It is not just the residents of Colorado who are unsure of what the weather will be like on any given day; the state also has quite a lot of pest problems due to extreme weather events. This is the nature of life along the Front Range, where 70-degree afternoons turn into single-digit mornings in just 24 hours. 

Last December, temperatures in Denver dropped from 51°F to -20°F in a single day, and in 2020, Denver dropped from 100 degrees to snow in under 72 hours. Those wild temperature fluctuations, studies suggest that those swings will increase by 6-8% by 2100, are more than just a little aggravating to people; they cause pests to behave erratically, sending homeowners into full panic mode. 

As temperatures bounce up and down, pests break their normal patterns — coming inside in hordes, becoming more aggressive in their pursuit of shelter, or awakening from hibernation at unpredictable times. Should the pests in your home show increased activity following a sharp drop in temperature or heat, contact Colorado Springs exterminators to stay ahead of the problem before it becomes an infestation.

Why Sudden Temperature Shifts Matter for Pests

Imagine a pest-sized machine that reacts to atmospheric changes. Despite losing their leaves, their internal systems are hardwired to respond to the shifting temperature, and the Colorado roller-coaster climate keeps hitting the overdrive switch. In a typical scenario in the region, when temperatures drop by 40 degrees overnight, and such swings are an almost-regular occurrence along Colorado’s Front Range, pests are about to encounter a critical survival challenge.

A sudden drop in temperature sends mice and rats racing to get indoors to find the warmest structure they can, which usually means your house. The problem in Colorado is that temperatures change too frequently for pests to fully adapt — creating what is called, in pest parlance, an incomplete temperature acclimation. That makes your home the most consistent place around, which is why it attracts a horde of seekers no matter the season.

How Rapid Swings Affect Wood-Destroying Pests Specifically

Carpenter ants and termites react to temperature shifts differently from other pests, yet the fluctuations in Colorado’s weather still catch them off guard. In Colorado, the most common termite species is subterranean, and when cold weather hits, they usually burrow below the frost line—unless the frost line keeps rising.

Termites, thinking it is spring on a warm February day in the mid-60s (not unusual along the Front Range), dispatch scouts to look for new wood food sources. Then, when it turns freezing again, these scouts are trapped in the buildings.

The same thing goes for carpenter ants, too! They thrive on damp, softened wood and usually remain dormant during winter, but the quick changes in temperature create condensation problems in walls. That cold night, followed by a warm day, places the moisture within wood that normally would not be so favorable to a carpenter to visit. The temperature shifts also naturally weaken timber, creating fissures and expansion joints that make it easier for wood-destroying pests to enter from the start.

Why is it important to Speak to a Professional?

Temperature-sensitive pest behavior does not follow the normal patterns of seasonality that most homeowners expect, so it is insidious and tricky. Saela Pest Control has extensive Geographic knowledge of Colorado’s unique climate challenges, which lead to unpredictable pest pressure throughout the year, as rapid temperature swings make it virtually impossible to pin down those pesky insects. They know that if it warms up in January, early termite activity may begin, or that a new freeze in October could send an entire colony of mice into panic mode, all seeking entry points into homes at the same time.

With Colorado pest specialists predicting more erratic and severe temperature extremes in the years to come, having a professional partner who knows how to respond to these environmental stresses is less a luxury and more a reality of life.