Especially if you don’t have pets, finding fleas indoors can be a worrisome problem. Many who have experienced fleas with their pets are unaware that fleas on humans are also possible and that they can pass on diseases like tularemia. Fleas are often underestimated and labeled as a nuisance more than a threat, but diseases they spread make for an absolute necessity for flea control in and around homes. Keep reading to learn more about different types of fleas, the health risks they bring into your Kittitas County home, and how they get inside in the first place.
What Do Fleas Look Like?
There are a few different types of fleas. Their appearance is mostly the same, but they tend to prefer different hosts. Cat fleas are the most common kind of flea, and despite their names, they can be found on cats, dogs, and humans. These fleas are dark reddish-brown. Their powerful back legs are longer than the length of their bodies, and their bodies are shaped like an apostrophe. Dog fleas look similar, except that they may be more robust. The rat flea, perhaps the most alarming to have indoors, is rounded and is more tan and brown rather than reddish-brown like the others.
Where Do Fleas Come From?
More often than not, fleas come indoors on infested animals. Hopefully, this means pets, but it could also mean they come inside on infested rodents, which is not an ideal scenario. Outside, fleas wait in shaded areas for an animal to pass through before boarding the express train into your house. If you ever find that you can’t get rid of fleas, and you’ve taken care of every other possible source, you might want to seriously look into a rodent control expert.
While this is the most common way, homes without pets or pests can also get fleas. While not as likely as coming in on animals, fleas on humans are a possibility. Avoiding long, shaded grass can be a reliable way to prevent this from happening.
If you do have pets, flea control is pretty simple. For one thing, you have to get regular flea treatment for your pets, even if they don’t go outside. When they do go outside, take them on a leash to prevent them from walking through risky areas. Before bringing them indoors, do a thorough check and make sure to bathe them regularly. Preventing fleas if you have pets should be a collaborative effort with your vet prescribing flea treatment and your pest control experts putting measures in place to prevent flea infestation.
How To Get Rid Of Fleas
If you don’t have a pet, but you have fleas, or if you do have a pet and can’t get rid of fleas, your flea infestation may be coming from another pest problem. To prevent fleas from coming in on other pests, make sure you complete the following prevention checklist:
- Seal holes and cracks around the home with silicone-based caulk or steel wool.
- Store wood away from the home, and don’t leave debris in the yard.
- Trim the grass regularly, and don’t store flowerpots under windows or next to doors.
- Store food in glass or metal containers.
- Make sure indoor and outdoor trash receptacles seal and are cleaned at least weekly.
- Vacuum, sanitize, and de-clutter often.
If prevention fails, you can count on the professionals at Prosite to get rid of rodents carrying fleas indoors or find the problem areas around your home that are allowing pests to thrive. Don’t wait to deal with a flea infestation. Call Prosite for safe, effective treatments that will protect your home and family from disease-carrying pests all year round.