Flea Identification & Prevention

Fleas are insects and external parasites. This means they feed on a host but do it without infesting the host internally. They often live in the fur of dogs or cats, but they typically hop on and hop off after biting humans because we don't have enough fur to keep them sheltered. Contrary to popular belief, fleas are not microscopic. You can see them, although they may look like tiny, jumping, black specks unless you get up close.

Fleas were once incredibly dangerous to humans because they were one of the main vectors for the Black Plague. Now that this is an easily curable illness, a flea infestation poses little threat to us. It is possible to contract infectious diseases from flea bites, but it's rare.

Dogs and cats, on the other hand, are vulnerable to a wide range of flea-borne diseases. Cats especially can get deadly diseases like feline leukemia, Feline Hemotrophic Mycoplasmosis (FHM), and even anemia from flea infestations living in their fur.

You typically wind up with a flea problem for one of two reasons: either you have pets such as free-range cats bringing fleas back to your property with them when they come home or you have a wildlife infestation leaving little hitchhikers behind when they invade your property. You may also inadvertently bring fleas home with you if you go to an area where there is a lot of flea activity, but this is not as common.

Flea control is so difficult partly because you will find fleas just about anywhere. They can live on your pets, of course, but they can also live in other places you might not expect, like in your furniture, carpets, bushes, grass, and pretty much anywhere else they can hide and breed. If you notice you're finding fleas on you in certain areas on your property, fleas are probably breeding in those sites.

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get rid of fleas once you have an active flea infestation. This is because the average flea control product you can buy at the store cannot stand up to a full-blown breeding population of these little parasites. Things like flea dust or flea fogger may temporarily reduce the population of fleas on your property, but the likelihood that these treatments will eliminate the infestation entirely is low.

That's why the best thing you can do if you wind up with a flea infestation is call the experts here at Gannon Pest Control. We have far superior home pest control and commercial pest control tools and techniques that can put your flea problem to bed for good.

The best way to prevent fleas from invading your property in the future is to follow tips such as:

• Treat all your pets with a flea preventative.
• Take care of rodent and wildlife infestations right away.
• Keep your grass and bushes trimmed short.
• Vacuum and clean things like carpets, rugs, and pet bedding frequently.

Most importantly, if you wind up with a flea infestation, don't waste your time with ineffective and potentially hazardous flea powder and dust. Just contact the experts here at Gannon Pest Control.