Spring has officially sprung in Southern California and everyone is getting ready for a fun filled season of swimming, BBQing … and fleas? Fleas are a part of life for pet owners in So. Cal. Unlike other parts of the country, our mild winters mean fleas stay active here year round. However, we begin to see a major influx in flea activity in the spring as the weather begins to warm up. Hold on tight Californians, the fleas are about to be out in full force. Our pets seem to suffer from fleas the most, but once they are in our homes, we are susceptible to being bitten and suffering irritation as well. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep your home flea free this season. With the help of a veterinarian and a licensed pest control company, you can ensure these Southern California fleas will not be your problem this year.
How Do Fleas Get into Your House or Apartment?
The most common way fleas make their way into our homes is by hitching a ride in on our pets. Fleas hide in our yards, parks, walking trails, dog houses etc. They prefer shady, humid, moist areas such as wood piles or tall grass. These tiny, agile ectoparasites have the ability to jump as high as seven inches, making our pets the perfect target for them to get to. Our pets then pick them up and bring them into our homes. If you do not have an adequate pest control plan in place, fleas can get out of hand fast! A single adult, female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day! The most common flea found on dogs and cats here is the cat flea. A female cat flea will lay her eggs on our pets and the eggs then fall off in various areas around the home, waiting to hatch. In desirable conditions, the eggs will hatch in 2-5 days. If you do the math, that’s about 100 or more fleas a week that can hatch in your home from just a single flea.
What Diseases Can Humans, Dogs & Cats Get from Fleas?
Fleas are known vectors of various viral and bacterial diseases including the bubonic plague and typhus. They are also known carriers of tapeworms which get ingested into our pet’s systems while they groom themselves. Fleas live off of the blood from their hosts which also causes external irritations to not only our pets, but us as well. Many pets are allergic to the flea’s saliva which causes various skin ailments and leave them itchy and covered in rashes. We as humans can even experience sensitivity to their bites, leaving us itchy, red welts or rashes as well.
Flea Prevention
Your best defense against fleas year round is to have your home treated for pests by a professional pest control company. High quality, professional pest control experts know which products are safe to use to control flea populations around the home and in the yard, without harming you, your family and your pets. Work with your favorite veterinarian as well to see which pet flea treatments work best in our area for your pets. The next line of defense is to keep your yard maintained to limit hiding places for fleas. Keep foliage trimmed back, clutter picked up and wood piles away from your house.
Flea Pest Inspections, Control & More in San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside & San Diego Counties, California
If you notice that you already have a flea infestation, start by calling Animal Pest Management Services to schedule a flea pest treatment for your home and yard, and your vet to get your pet scheduled for treatment and a flea bath. While you are waiting for help to arrive, start by washing pet beds or blankets, rugs, your bedding, curtains or anything else that may be affected by fleas in a hot water wash. Then follow up with a thorough vacuuming every day for at least a week, this includes between floors and baseboards and under and behind furniture. Animal Pest Management Services wishes you a flea free spring season. Give us a call today to schedule your next pest control service.
