Greely Colorado's location at the base of the Rocky Mountains makes it the perfect place for large predators and small nuisance pests alike. Even though winters remain fairly mild in this arid climate, cool weather still drives wildlife into yards and homes.
Humane Wildlife Trapping in Fort Collins
We respect our native Colorado wildlife and want these animals to live healthy lives in their natural habitats, not your homes! Unfortunately, many of these wild animals have found creative ways to enter and set up camp in your home.
This is not only hazardous to the health of the wildlife, but also to you as many wild animals carry disease, may bite when confronted, or may leave droppings in your attic, basement, or crawl space.
Fort Collins supports a healthy population of raccoons. The pests will eat just about anything and tend to stay nearby after they find a source of food. Limiting access to trash and pet food is usually effective in excluding them. However, once a raccoon moves into a home or shed, removal becomes much harder.
Colorado has both ground squirrels and tree squirrels, but the
most common squirrel in Fort Collins backyards is the fox squirrel. Abundant in urban woodlands, these animals are expert climbers. In their search for safe locations to rear young, fox squirrels may enter houses via holes in roofs. The pests can chew insulation, beams, and wiring.
Rat and Mice Pest Control
Colorado has both ground squirrels and tree squirrels, but the
most common squirrel in Fort Collins backyards is the fox squirrel. Abundant in urban woodlands, these animals are expert climbers. In their search for safe locations to rear young, fox squirrels may enter houses via holes in roofs. The pests can chew insulation, beams, and wiring.
There are
18 types of bat in Colorado, some of which like to roost in houses. Because the pests are small and nocturnal, people often don't realize they have a
bat infestation until damage appears. Homeowners with a colony in the attic may notice foul smells, staining on ceilings or siding, and flapping noises between dusk and dawn.
Beavers shape their habitat to suit their needs, building dams that change the depth of rivers and streams. Dams can have a positive impact on the local ecosystem but cause problems for property owners. Beaver activity may lead to flooding, which can add up to costly damage.
Beavers hold a protected status as fur-bearing animals. Troublesome beavers causing damage to property may be eradicated outside of trapping season with the authorization of local wildlife agencies.
Several methods exist for controlling and removing beavers. In most states, it is illegal to destroy or disturb established beaver lodges and dams since the wetlands they create are vital to local ecosystems. In order to manage established beaver populations, drainage systems may be constructed with the assistance of conservation specialists to control the water level. Employing traps to remove problematic beavers is the most effective method. However, traps must be set by experts, such as Critter Control Beaver Specialists, at the underwater entrances of beaver lodges.
Colorado is home to three species of prairie dogs. Active during the day, the
Black-tailed prairie dog does not hibernate but will stay in its burrow for days at a time during colder days. In Colorado, they have one litter of three to eight pups per year in March or April. The pups venture out of their burrows after five to six weeks.
Prairie dogs are easy to observe. They will sit on their mounds during the day when they are most active. Prairie dog mounds are usually 6 to 12 inches high so they can be difficult to spot from a distance. But the mounds are wide (up to 10 feet across!). Prairie dogs are highly social and can live in colonies (prairie dog towns) of up to
40 individuals.
Unlikely to enter a manmade structure, damage occurs in the yard. The burrows destroy lawns, eat gardens, defoliate a ranch, and create tripping hazards for people and livestock. Abandoned burrows become homes to other animals like rabbits, snakes, and spiders.
Inspection- Easy to spot prairie dogs sitting on mounds. Thirty-five mounds per acre is common. A crater- or dome-shaped mound often marks the entrance to a prairie dog hole.
Trapping – Setting up special fences or visual barriers may help to prevent problems with prairie dog tunnels naturally. For a more proactive approach, property owners can set double-door wire traps or flush burrows with soapy water. Fumigants and poisons are legal in Colorado.
Close to both nature and people, Denver gives a coyote access to food and shelter. The curious pests may move into yards to hunt for small animals like rats and rabbits. Coyote attacks on humans in Colorado are rare, but these predators may come into conflict with pets. More common issues with coyotes include scavenging behaviors, such as digging through trash. The pests may also eat from pet bowls or take produce from gardens if food is scarce.