Termite Control
Inspections, liquid soil barriers, bait systems and NPMA-33 reports for home sales.
Learn moreRye & Wet Mountains exterminator
Pest Control in Rye, CO
Cabins, log homes and wooded lots at the foot of Greenhorn Mountain deal with mice, carpenter ants, ticks and wasps that Pueblo rarely sees. Licensed, locally owned service on a regular Rye route.
- Licensed & insured
- Free inspection
- Family- & pet-conscious products
~6,800 ftmountain-town pest know-how
- CDA licensed
applicators - Locally owned
in Pueblo - 37+ years
combined experience - Open 24/7
same-day service - Written
service warranty
Pest control in Rye, CO: the quick answer
Quick answer
Pest control in Rye, CO typically costs $100–$150 for a one-time general visit, or about $40–$60 a month on a quarterly plan. Most visits take 45–75 minutes because cabins and outbuildings are included. Rye’s main pests are deer mice (the hantavirus carrier), carpenter ants in wood homes, Rocky Mountain wood ticks, wasps and overwintering cluster flies.
- General visit
- $100–$150
- Quarterly plan
- ~$40–$60/mo
- Elevation
- ~6,800 ft
- From our office
- ~33 mi, about 40–45 min
- Phone line
- Answered 24/7
Rye is a small town in southwestern Pueblo County that sits right where the plains run out and the Wet Mountains begin. Greenhorn Mountain, the range’s highest summit, rises behind town, and Highway 165 climbs from Rye toward Lake Isabel and the San Isabel National Forest. At roughly 6,800 feet, Rye is about 2,000 feet higher than our Pueblo office, and that difference changes almost everything about which pests show up and when.
Homes here are a mix of year-round houses in town, log and wood-sided homes on wooded lots, and cabins that are only used on weekends or in summer. Many properties have a well house, a detached garage, a barn or a storage shed. Each of those buildings is a place where mice, pack rats, wasps and spiders can settle in without anyone noticing for months.
To be straightforward about logistics: A & M Pest & Termite Control is based in Pueblo, about 33 miles and 40–45 minutes away by I-25 and Highway 165. We schedule Rye on route days so the drive doesn’t inflate your price. Urgent problems, like a yellowjacket nest by the front door, are fit in as fast as the schedule allows, and we’ll tell you honestly when that is.
Which pests are most common in Rye?
These are the problems that come with living at the base of Greenhorn Mountain, each linked to the service that handles it:
Deer mice in cabins
Rye’s most common rodent and Colorado’s hantavirus carrier. They move into walls, drawers, mattresses and vehicles the moment a building goes quiet. Rodent control.
Carpenter ants in wood homes
Large black ants that hollow out damp or damaged logs, deck posts and window framing. Sawdust-like frass and winged ants indoors in spring are the giveaways. Ant control.
Rocky Mountain wood ticks
Waiting on brush and grass along trails and the edges of wooded lots from early spring into early summer. Flea & tick control.
Yellowjackets & paper wasps
Yellowjackets nest in the ground, rock walls and log gaps; paper wasps hang combs under deck rails and cabin eaves. Wasp removal.
Cluster flies & boxelder bugs
Both crawl into attics and wall voids in fall, then wander out onto sunny windows during winter warm spells. Neither breeds indoors.
Pack rats in outbuildings
Bushy-tailed woodrats build stick nests in sheds, barns, well houses and engine compartments, and chew wiring. We trap inside structures and seal them out.
Spiders
Wolf spiders, funnel weavers and the occasional western black widow in woodpiles, crawlspaces and garages. Spider control.
Termites are much less of a concern up here than in Pueblo’s river valley, because cold soil at this elevation limits subterranean termite activity. Carpenter ants are the wood-destroying insect we look for first in Rye.
Carpenter ants and log homes in Rye
Carpenter ants don’t eat wood the way termites do. They excavate galleries in wood that is already soft from moisture or rot, then push the shavings out as frass. In Rye that usually means log ends that catch roof runoff, sill logs sitting close to the soil, deck ledgers, and window and door frames where caulking has failed.
Signs we look for on a Rye inspection:
- Small piles of coarse sawdust mixed with insect parts below a wall or beam
- Winged ants indoors in spring, often near windows
- Large black ants trailing at night from a stump, woodpile or tree to the house
- Faint rustling inside a wall void on a quiet evening
Treatment is aimed at the nest, not just the trails: non-repellent products and baits that foragers carry back, plus a fix list for the moisture that made the wood attractive. Trimming branches that touch the roof and moving firewood off the porch removes the ants’ easiest bridges inside.
Cabin opening and closing checklist for Rye
Seasonally vacant cabins and second homes generate more of our Rye calls than anything else. A building that sits empty from October to May is quiet, dark and sheltered, which is exactly what deer mice and pack rats want. Two short routines prevent most of the damage.
Closing up in fall
- Pull every crumb of food, pet food, birdseed and grass seed, or lock it in metal bins
- Plug gaps a pencil can fit through with steel wool, copper mesh or hardware cloth, then caulk over
- Check where propane, water and electric lines enter the walls and crawlspace
- Screen the chimney cap and dryer, attic and foundation vents
- Prop cabinet, closet and appliance doors open so fresh signs are easy to spot later
- Set traps or have exterior bait stations serviced right before you leave
- Leave a vehicle hood up or set traps around parked vehicles and equipment
Opening up in spring
- Walk the outside first: look for chewed vents, droppings on sills and new wasp combs under eaves
- Air the building out with doors and windows open before cleaning anything
- Check mattresses, drawers, the stove drawer and behind the fridge for nests
- Inspect the well house and water heater closet, both favorite winter shelters
- Do a tick check after the first walk around the property
- Book a spring perimeter service before ticks and wasp queens hit their stride
Cleaning up droppings without stirring up hantavirus
Hantavirus is rare but serious, and in Colorado it comes from deer mice. People are usually exposed by breathing dust from dried urine, droppings or nesting material while sweeping out a closed building. Following CDC guidance for wet cleanup:
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Open windows and doors and let the cabin air out for at least 30 minutes first | Walk straight in and start sweeping |
| Wear rubber, latex or nitrile gloves | Touch droppings or nests with bare hands |
| Spray droppings and nests with disinfectant or 1 part bleach to 10 parts water; let it soak about 5 minutes | Vacuum or dry-sweep droppings, which puts particles in the air |
| Wipe up with paper towels, seal in a plastic bag, then mop or disinfect the area | Leave nesting material in drawers or insulation |
| Wash gloved hands, remove gloves, then wash bare hands with soap and water | Skip handwashing because you wore gloves |
When to stop and call
Nests inside insulation, heavy contamination in a crawlspace, or a building closed for a full year are better handled by a professional with proper protective equipment. Call us before you start pulling insulation.
When is pest season in Rye?
Spring arrives later and fall arrives earlier at 6,800 feet. This is the calendar we plan Rye service around:
| Months | What’s active around Rye | Best timing for service |
|---|---|---|
| March–April | Cabins reopen with mouse signs; wood ticks wake up on sunny slopes; cluster flies leave wall voids | Opening inspection, rodent clean-out guidance |
| May–June | Wood tick peak; carpenter ant swarmers; paper wasp and yellowjacket queens start nests | Perimeter service, carpenter ant treatment, early nest removal |
| July–August | Yellowjacket colonies grow; spiders in sheds and woodpiles; ticks taper off | Nest removal, outbuilding treatment |
| September | Boxelder bugs and cluster flies collect on south- and west-facing walls; mice start testing doors | Exterior treatment before they get in; exclusion |
| October–February | Mice and pack rats in vacant cabins, well houses and vehicles; flies on winter windows | Closing service, station checks for absentee owners |
The September window matters most for cluster flies and boxelder bugs. Once they’re inside the walls, treatment only manages what comes out; sealing and treating the exterior before the first cold nights keeps them out in the first place.
Pest control services available in Rye
Every service we provide in Pueblo is available in Rye with the same licensed applicators, the same pricing structure and the same written warranty. For a full rundown of what quarterly prevention includes, see our preventive pest control plans.
Rodent Control
Mice and rat removal with trapping, tamper-resistant bait stations and permanent exclusion.
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Bed Bug Treatment
Discreet inspection and multi-visit treatment that targets eggs, nymphs and adults.
Learn moreAnt Control
Species-specific baiting and non-repellent treatments that eliminate the colony, not just trails.
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Cockroach Control
Gel baits, growth regulators and follow-ups that break the German cockroach breeding cycle.
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Spider Control
Black widow removal, web and egg-sac clean-out, and perimeter treatments that cut their food supply.
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Mosquito Control
Yard barrier sprays and breeding-site treatment to reclaim your patio all summer.
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Bee & Wasp Removal
Same-day yellowjacket and paper wasp nest removal; honey bee swarms referred for relocation.
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Flea & Tick Control
Coordinated indoor and yard treatments, timed with your vet's pet treatment.
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Preventive Pest Control (IPM)
Quarterly Integrated Pest Management plans that stop infestations before they start.
Learn moreResidential, commercial and preventive service in Rye
Full-time homes
Year-round Rye households usually do best on quarterly service: a spring visit for ticks, ants and wasp queens, a summer visit for nests and spiders, a fall visit that seals and treats before flies and mice move in, and a winter rodent check.
Cabins and absentee owners
If you live elsewhere and use your Rye property seasonally, we can set the plan around your calendar. We coordinate access with you, a neighbor or a caretaker and send a short report with photos of anything we found.
Rye businesses and rentals
Short-term rental cabins, cafes, shops and churches in and around Rye get documented service focused on what guests notice first: mice, flies and stinging insects.
Prevention that works at the forest edge
- Keep firewood stacked off the ground and well away from log walls
- Maintain a strip of gravel or bare soil along the foundation
- Re-chink and re-caulk log checks and window trim before fall
- Trim branches back so they don’t touch the roof
- Keep sheds and well houses closed and their gaps screened
- Wear long pants on trails and check for ticks afterward
How a Rye service visit works
Four steps, adjusted for mountain properties with more than one building.
Schedule on a route day
Tell us if it’s a full-time home or a seasonal cabin and how we’ll get access.
Inspect every structure
House, attic, crawlspace, garage, well house and sheds, with entry points noted.
Treat and seal
Targeted treatment for the pests found, plus exclusion of the gaps they use.
Monitor and warranty
Stations and follow-ups through the season, with free re-treatment if covered pests return.
Licensed and certified in Colorado
Rye homes often run on private wells, sit near creeks and share the land with wildlife, so how products are chosen and applied matters. Our applicators are licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, every product is EPA-registered and used according to its label, and we favor exclusion and targeted placement over broad spraying.
CDA Licensed Commercial Applicator
Licensed through the Colorado Department of Agriculture's pesticide applicator program.
EPA PESP Partner
Partner in the EPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program for reduced-risk pest management.
GreenPro® Certified
Follows GreenPro Integrated Pest Management standards: inspect first, treat only what's needed.
Our Rye service area
We cover the town of Rye and the surrounding area: homes along Highway 165, wooded lots on the lower slopes of Greenhorn Mountain, and cabins on the way up toward Lake Isabel and the San Isabel National Forest. If you’re not sure whether your road is on our route, call (719) 283-7071 and ask.
Getting the cabin ready for a visit? Our pre-treatment checklist covers kitchens, bedding and pets. Neighbors just down the valley are covered on our Colorado City page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does pest control cost in Rye, CO?
A one-time general pest control visit in Rye typically costs $100–$150, and quarterly plans work out to about $40–$60 per month. Rodent clean-outs, carpenter ant work and properties with several outbuildings are quoted after a free inspection. New customers save 10% on the first service.
Do you charge extra to drive to Rye?
We schedule Rye appointments on route days so the drive from Pueblo, about 33 miles, is built into our normal pricing. If you need an urgent visit outside a route day, we’ll tell you the timing and any cost before we book it.
Can you get to Rye the same day?
Sometimes. Our phones are answered 24/7, but Rye is 40–45 minutes from our office, so same-day depends on the day’s schedule. Stinging insects near a doorway and rodents inside a living space get priority.
Is it safe to clean mouse droppings in my Rye cabin?
Small amounts can be cleaned safely with the wet method: air the cabin out for 30 minutes, wear gloves, soak droppings with disinfectant or a 1:10 bleach solution for about 5 minutes, then wipe and bag. Never sweep or vacuum droppings. Large nests or contaminated insulation should be handled by a professional.
Do carpenter ants damage log homes in Rye?
They can. Carpenter ants nest in logs and framing that are already damp or decayed, and the galleries they cut weaken that wood over time. Treating the nest and fixing the moisture source together is what stops them.
When are ticks worst around Rye and Lake Isabel?
Rocky Mountain wood ticks are most active from early spring into early summer, roughly March through July. They wait on brush and tall grass along trails and lot edges, so check yourself, kids and dogs after time outdoors.
Can you take care of pack rats in my shed or well house?
Yes. Bushy-tailed woodrats are common in Wet Mountains outbuildings. We remove them from inside structures, clear the nest, and seal the openings so new ones can’t move in.
Can you service my cabin while I’m away?
Yes. Many Rye owners book a fall closing service, a mid-winter station check and a spring opening visit. We arrange access with you or a caretaker and send a summary of what we found and did.
Other areas we serve
Home basePuebloBelmont, Sunset Park, Bessemer, Mesa Junction, the North Side, East Side and every Pueblo neighborhood.Pueblo CountyPueblo WestAcreage lots, new construction and homes near Lake Pueblo State Park.El Paso CountyFountainFountain Creek neighborhoods, newer subdivisions and homes near Fort Carson.Greenhorn ValleyColorado CityYear-round homes, ranch properties and Lake Beckwith-area lots off I-25.Beulah ValleyBeulahFoothill homes and ranches among the pines along Highway 78.East Pueblo CountyAvondaleFarm properties and homes along US-50 and the Arkansas River.Fremont CountyFlorenceHistoric downtown homes and riverside properties on the Arkansas.Fremont CountyCañon CityOlder homes, orchards and neighborhoods near the Royal Gorge.
Sources & further reading
We cite independent, science-based sources so you can verify our guidance.