Fleas are one of the few pests that need help to invade your home. Because of this, prevention is often a bit difficult. With other insects like flies, cockroaches, and beetles, there are ways to eliminate attractants and block off their entry. With fleas, you have to look at everything differently. To help you keep these parasitic pests out of your Houston home, we have a secret you should hear. Here is what our experts have to say about effective flea control.
What Are Fleas & How Do They Get Around?
Fleas are tiny parasitic pests that feed on warm-blooded creatures to survive. A flea’s favorite place to live is on a wild animal, preferably one with fur. Out in nature fleas congregate on deer, coyotes, raccoons, mice, rats, squirrels, or any warm-blooded creature they can find. Because fleas lack wings or fast speed movement, their strong legs are their only option to get onto a host. Now, this might seem like an impossible task, but fleas can jump over 7 inches into the air. That’s plenty high to get onto the coat of most animals. Flea infestations are also spread by animals rubbing against one another. This is good to keep in mind, especially if you have a dog and regularly take them to the dog park.
Problems Fleas Cause
Fleas may not seem like a big deal, but they are one of the most annoying and dangerous pests. On pets, they cause excessive scratching, painful bites, and general irritation. Fleas infected with dangerous diseases and or other parasites are especially troublesome because they can spread sickness to whomever they bite.
Some of the most common flea related diseases include bubonic plague, murine typhus, tungiasis, and tularemia. You might already know this, but fleas were responsible for at least two major plagues in human history, one of them being the black death, a sickness that killed over 25 million individuals. Thankfully, with modern medicine and proper sanitation, flea disease is not nearly as rampant in today’s world. This, however, doesn’t mean that they are harmless in any sense of the world.
How Flea Infestations Start
There are several ways that fleas get into homes. Most commonly, they will invade on the backs of your outdoor pets. If Fuzbuckets the cat or Rocky the dog travels outside regularly without the proper flea and tick prevention, your home will likely be invaded eventually. Wild rodents, birds, and bats also carry fleas into homes and if your pets are not protected they could be at risk of cross-contamination. All it takes is one flea-ridden mouse in your house for them to become infected. Once fleas have entered into your home, the infestation is no longer limited to just the creatures they are on. They will live inside carpets, cracks, and crevices throughout homes, and feed on humans at night. You need to call the professionals at Romney Pest Control for help!
How To Prevent Fleas
Here are some of the best ways to prevent fleas in your home:
- Make Sure Your Pets Have Proper Protection: If you are unsure of what prevention method is best for your pet, talk to your veterinarian.
- Seal Your Home: To properly seal your home, fill in gaps and cracks in the foundation using a caulking gun, and fix broken windows and door screens. Repair any other damaged areas that you find that might allow larger pests indoors.
For help dealing with a flea infestation inside your Houston home, get the experts at Romney Pest Control involved. We will act fast, putting into place advanced pest control techniques designed to eliminate fleas fast. Contact our team today to learn more about our high-quality flea prevention services or to schedule an appointment for your Houston home.
