How Fleas Get Into Kittitas County Homes And How To Keep Them Out

Fleas are a pest problem for pet owners, right? Not necessarily. You can have a flea infestation in your home even if you don't have a dog or a cat. Sure, the risk is higher if you have a pet, but it is important to understand the relationship between fleas and wild animals if you hope to keep fleas out of your Kittitas County home, whether you have a pet or not.

Wildlife Bring Fleas Into Your Yard

Fleas can spring an impressive distance through the air. You might think that this allows them to move across the ground and go from one area to another, but that spring requires a lot of energy. They're not going to do it over and over again. Fleas don't jump their way into your yard; they're carried into your yard by wild animals. Everything you do to prevent wildlife activity in your yard and near your exterior walls will help to protect your pets from picking up fleas in your yard. Here are a few tips:

• Store bagged trash in covered containers and deodorize your containers periodically to remove the odors that attract animals. Be sure to also secure your containers so that they can't be knocked over by a mid-sized animal, such as a raccoon
• Keep your grass trimmed.
• Protect obvious food sources, such as gardens, fruit trees, and berry bushes. Fencing may help to accomplish this. Install fencing at least one foot below the surface to prevent burrowing rodents from getting under.
• Rake nuts and acorns up as quickly as possible.
• Remove bird feeders or move them to at least 20 feet away from your exterior.
• Move wood piles away from your exterior.
• Trim the base of the plants in your landscaping to get rid of hiding places.
• If you have a dog, consider creating a fenced-in play area if you don't already have one constructed. This reduces wildlife traffic.

Rodents Bring Fleas Into Your Home

When mice, rats, or squirrels get into your home, they can bring fleas in with them. This is why homes can have a flea infestation even if there aren't any pets. Fleas don't take humans as hosts but they can readily feed on human blood in order to survive. If flea eggs and flea dirt are dropped in your home, fleas may emerge and start biting you if there are no rodents available to take as hosts. 

If you have a dog or cat, the presence of rodents in your home can make flea control more complicated. You can treat your pets and treat key areas in your home only to have fleas continue to emerge from wall voids and other places mice and rats can hide. When addressing a flea infestation, it is important to consider the role mice, rats, or squirrels are playing.

When Fleas Get Inside

Are you currently dealing with a flea infestation in your Kittitas County home? If so, there are a few things you can do to arrest the cycle of infestation.

• Make sure your pets have appropriate flea control products prescribed by your veterinarian.
• Apply treatment products suggested by your vet.
• Clean pet bedding and areas where your pets lie.
• Clean your bedding if necessary.
• Routinely vacuum rugs and floors. Be sure to get cracks and crevices where flea eggs, flea dirt, or flea larvae may be hiding.
• Vacuum your couch and other living room furniture.

If you use a control product to address the fleas in your home, use one that is residual. Keep in mind that it is always best to hire a licensed professional when it comes to selecting and administering synthetic flea control products.

Fleas Can Be More Than A Nuisance

When we think of fleas, we think of them making our pets miserable. This is primarily the issue they present. If you have fleas in your home, you also know that they can be a misery for you. Fleas can leave itchy wounds on your skin. But in rare cases, they can also transmit diseases such as cat scratch disease, murine typhus, tapeworms, and even the plague. It is best to address flea infestations quickly and decisively. 

The Best Solution For Flea Infestations

If you live in Kittitas County, remember that the team here at Prosite is available to assist you with all your pest concerns. We use industry-leading products and methods to achieve the best results every time. We also offer flea reduction for the exterior of your home. This helps to address fleas before they get into your home. If you have questions, we'd be happy to answer them for you. It's also easy to get started with a year-round pest control program. Reach out to us today to schedule a pest control evaluation for your home. There is no better way to deal with pest threats than to have proactive pest maintenance from a trusted professional.