A flea infestation or a large population of different kinds of ticks on your Queen Creek property is never a good sign. These pests can present a significant risk, so understanding proper flea and tick prevention is essential.
Flea And Tick Identification
Although fleas and ticks are very different pests, the way they infest your Queen Creek property and the problems they can bring are very similar. It is important to understand how to identify these pests and learn the problems a flea infestation or different kinds of ticks can bring with them.
Fleas are small, reddish-brown in color, and have long bodies. They typically live on rodents and other animals but can make themselves at home in your carpet, bedding, or other areas. They bite both humans and animals, and a flea infestation can quickly become out of control thanks to their fast reproductive abilities.
There are many different kinds of ticks that you may encounter in the Queen Creek area, such as the brown dog tick, American dog tick, blacklegged tick, and Rocky Mountain tick. These pests will bite either humans or pets, feeding long enough to swell in size. Most ticks live outside and come inside on animals or people.
Both fleas and ticks can bring several problems to your Queen Creek property that generally start with being bitten by one of these pests. There are a number of diseases transmitted by ticks or by fleas that you will need to be aware of.
Flea diseases include the plague, flea-borne typhus, cat scratch disease, and the possibility of tapeworms or other parasite transmissions. Diseases transmitted by ticks include tularemia, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, STARI, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.
In general, fleas and ticks will enter your home on pests like rodents or on your pets. Proper flea and tick prevention for your pets is essential year-round, as is protecting your home against pests that could introduce fleas and ticks. Additionally, after spending time outdoors, you should always check your clothes and body before entering your house to ensure you are not bringing in an unwanted hitchhiker.
Flea and Tick Prevention
You can take several steps to lower flea and tick populations around your property and prevent them from coming inside:
- Keeping your yard clear and free of debris is a great way to prevent fleas and ticks from hiding out around your property. Make sure the grass stays trimmed low, and consider trimming back any overgrown foliage to reduce sheltered spots.
- Wildlife and rodents straying into your yard is a major reason that fleas and ticks find their way into your home. Deter wildlife and pests by removing unprotected outdoor food, placing fences around your yard, addressing outdoor moisture issues, and rodent-proofing your house.
- When walking outdoors, you should be careful as you move through overgrown areas or tall grasses. Wear long pants and sleeves when you can, and you may also want to wear light-colored clothing so you can easily see a flea or tick on your clothing.
- Ongoing professional assistance is essential in protecting your property from both flea and tick populations. The experts at Pro Active Pest Control can help shield your property from both of these pests, reducing your chances of bites and infestations. Contact Pro Active Pest Control today to learn more.