There are many differences between the word flee and flea. The word flee means to run away from danger, whereas the word flea is a parasitic insect that hides in our yards, gets onto our pets, and causes several problems inside of our homes. What's ironic is that you cannot flee from fleas. Unlike a wild bear or coyote, fleas are really small and adept at staying out of sight. That said, is there any way to keep these tiny pests from biting those you hold most dear? Of course, there is! Here are three things you can do to avoid these annoying and dangerous pests in San Diego.
Step One: Know How To Identify A Flea Infestation
There are many ways fleas get into homes. Most often, these pests will come inside riding on a dog, cat, rodent, bat, or bird. On rare occasions, fleas crawl in through holes, gaps, and cracks in a home's exterior. The question is, what is the best way to know your home has a flea infestation? If fleas entered your house on one of your pets, you might notice your furry friends itching erratically. If this is the case, check through their fur for tiny jumping reddish-brown pests and flea dirt. If you don't have pets, the most common sign you will find are bites on your skin.
Step Two: Understand Your Enemy
Fleas are not just annoying pests; they are also incredibly dangerous. If you did not know, blood-feeding pests often pick up and spread blood-borne diseases.
Here are some of the most common diseases fleas spread to humans and animals:
- Bubonic plague
- Murine typhus
- Tungiasis
- Tularemia
If you read that first disease and thought you read it wrong, you didn't. Fleas, not rats, were responsible for the bubonic plague, also known as the black plague. Although rodents indeed helped spread this sickness by carrying these parasitic pests into homes, fleas were the actual vectors for the illness that killed over 25 million people.
Step Three: Implement Preventative Measures
Fleas are difficult to prevent, mostly because it requires you to stop all of the pests they ride inside on. Here are some great ways to protect your pets against fleas and keep rats, mice, squirrels, bats, and birds out of your San Diego home:
- Mow your lawn at least once a week and trim back bushes and tree branches at least 30 feet from your home's exterior.
- Address moisture issues around your home by fixing leaks and repairing broken gutters.
- Repair damage to your home's roofline, shingles, siding, and chimney.
- Keep unscreened windows and doors closed as much as possible.
- Use a caulking gun and some liquid cement to fill in gaps and cracks in your home's exterior foundation.
- Eliminate clutter and debris around your property.
- Keep your home clean.
- Invest in flea and tick collars for your outdoor cats and dogs.
Bonus Tip: Get A Professional Involved
If you suspect fleas have invaded your home or are looking for a simpler solution to keep these dangerous pests away, let the professionals at Allswell Here lend a helping hand. Our team is trained in advanced pest eliminating and exclusion techniques and has the equipment and treatments needed to remove and keep fleas out of your home effectively. With everything we do, we make sure things get done right.
Contact us today through our website or by phone to learn more about our high-quality pest control services, or to schedule an inspection for your San Diego, CA home. Learn more about our San Diego pest control offerings.