bats must be humane and comply with state regulations. Consider creating a bat-friendly environment on your property, such as installing a bat house. This can provide bats with an alternative roosting spot away from your home while allowing them to continue their vital role in the ecosystem. As spring approaches in Colorado, being mindful of our winged neighbors and taking proactive steps can ensure a peaceful coexistence. By understanding bats’ habits and needs, we can appreciate their role in our environment while keeping our homes safe and healthy.

If you suspect bats in your home or office, contact Front Range Pest for humane and effective removal.

Front Range Pest is your trusted, family-owned pest and wildlife control company serving central Colorado and southern Wyoming. Our certified technicians have the expertise and credentials to ensure effective pest management for your home or business. As your all-in-one insect and wildlife specialists, we offer peace of mind by identifying wildlife entry points, removing nuisance pests, sealing access areas, performing cleanup, and making essential repairs. Schedule an inspection with us today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

Exclusion trapping is a humane pest control method that involves capturing animals at their entry points into buildings, rather than using baited traps placed randomly. This technique is part of a broader approach known as wildlife exclusion, aimed at permanently removing nuisance animals from structures. The strategies employed in exclusion trapping are tailored to specific species, with the primary goal being to prevent these animals from re-entering the property once they’ve been excluded.

This method offers numerous advantages. Since the trap intercepts the animal directly at its entry or exit point, there’s no need for bait, which eliminates the need for constant monitoring and replenishment. This specificity also increases the likelihood of capturing the intended animal, reducing the chances of accidentally trapping non-target wildlife. Exclusion trapping proves especially effective for animals living within the structure itself, such as in the roof or chimney, and is adaptable to various situations.

Exclusion Traps Are Used For:

• Bats
• Birds/Pigeons
• Squirrels/Rock Chucks  
• Mink/Muskrat
• Skunks
• Opossums 
• Raccoons

To manage bats and birds humanely, we utilize one-way devices that let them leave a structure but prevent their return. For squirrels and other small wildlife, exclusion trapping is effective, particularly when ground trapping is impractical because it doesn’t guarantee that the captured squirrel is the one entering the roof. By positioning the trap at their entry point, exclusion trapping ensures that the specific animal causing issues is caught. For larger animals like raccoons, which have clear entry and exit routes, traps are placed directly outside these points. If the opening doesn’t accommodate a trap well, modifications are made to ensure a snug fit, facilitating effective capture while prioritizing animal safety.

Common Exclusion Points of Entry:

• Chimney
• Roof Vents
• Roof/Fascia Spaces & Roof/Soffit Intersection
• Plumbing Vents & Pipes
• Oven & Bathroom Exhaust Vents
• Holes in Siding
• Porch & Deck
• Trees & Landscaping k

Installing chimney caps, screens, and sealing vents and pipes effectively prevents wildlife breaches. Ensuring the roofline is fortified with durable materials and eliminating any gaps is crucial to stop animals from entering. Promptly fixing any siding holes and discouraging nesting near porches or decks with sturdy screening are also key steps. Additionally, managing overhanging branches and nearby vegetation can deter animal access.

Front Range Pest technicians possess the expertise to tailor exclusion traps to both the specific pest and the building’s architecture. These traps are strategically placed over entry points, capturing animals as they exit at night. Some traps may need support for correct positioning, and covered traps are sometimes used to maintain the trapped animal’s calm by limiting its visibility until it can be safely released back into the wild. Exclusion trapping is highly adaptable, with a no one-size-fits-all approach, ensuring each job is customized for optimal results.

Wildlife Invasion? Call a Pro!

Although some wildlife may seem small and harmless, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks they pose. Wild animals can carry diseases and parasites, and their bites can be painful and dangerous. To safeguard your health and that of your family, it’s advisable to contact a trained professional to address any wildlife concerns.

Has wildlife breached your home or business? Contact Front Range Pest today for prompt removal!

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Front Range Pest is your trusted, family-owned pest and wildlife control company serving central Colorado and southern Wyoming. Our certified technicians have the expertise and credentials to ensure effective pest management for your home or business. As your all-in-one insect and wildlife specialists, we offer peace of mind by identifying wildlife entry points, removing nuisance pests, sealing access areas, performing cleanup, and making essential repairs. Schedule an inspection with us today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

As the autumn leaves begin to paint Colorado’s landscape with hues of gold and red, it’s not just the scenery that changes. October also brings a shift in the world of pests, with ants becoming more prominent visitors in our homes. We explore the common challenges posed by ants in Colorado and offer tips on how to manage them effectively.

Problematic Ants on the Move

Colorado’s cool October weather often sends ants marching into homes in search of warmth and sustenance. Common culprits include pavement ants, carpenter ants, sugar ants, and field ants. These tiny invaders can quickly become a nuisance as they forage for food, particularly sweets and proteins, in your kitchen and pantry. Carpenter ants are in search of moist wood to build their nest site, not eat as some may think. They use their strong jaws to excavate and tunnel through soft wood, leaving dust piles in their track.

Ants are social insects, meaning they work closely together with other ants of their species to live and work. So, when you see one ant, there are always more! Each ant colony consists of three groups: the queen and male breeders, soldiers, and workers. The first group keeps the colony going; the soldiers protect the queen and the nest, and the workers do everything else. Worker ants are responsible for finding food to supply the nest, making them a considerable inconvenience if they invade your residence or workplace. Worker carpenter ants also forage for food and seek suitable places to live, such as damp floor joists or attic trusses.

