Anyone who’s had fleas in their home can tell you, an infestation is no fun. Not only are their itchy bites a nuisance, but fleas can also pose greater health risks for you and your loved ones, especially the furry family members in your household. Knowing how flea infestations start, and what you can do to stay ahead on prevention, may just save you from an outbreak.
Fleas: More Than Just An Itchy Nuisance
Fleas are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. While we tend to think of flea infestations in regard to house pets, they are common parasites for all kinds of wildlife. In fact, most fleas are introduced to properties via flea-infested wild animals, so preventing fleas is a matter of defending your home from invasive pests in general.
Even homes without domestic animals in them can become flea-ridden when rodents or other furry critters make their way inside. Without pets with fur to hide in and blood to feed on, fleas will instead bite humans and can infest items of clothing or household furniture. In short, everyone needs to be on the lookout for the signs of a flea infestation and know what steps to take.
Where Do Fleas Come From?
Fleas can be introduced into the home in many ways, most commonly via pets. But deer, cougars, bears, rodents, and birds can all carry fleas, and the tiny insect passengers can easily jump off their hosts in search of other things to latch onto such as household pets, people, or items where they can lie in wait.
Often, fleas will pass directly from animal to animal, like when pets get close enough to other animals to rub off on. Trips to the dog park, hikes through scenic trails, and visits to other homes with pets can all be common points of contact.
At-Home Flea Prevention
It’s important to regularly inspect your children and pets when they come inside from outdoor activities because once a flea population is introduced into your home, it can quickly get out of control. The following are smart flea prevention measures to implement to stay ahead of flea problems:
- Pest protection: The single, best way to avoid fleas is to prevent infected animals from getting onto your property. This doesn’t just mean to have fences that keep out deer or large wildlife, though, since rodents and smaller pests that make it indoors can also carry fleas. Partnering with professionals is the surest way to make sure you’ve inspected the whole property and taken the proper steps.
- Landscaping: Tall grasses, shrubs, or other ground-level vegetation can act as easy hiding spots for animals that are carrying fleas, which are waiting to hitch a ride on passersby. Maintain a well-manicured lawn to reduce these harborage points.
- Treatments: Treating your lawn and your pets with anti-flea treatments will make your property less attractive to fleas and less likely to become infested.
Proper Flea Protection From Neighborly
Since fleas are often a side-effect of other pest problems, the surest way to keep them away is to stay up-to-date on complete pest control. Only the professionals can provide the assurance that your home has been properly and regularly inspected and treated. At Neighborly Pest Management, we not only treat flea infestations fast, but we can help keep all the other kinds of pests away that might introduce fleas into your home.
Don’t let fleas become a constant headache, call Neighborly today.