Colorado is home to an abundance of rodents. Although most rodents remain outdoors where they belong, these pests can become a problem when they decide to make your home their residence! It’s essential to understand what these potentially harmful pests look like, what problems they can cause if they get inside your Colorado home, and how to keep them out. Our rodent prevention guide will help.

denver wood rat

Common Colorado rodents

Some rodents are happy to stay outdoors, but others will come inside uninvited and wreak havoc in and on your home. The two most common home-invading rodents in Colorado are mice and wood rats. 

Mice
Mice are small in size but can be pretty destructive. House mice and deer mice are the most common species in Colorado, and both can get into your house. They are similar in size, growing from two to four inches long, not counting their tails. House mice tend to be dusty gray, while deer mice are often browner in color with white underbellies. One of the most noticeable differences between these mice species is their tails. House mice have bare tails, and deer mice have tails covered in short hairs.

Wood rats
Wood rats (pictured above) are among the most common rat species in Colorado. Also called pack rats, these rodents collect materials, particularly shiny objects, to build complex nests. They grow to about eight or nine inches long, not including their tails. Wood rats have grayish-brown fur, big eyes and ears, and furry tails.

The problems rodents cause in Colorado homes

When rodents infest homes, they are some of the worst pests because they can cause many problems. Not only are they destructive to property, but they also create health risks. 

The destruction of property that occurs when rodents enter homes is no minor issue. They can cause thousands of dollars in damage, mainly due to their need to constantly wear down their teeth. Rodents have incisors that never stop growing, so they gnaw on anything and everything to keep their teeth at a manageable length. When rodents enter houses, they damage not only your personal belongings but also pipes, HVAC components, electrical wires, insulation, and much more.

Rodents will also spread diseases throughout your house. As they search for food and nesting supplies, they’ll crawl across your counters and walk through your cabinets, leaving a trail of contaminated droppings as they go. Consuming foods contaminated by rodents can lead to health issues, including salmonellosis (i.e., food poisoning).

Rodents also often carry and introduce fleas, ticks, and other external parasites, which may be transferred to people and cause health problems.

How to prevent rodent infestations in your home

The key to a rodent-free home is to make it as unwelcoming as possible to these damaging critters. Take the following steps to prevent a rodent infestation:

  • Keep food in sealed containers.
  • Clean up spills, crumbs, and food immediately.
  • Empty indoor trash cans regularly.
  • Seal all entry points into your home, remembering a mouse only needs a hole the size of a dime to access your home.
  • Use weather-stripping around doors and windows.
  • Keep trees, shrubs, and mulch away from your home's foundation.
  • Keep pet food in sealed containers.
  • Eliminate moisture in and around your house, fixing leaking pipes.
  • Remove potential harborage areas around your yard.

Eliminating food, water, and shelter opportunities will make it harder for rodents to enter your home. 

Expert rodent control in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs & NoCo

If, despite your best efforts to prevent them, you still end up with a rodent infestation, all hope is not lost. The sooner you identify and deal with an infestation, the less damage and harm the rodents will be able to cause in your house. Quick action is necessary, and EnviroPest is your best choice for fast and effective rodent control services in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Northern Colorado.

At EnviroPest, we implement the most advanced rodent control service available to offer you 24/7 rodent protection with our digital rodent monitoring. The Anticimex SMART system detects rodent activity, pinpoints potential problem areas, and alerts our technicians of any issues so that you don’t have to think about it. Best of all, it’s included in Colorado's Choice SMART Service, our home pest control plan!

Get peace of mind with total rodent protection from EnviroPest. Contact us today to get started.

Introducing Enviro Guard - our rodent exclusion service

EnviroPest is also pleased to offer Enviro Guard, a rodent and pest exclusion service that uses industry-grade materials such as caulking, weather stripping, metal screening, netting, expanding cloth, or other hardware solutions to make sure rodents and insects cannot enter homes. Our highly trained technicians carefully install these materials to eliminate potential entryways and discourage pests from nesting nearby. What's more, this service comes with a one-year replacement and labor warranty.

If you're interested in keeping rodents out with professional pest-proofing, contact us today to schedule an inspection!

This blog originally published October 6, 2017; it has been updated to reflect the most relevant information.