Is there anything more disturbing than the thought of a creature feeding on your blood, something probably made all the more disturbing the larger the creature? You might cringe more at the thought of a leech on your skin than tiny flea bites on your skin. But while they look far less scary and intimidating, fleas are far more dangerous than leeches. If you have never taken a moment to look into the big problems these little parasitic pests cause, here are a few facts to consider.
Fleas Are Annoying
If you think fleas only bite animals, we have some bad news for you: fleas will take a bite out of any living thing that offers them a meal of blood. Inside homes fleas hide within carpets, the fur of your pets, and in other secluded areas to find their meals where they can. The only thing more annoying than watching your pets scratch at fleas is scratching away at flea bites on your own skin.
Fleas Are Prolific Breeders
A single female flea can produce upwards of 2000 eggs in her lifetime, quite the reproduction cycle when you consider that fleas only live 3-4 months. When inside homes, eggs laid on pets eventually fall onto carpets and into the cracks of floorboards. Ten days after they are laid, these eggs hatch and begin looking for people or animals to feed on.
Fleas Are Dangerous
Fleas are not just annoying, but incredibly harmful. The biggest danger these pests pose to humans and animals is disease transmission. Just like many other blood-feeding pests, fleas are capable of picking up disease-causing organisms from infected individuals and transferring them to healthy ones. Some of the most common diseases these pests transmit include the bubonic plague, murine typhus, and tularemia.
Fleas Are Invasive
Fleas mainly invade homes in two ways: riding on the back of an animal or crawling through an entry point. One thing to keep in mind is that your pets aren’t always the only animals coming in and out of your home; pests like rodents, birds, and bats commonly break into homes and bring fleas with them. Even if that’s not a concern, indoor pets can still be vulnerable if they don’t have flea collars.
Fleas Are Preventable
With a bit of effort, there are ways to reduce your home’s chances of a flea infestation. To help you prevent these invasive pests around your Greensboro property, here are some methods we recommend you try:
- Keep your grass cut short and your landscaping well-trimmed.
- Install a fence around your yard and garden to keep wildlife away.
- Use a caulk gun with some steel wool to fill holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s foundation.
- Repair damage to your home’s chimney, shingles, roofing, and siding.
- Fix broken window/door screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps.
- Talk to your veterinarian about ways to protect your pets against fleas.
Fleas Are A Problem Best Left To A Professional
The absolute best way to prevent fleas is with the help of a professional. With Go-Forth Home Services on your side, the only thing you have to do is make sure your pets have the proper protection. We’ll implement advanced pest control measures around your home and monitor your property to make sure our measures keep working year-round.
Give our team a call to learn more about our effective flea control or other pest control options.