FLEA, TICK, & CHIGGER CONTROL

Because ticks and fleas can transmit dangerous diseases, it’s unwise to try home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually recommends hiring a professional pesticide company when it comes to eliminating ticks from your property. However, there are several preventive measures you can take to reduce your risk of an infestation including the following.

• Removing leaf litter
• Keeping your lawns mowed and removing tall grass from all areas of your property with a specialized mower with a skid steer mower attachment to help tackle the tall grass
• Stacking wood neatly in dry areas away from your home
• Keeping recreational equipment and toys away from trees and the edges of your yard
• Building fences to keep unwelcomed animals (deer, raccoons, etc.) out of your yard
• Sealing gaps in your walls and foundation

Fleas really become a problem when the weather warms up. When you notice the temperature rising, start paying close attention to your pets. Do they scratch more often than usual? This could indicate a flea problem. By the way, you should pay attention to your own skin as well.

If you don’t have pets, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have fleas. Fleas also live under outbuildings, in attics, and in crawl spaces. You’ll find them coming in through your open windows, doors and more commonly, your roof.

Sometimes when you have a flea infestation, you can actually see the fleas in your home or on your pets. You may also notice dried blood, empty egg cases, shed larval skins, and flea feces underneath carpets, furniture, and rugs. Adult fleas leave behind flea dirt with their feces. It looks like ground black pepper, and you’ll spot it in areas where your pet often lies down on the sofa, rug, bed, etc.

Once you suspect you’re dealing with a flea infestation, you need to quickly take action. These parasites are constantly multiplying, which means they’re always on the hunt for new hosts (you or your pets). The sooner you call Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control, the easier (and less expensive) it will be to treat your flea infestation.

Ticks love trees, thick grass, and shrubs. It’s likely you have at least one area on your property that is a prime location for ticks. They also spend time in hidden spots in homes. Seal up gaps and crevices, and keep your grass cut short to prevent infestations.

If you notice any bumps while petting your dog, check to see if they are ticks. Likewise, check your own body as well as your children after spending time in your yard. Ticks favor the areas of your body where there are skin folds or areas covered with hair. If you find one tick on a pet or on a family member, be sure to check everyone in the family.

It’s tempting to want to grab the tweezers and yank a tick out as soon as you spot it, but hold on a minute. If you don’t remove the tick correctly, you may leave the head under your skin. Or you may crush the body, potentially releasing more dangerous fluids into the bloodstream. Instead, talk to your doctor for the best advice, and ask if you should schedule an appointment to test for potential illnesses spread by ticks.

One of the best lines of defense against fleas begins with nutrition. Did you know fleas favor under-nourished hosts? Make sure you’re feeding your dog healthy food.

It’s also a good idea to regularly comb through your dog’s hair and inspect their skin. Pay close attention to bellies, armpits, and ears. If you see tiny bite marks (or the actual insects), talk to your vet about how to best get rid of the fleas on your dog.

Our flea and tick control service always begins with a thorough inspection of your home and property. During the inspection process, our licensed and trained technicians determine where the species are present, allowing us to select the appropriate treatment method for eliminating fleas and ticks.