A dry mountain climate does nothing to keep bed bugs away. They live in bedrooms, not outdoors, and the heated homes of Colorado Springs are as welcoming to them as any city's. What spreads them here is movement: the city is a major tourism destination, a hub for several military installations and home to many college students and seasonal workers.
How bugs reach Colorado Springs homes
Visitors to Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, the Broadmoor area and Manitou Springs stay in hotels, motels and vacation rentals, and any one of those rooms can pick up a few hitchhikers. Households tied to Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever and the Air Force Academy relocate often, with shipments of furniture and boxes crossing the country. Student housing near UCCS and Colorado College, plus apartment complexes along Academy Boulevard and Powers, create a busy mix of residents. Secondhand stores and online furniture resale add even more routes.
Early warning signs
- Waking with itchy welts in rows or clusters that were not there the night before.
- Tiny blood spots on sheets or pillowcases.
- Dark specks, like pen-ink dots, on mattress seams or headboards.
- Pale, empty skins in folds of bedding or behind picture frames.
Bed bug bites vary widely from person to person, and some people show no reaction at all. That makes visual confirmation important before spending effort on treatment.
How licensed providers treat them
Your provider will inspect the mattress, box spring, bed frame, nightstands and nearby seating, then recommend a plan. Heat treatment is popular because the dry air and well-sealed homes here allow rooms to reach lethal temperatures reliably. Steam, targeted residual products and mattress encasements are used alone or in combination. A follow-up inspection roughly two weeks later helps catch any eggs that hatched after the first visit. Preparation, such as bagging linens and clearing clutter, is usually part of the instructions.
If you rent or live with others
Tell your landlord promptly, in writing, and keep notes on dates and symptoms. Bed bugs move through shared walls, so neighbors may need inspection too. Avoid moving belongings to other rooms or to a friend's home, which can spread the problem. A provider can advise you on what is safe to move and how to bag it.
Prevention while traveling and at home
- Check hotel bed seams and headboards, and keep bags off the floor and bed.
- After trips, wash and dry clothes on high heat right away.
- Use a protective encasement on mattresses and box springs.
- Inspect used furniture thoroughly before it enters your home.
Getting help
PestMinistry is a referral service; we do not treat homes ourselves. Call (844) 725-1661 and we will connect you with an independent licensed provider in our network who treats bed bugs in Colorado Springs and the surrounding area.
Colorado Springs bed bug questions
Will cold weather kill them?
Not inside a heated home. Winter outside does not matter to bugs living in your mattress.
Can I treat them with rubbing alcohol?
Alcohol kills only bugs it touches directly and can be a fire hazard. It will not solve a hidden infestation.
Are bed bugs common at military housing?
They can occur anywhere with frequent turnover. Report to housing management, who typically coordinate inspection.
How can I check a short-term rental?
Look at the mattress seams, headboard and behind the nightstands with a flashlight before unpacking.