Terre Haute is a beautiful area with plenty of trees, wildlife, and scenery. July is a month of exploring and enjoying the outdoors. However, July is also a month of increased pest activity, and you must take extra precautions to keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe. The warm weather brings an increased activity level for insects, such as fleas. Wildlife animals also enjoy the summer months and are more mobile, often transporting pests as they travel.
Fleas can survive year-round, but during the summer it’s especially important to keep an eye out for fleas on your pets. Once fleas find your pets they will be carried into your home where they will bite you and your family. Luckily, there are some strategies for eliminating fleas. With the proper prevention strategies in place, you can avoid the long-lasting itch of flea bites and the risk of infection or disease.
Why Are Fleas Dangerous?
Fleas are small, flat insects with hard shells. They are a reddish-brown color and are difficult to crush. There are over 2000 different species of flea, but many of the most common fleas share these characteristics. In Indiana, you’re most likely to find cat fleas, canine fleas, and sand fleas.
Fleas are attracted to animals and can carry diseases. They can even give your pet worms! These diseases can be passed on to humans. Fleas often bite humans around the ankles, but they can bite anywhere there is exposed skin. Their bites leave small, red welts that itch for days, often even worse than mosquito bites. They usually come into a house because of pets, but may travel via rodents, such as mice, squirrels, or rats. Once they’ve found your home, they can be incredibly hard to get rid of.
Steps For Preventing Fleas
- In order to keep fleas from entering your house, you should first take care of your pets. Ask your veterinarian for the best flea treatment for your pets, whether it’s a flea collar, a topical treatment, or an oral treatment. Check your pets for fleas often, especially if you see them scratching or biting at their skin. This could be a sign that they are being bitten by fleas and may even have an infected bite.
- When spending time outside, especially in an area with lots of wildlife animals present, wear long pants and avoid exposing your skin. Fleas will jump up from the ground and try to hitch a ride to your house.
- Another tip is to make sure wildlife animals are not entering your home or coming near it. While it can be lovely to watch deer in the yard, you don’t want them bringing fleas right to your front door. Keep plants a short distance from your home and make sure you don’t have a problem with mice or rats inside your house, as they can carry fleas.
Our last tip is to reach out for help. If you have fleas in your house, the best way to get rid of fleas is to call for professional pest control services in Terre Haute. Fleas create discomfort, frustration, and even danger. Instead of wrestling with store-bought chemicals that could be harmful to your family, call Action Pest Control for a thorough inspection and a personalized treatment. We will eliminate fleas and help you identify their entry point so you can enjoy the lasting results of professional knowledge and experience.