Keep Your Yakima County Home Flea Free

Fleas are extremely small insects but don’t underestimate these tiny pests. Fleas can make your pets - and you - miserable with their incessant biting and cause more serious problems. Contrary to popular belief, even homes without dogs and cats can be vulnerable to fleas, so it’s important for all homeowners to educate themselves about these parasites.

Fleas are a challenge for many Yakima County residents, but this guide is your go-to source for all things flea control. Read on to learn the problems fleas can bring to your home, how they get inside, and how to get rid of fleas and prevent them.

Problems Fleas Bring To Yakima County Homes

If you’ve ever seen an animal with fleas, you know that it is a pitiful sight. Fleas are parasites that bite and drink the blood of both animals and people. Flea bites are extremely itchy and cause the victim to scratch almost constantly, which can lead to loss of hair or fur. Fleas can also cause anemia in pets and expose them to parasites, like tapeworms, if they accidentally ingest a flea while grooming. These bloodthirsty parasites can also cause allergic reactions in cats and dogs.

While fleas typically prefer an animal host, they will not hesitate to bite people as well. Flea bites appear as small, red bumps with a halo around the center of the bite. They are usually found on the legs, ankles, knees, elbows, waist, armpits, or groin. Bites from fleas can be differentiated from other bug bites as they are often arranged in groups of three or four, in small clusters or a straight line. As with dogs and cats, fleas can trigger allergic reactions in people as well.

Another, much rarer, risk associated with fleas is the transmission of the deadly bubonic plague. Fleas also carry the bacterial disease murine typhus, which can be transmitted from rats to humans via fleas. Fleas are highly problematic in Yakima County homes for pets and people alike. If you suspect that your home is infested with these pests, it’s important to take steps to get rid of fleas as soon as possible.

How Fleas Get Into Yakima County Homes

Flea prevention starts with understanding where fleas come from and how they get into your house initially. As you may have guessed, fleas are typically introduced to a property through an animal host. Fleas often wait on top of tall grass for an animal to pass by; they hop aboard and are carried to new locations. Fleas are able to jump over 150 times their own height, making it easy for them to leap onto their chosen victims.

Any mammal can bring different types of fleas onto your property, whether it’s your pet, a neighbor’s dog or cat, a stray, or even a wild animal. Skunks, raccoons, and rodents are all known to carry fleas and may introduce them to your yard as they wander through. Fleas can then be transported into your home after they latch onto your pet or even a person coming into your home. Once inside, fleas can be extremely difficult to get rid of without professional flea control.

Five Flea Prevention Tips For Yakima County Homeowners

Now that you know how fleas can get into your home, you can take steps towards preventing them. This will help protect all your family members, both human and animal, from these biting pests. Here are our top five flea prevention tips for Yakima County homeowners:

1. If you have pets, keep them on year-round flea medication, even indoor cats.

2. Keep your grass cut short, as fleas prefer tall grasses.

3. Address any wildlife or rodent issues on your property.

4. Regularly bathe and groom your pets.

5. Trim shrubs and trees on your property, and clean up debris in your yard.

If you follow these five tips, your property will be safer from fleas. However, fleas can be difficult to avoid entirely, particularly if you have pets or live in a wooded area. If a flea problem does occur, be sure to contact a local flea control professional.

The Secret Weapon To Total Flea & Tick Control In Yakima County

Fleas can be a nightmare for homeowners, but you don’t have to deal with them alone. Prosite is the secret weapon for flea control in Yakima County. Yakima County homeowners trust Prosite for all of their pest control needs. If your home has fleas, we will eliminate them from your property quickly and effectively. We have experience with all different types of fleas and ticks, and none are a match for our experts. Fleas may be small, but they can make your life miserable. Call in the professionals at Prosite, and we’ll have your home flea-free in no time.