Bigger Chance Now of Having Rodents in Your Colorado Home

Not many people in Colorado can say they are "fans" of rodents, though they do have a place in the ecosystem. It's time to start bracing ourselves for a surge.

I remember a survey once went out about "our" feelings about bats in the community. "Flying rodents? Not a fan," I recall quipping. Now comes news that more non-flying rodents are likely to be coming to Colorado.

It's not great news.

Rodent Invasion 'Likely' For Colorado

Due to Colorado's summer heatwaves making their regular environment more hostile, a pest expert, Smith’s Pest Management, is warning Coloradans that a rodent invasion for the state is likely.

...the summer heatwaves we’ve experienced have created the perfect storm for a surge in rodent activity. When the environment becomes too hostile for rodents in the wild, they turn to our homes for food and shelter..

So, not only have humans in Colorado been feeling the heat, so have the rodents. Drought conditions that the state has seen doesn't help. July of 2024, was the driest since 1895, according to Drought.gov.

RELATED: If Batman Lived in Colorado, This Would be His House

Drought conditions deplete rodents' food and water supplies; hence, they start moving to where they can find those things, such as our households.

From Smith’s Pest Management:

The lack of natural food sources and diminishing populations of predators, such as birds of prey, exacerbate the problem, allowing rodent populations to grow unchecked.

5 Tips to Keeping Rodents Out of Your Colorado Home:

• Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for any gaps or cracks that rodents could use to enter. Pay special attention to areas around doors, windows, and pipes. Even a small opening can be an entryway for mice or rats.
• Remove Food Sources: Store food in airtight containers, clean up spills immediately, and ensure that garbage is properly sealed and disposed of regularly.
• Eliminate Water Sources: Fix leaky pipes, dripping faucets, and remove standing water where rodents could drink.
• Trim Vegetation: Keep shrubs, trees, and other vegetation trimmed back from your home. This reduces the number of hiding places for rodents near your house.
• Use Rodent Traps: Set traps in areas where you’ve noticed rodent activity. This can help to control populations before they become unmanageable.