If left unchecked, the population of an ant colony can rapidly increase in size, making the removal process much more tedious. Although carpenter ant nests tend to have a smaller population than other species, they expand more gradually. However, if left unattended over time, carpenter ants can seriously damage the integrity of your home structure. No matter the type, it’s best to contact a pest control company ASAP when an ant invasion has been spotted.

Naturally Managing Ants

Preventing ants from entering your home in the first place is a proactive approach to pest management. Ensure your home is well-sealed, with no cracks or gaps that could serve as entry points for pests. Keep your kitchen and dining areas clean. Ants are attracted to food residue, so wipe down countertops, sweep floors, and clean up spills promptly. Plant natural barriers such as mint, hot peppers, and sage, or scatter coffee grounds, which repel ants but will nurture your soil. Also, keep your yard well groomed and remove dead wood and debris that can serve as a nesting site for ants and other insects.

• Tip: Inspect your home’s exterior for potential entry points and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
• Tip: Keep food sealed in airtight containers, clean up crumbs promptly, and fix any leaky faucets or pipes to deter ant infestations.
• Tip: Keep your landscape tidy and plant native vegetation that helps deter pests.
• Tip: Using equal parts white vinegar and water solution, spray on ant trails and entry points, which may disrupt their scent trails and deter ants from returning.

Professional Ant Control and Extermination

At Front Range Pest, we recognize that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for eradicating ants. To develop the most effective plan, it’s crucial to identify the ant species, pinpoint the nest’s location, and assess the extent of the infestation. Conventional ant bait traps, particularly for restaurants and multi-unit residences, are often ineffective. Dealing with carpenter ants is a complex and time-intensive process, requiring professional pest control assistance. Depending on your specific situation, we offer guidance on non-invasive habitat adjustments, employ perimeter pesticide applications with targeted treatments and ant baits, locate and eliminate the nest, and implement structural enhancements to safeguard your home or business as needed.

Don’t let a small ant problem become a BIG ant problem. Contact Front Range Pest today!

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Front Range Pest is your trusted, family-owned pest and wildlife control company serving central Colorado and southern Wyoming. Our certified technicians have the expertise and credentials to ensure effective pest management for your home or business. As your all-in-one insect and wildlife specialists, we offer peace of mind by identifying wildlife entry points, removing nuisance pests, sealing access areas, performing cleanup, and making essential repairs. Schedule an inspection with us today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

As Coloradoans bid farewell to the warmth of summer and welcome the crisp air of fall and winter, there’s another change on the horizon – the movement of insects. The cooler weather often drives many critters to find shelter; unfortunately, our homes can be very inviting. Here’s what you need to know about the most common insects seeking refuge and how to keep them at bay.

Common Cooler Weather Invaders

• Boxelder Bugs: Recognizable by their black and orange-red markings, these bugs are harmless but can invade homes in large numbers.
• Asian Lady Beetles: Unlike their native counterparts, these lady beetles are known to seek shelter indoors during winter.
• Stink Bugs: Named for the unpleasant odor they release when threatened or crushed, stink bugs often enter homes in the fall.
• Cluster Flies: These flies hibernate over winter, often choosing warm houses over the cold outdoors.

Why Insects Seek Our Homes as Shelter

As cold-blooded creatures, insects rely on their environment to regulate body temperature. When outdoor conditions become unfavorable, instinct drives them to find warmer habitats to survive. Homes make for ideal havens with their consistent heating and lack of predators.  

Preventing Insect Invasions

• Seal Entry Points: Examine your home for cracks and gaps, especially around windows, doors, and utility entries. Caulking or using weather-stripping can help seal these entry points.
• Maintain Landscaping: Keeping vegetation away from the immediate perimeter of your home can reduce the number of insects drawn to your residence.
• Reduce Indoor Attractions: Ensure food is stored securely and address any moisture problems, as both can attract pests.
• Install Screens: Window and door screens, especially those with fine mesh, can be instrumental in keeping flying insects out.
• Routine Pest Control: Regular inspections and treatments from a pest control expert is usually always the best defense in warding off potential invasions.

If insects find their way into your home, there are several steps you can take to address the issue. For starters, vacuuming regularly helps, especially in areas where bugs are noticeable. Afterward, dispose of the bag or empty the container outdoors to prevent the pests from returning. Natural repellents such as a diluted mixture of soap and water can ward off certain pests like boxelder bugs, who oppose potent odors. However, if the infestation becomes challenging or persistent, it’s best to seek the expertise of a pest control professional.

Unwelcome insect guests can, unfortunately, mar the breathtaking beauty of Colorado’s cooler months. However, with proactive measures and knowledge, homeowners can effectively reduce the risk of invasion. The old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Stay vigilant and enjoy the peace and comfort of a pest-free home this winter.

Fly Season/Harboring Insect Season Is Here – Schedule Your Barrier Treatment to Keep Pests Out!

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Front Range Pest is a local, family-owned, and operated pest and wildlife control company serving central Colorado and southern Wyoming. Our techs are licensed, insured, and certified with the proper credentials to provide effective pest management for your home or business. As your trustworthy, all-inclusive insect and wildlife specialists, we provide peace of mind by tracking wildlife entry points, removing nuisance pests, properly sealing access areas, cleaning up, and making necessary repairs. Contact us today to schedule an inspection.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/