10 best pest control companies in Boulder, Colorado

In Boulder, flies, bees and mice are common pests. You can take action yourself to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you currently have an infestation. A professional pest control service in Boulder can diagnose, address and resolve your pest problems.

Letting a pest problem go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family members and your pets. Insects and small animals can cause long-term damage to your home, contaminate your food and spread disease.

Hiring pest control pros can substantially reduce the risk of an infestation. They'll identify where pests have nested, and create a treatment plan that could include closing off access points, using traps or spraying pesticides. When the proper fixes are put in place, you can get rid of infestations for good.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Boulder

Look for pest control companies in Boulder with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Boulder?

While pests are everywhere, not all of them infest the same places. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in the Boulder area:

• Flies: It's normal to find the occasional fly buzzing around your home during the summer months, but if you see a significant number, you could have an infestation. Flies leave waste that looks like clusters of black dots around trash, on high shelves and near sink drains. The presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in trash or other food waste also suggests an infestation.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a noticeable musky smell and damage household items by gnawing through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear rustling inside your walls or ceiling.
• Spiders: The best way to know you have a spider infestation is a noticeable increase in spiderwebs in and around your home. Visible egg sacs and lots of other insects that the spiders can feed on are some other indications of an infestation. Aside from dangerous black widows and brown recluses, which have venomous bites, most spiders found in homes are harmless.
• Moths: Common moths that invade homes include clothes moths and pantry moths. Clothes moths target wool and cotton, leaving behind tunnels, silky furrows, trenches and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths penetrate plastic food bags and create webbing in pantries. Ripe fruit, fermented sugars and light attract moths.
• Ants: Your home could be invaded by various ant types. Carpenter ants excavate wood, while fire ants like greasy food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also commonly infest homes. Ant trails inside your home suggest larger ant nests are nearby.
• Mosquitos: Standing water draws mosquitoes, so humid climates and nearby bodies of water increase your infestation chances. Mosquitoes alert you to their presence with a sharp buzzing noise. They're most active at night — feeding after sunset. You may overlook their bites initially, but the surrounding skin eventually becomes itchy and swollen. Mosquitoes are also known to harbor diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and West Nile.
• Wasps: The biggest sign of a wasp infestation is simply seeing more wasps around than usual. Many types of wasp nest above ground, but ground wasps generally make their nests in dirt underground. You may not notice a ground nest until you step on it. Wasps are known to swarm, and show significantly more aggression than bees. Be sure to contact pest control rather than attempting nest removal yourself.

How can you prevent pests in your Boulder home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation probably requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to reduce the risk of infestations.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, insects and vermin can significantly impact your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control service to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal cracks or apply pesticides in specific areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will discourage them from settling in. Store food at least six inches above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters are kept clean and sanitized when not being used. Regularly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Trash, standing water, tall grass and leaves give ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard clean and well-maintained with cut grass and trimmed foliage is one of the easiest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, find out if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen are available in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small access points will discourage insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for instance, can squeeze into holes as tiny as a half-inch in diameter. Don't neglect gaps in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in blocking pests.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to make sure you get a pest control provider that can meet your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the application of pest control substances under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

Colorado pest control technicians must pass an exam to get a Commercial, Limited Commercial/Public or Private Applicator License issued by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

What treatment schedule a pest specialist suggests will depend on the infestation severity, treatment type, pest type and property location. Pest control companies generally do not advocate for getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are difficult to reach.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are year-round. They may also suggest bimonthly or quarterly preventative treatments to stop an infestation before it starts.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest problem to go away depends on the infestation type and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring supplementary treatments. On the other hand, you might notice increased activity after the initial treatment, as it can drive pests from their hiding places. Fortunately, this should decrease within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can remain in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home along with your family and pets while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This can typically take a few hours.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company sets up a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to vacate your home during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should let you know what items you must take out of the space such as plants, food and animals before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest treatment companies offer eco-friendly methods for treating infestations. This means they use methods with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, using humane traps for rodents and using naturally sourced pesticides.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place to protect you if pests return before a predetermined date. These companies may offer a one-time treatment or ongoing treatment to tackle a stubborn pest problem. Be sure to discuss the available options with your provider.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.