Common Ranch Pests and How to Deal with Them

Ranches in Colorado are often far from civilization. They are perfect for enjoying the fresh air in the outdoors and taking in the natural beauty of the state. Living in the wilderness, however, can often present special problems that you would not experience in an urban environment—like pests.

Luckily, there are easy solutions to help control or stop pests that can cause harm to property or people. The following are some of the most common pests that can appear in the wilderness of Colorado.

Big and Small Rodents

The most common rodents out in the wilderness are rats or mice. These pests can be easily identified by looking for signs of chewing outside of your home or droppings in places where food is stored. In urban environments, these rodents tend to be communal, but out in the wild, rats and mice tend to be solitary, which is helpful.

To take care of smaller rodents, you can make a humane trap with some bait and string. There are many different types of traps available online. In order to prevent them from invading your home, you should make sure all food is stored in closed containers and away from openings to the outside.

While they are not rodents, opossums and raccoons present problems similar to rodents. Both of these mammals like to dig through the trash in search of food. Using closed containers for trash is the best way to deter them.

Ants

The most common insects that will invade your home are ants. While they are mostly harmless, they can become a real problem if they spread into enough colonies. This is especially true of fire ants that have a very painful sting.

Spraying common entryways such as doorways and windows will stop ants from entering the house. Most of the time, if you find a trail of ants leading near the house, you can spray a majority of the trail to disrupt the line and stop them from invading. It is always good to use pesticide on an anthill as soon as it is discovered to prevent the ants from spreading through your property.

Mosquitos and Ticks

These are two common pests that can be a nuisance in the wilderness. Both can be carriers of certain illnesses and are generally bothersome.

Ticks are easily controlled by removing their typical environment; you should keep tall grass cut short so they do not have a place where they might cling to the legs of a passing person or animal. Wearing sprays that contain DEET will deter them from biting as well.

Mosquitos, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult. The best way to remove them is by getting rid of any source of standing water. Spraying with repellent and using torches or candles with citronella can also help repel mosquitos.

Despite the possibilities of pests, ranches in Colorado are rewarding ventures that are sure to bring you satisfaction in life. If you are planning to move out into the wilderness, you should make sure to take precautions to prevent pests from going into your home. Once you have taken these measures, you will never have to worry again.