Do you own a pet? Does it have fur or hair? Do you let them outside from time to time? If you answered yes, then you could be at risk of a flea infestation. This is what you most likely already know about fleas. What you might not know is that none of these things are required for a flea infestation to begin in your home. In fact, you don’t even have to own a pet to get fleas. To help you better understand fleas, here are some things you should know, including the dangers these pests pose to homeowners.
Some Ways Fleas Invade Homes
The most common way fleas get into homes is on household pets like cats and dogs, but you already know this. What you might not know, or at least think about, is that fleas also ride on wildlife creatures like bears, foxes, and deer. They also infest and feed on rats, mice, squirrels, birds, and bats, all creatures that are known for invading homes in our area. If any one of these invasive species breaks into your living areas, they could bring unwanted fleas along with them.
Do Fleas Bite Humans?
Fleas are best known for the way they live and feed on animals. This is because fur is easier to hide within than the hair on a human body. This does not mean, however, that fleas do not bite people. It only means that they do not live on them like they do with animals. If fleas infest your home, the time you are most likely to be bitten is at night. If the infestation becomes severe, they will bite more frequently.
The Dangers Of Fleas
Flea bites in and of themselves are not dangerous. It is what lies on their mouthparts and in their saliva that threatens health. To be more specific, fleas can carry bacteria, pathogens, and other sickness-causing organisms. These organisms are transferred to people and animals that fleas bite. Some of the most common diseases you might contract from these pests include plague, murine typhus, and cat-scratch disease. Fleas can also transmit tapeworm which is mostly a problem for animals but can be dangerous to humans as well.
Prevention Tips For Fleas
Now that you understand why you don’t want fleas crawling around inside your home, let’s discuss some simple methods to keep these pests outdoors where they belong. To start, try these effective prevention tips.
- Clean up leaf litter, sticks, trash, and debris from your yard.
- Install a fence around your yard and garden areas.
- Pick up fruits, berries, and other produce that falls into your yard.
- Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to fill in holes and gaps in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Install metal screens on spouts for gutters and ventilation shafts leading out of your home.
- Install door sweeps on doors leading outside.
- Repair damage to window/door screens.
- Keep unscreened doors and windows closed when they are not in use.
- Talk to your veterinarian about options to keep fleas off your pets.
What To Do When Fleas Invade
Fleas are small insects that are not only difficult to spot but also to eliminate. If you suspect these pests are inside your home, biting you and your pets, turn to the experts at Alta Pest Control. Our team of licensed technicians will thoroughly inspect your home and property and implement short- and long-term solutions to get and keep fleas and the pests they ride in on away.
Give us a call now to discover what pest control options are available for your home.
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