Everything You Need To Know About Flea Control In West Chester, PA
October 15, 2021
Fleas are well known to most pet owners, but not many people know that this pest can infest a home even if there are no pets. There are approximately 2,500 different species of fleas, but the most common are those that feed on cats and dogs. Because they are so tiny, you can’t see them with the naked eye, but they are reddish to brown with narrow, hard bodies. They also have long back legs that are strong, no wings, and piercing mouthparts.
Fleas are external parasites that only feed on warm blood, which means they need a host to feed. If you have pets in your West Chester home, you should be especially mindful of this pest. However, even if you don’t own any pets, you should know how flea infestation starts, prevent them, and how professional pest control can benefit.
How Do Flea Infestations Start?
Fleas live outside, where they can access food. Wild animals such as mice, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and deer provide the warm blood fleas need to survive. