Rodent Control in Manitou Springs

Manitou Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El Paso County, at about 6,306 feet. William Jackson Palmer and Dr. William Bell founded it in 1872, and the Manitou Springs Historic District was listed in 1980. Fountain Creek runs through town, with Mt. Manitou to the west and Red Mountain to the south.

It's the starting point for the cog railway up Pikes Peak and home to Cave of the Winds and Miramont Castle. It's also a town of old houses on steep lots, which is what rodents notice.

Old houses, steep lots

Historic homes have had more than a century to settle. Stone foundations, old crawl spaces, additions and porches all leave gaps. Houses built into hillsides often have one side partly below grade, with damp, rocky ground against the wall. Mice find those gaps every fall. Entry sealing covers what gets closed.

• Stone and brick foundations with open mortar joints
• Old crawl spaces and cellar doors
• Porches and additions tied into older walls
• Gaps around old pipes and wiring

Pack rats on the hillsides

Rocky slopes are woodrat country, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In Manitou that means sheds, crawl spaces, garages and cars parked on the street or in a driveway against the hill. If you find a stick nest or your car's engine bay is full of debris, see pack rat removal and mice and pack rats in vehicles.

Shops and restaurants on Manitou Ave.

Older commercial buildings along Manitou Ave. share walls, basements and alleys. A business with mice should talk to the landlord and the neighbors, since sealing one shop while the next stays open doesn't hold for long. A provider can set up regular service with traps inside and stations outside.

Landmarks and roads: Manitou Ave. · Fountain Creek · Miramont Castle · Cave of the Winds · Pikes Peak cog railway · Red Mountain

Nearby areas: Briargate, Rockrimmon, Black Forest, Monument and Tri-Lakes, Falcon and Peyton, Broadmoor and Cheyenne Cañon, Old Colorado City and the West Side, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Powers and Stetson Hills.