Why Fleas Are So Hard To Control

Finding fleas in your home can be a real headache. These tiny, dark reddish brown insects are hard to spot and even harder to keep up with. Once you have found a flea in your home or flea bites on you or your family, it seems like in no time you have a full infestation. Fleas typically live for 100 days. Within that time, female fleas lay up to 500 eggs. They travel around on rodents and other mammals. This why it is common to find fleas on your dog or cats. However, if you do not have pets, it does not mean you are exempt from getting fleas in your home. Pests can also be found on clothing, blankets and accessories. This is how they travel from host to host. These tiny pests are hard to see which makes them hard to fully eliminate.

Fleas are not only annoying, they are also bad for you and your family’s health. These tiny pests are known for being the most common transmitter of the bubonic plague. Not that you have to worry about that anymore. They typically just leave a small, itchy red mark on your skin. However, they are also known for spreading bacterial diseases from rats to humans. They can cause skin allergies for pets and air borne allergies for humans. They can transfer tapeworm to your pets. Having proper pet flea care, even if you have never seen a flea on your pet, is essential to your pet’s health and your safety.

Flea prevention starts by educating yourself on flea behavior. Such as, how they multiply, how they travel, as well as unique characteristics of theirs, like how they can jump nearly 150 times their own height. They are extremely hard to fully eliminate on your own, without a professional pest control plan. Here are some tips to getting started on flea prevention in your home:

• Vacuum Often: Vacuuming often can help keep these parasites from breeding and multiplying quickly.

• Mow Your Lawn: Keeping your landscaping in order will help to deter rodents from inhabiting your property. These rodents can bring fleas to your property and eventually into your home.

• Pet Care: Taking proper care of your pets will help prevent them from getting fleas and from bringing them into your home. Groom pets regularly, take them to the vet and find proper flea medication to deter fleas from living on your pets.

If you find that you have a full flea infestation, it is best to call a professional pest exterminator as soon as possible to start eliminating fleas.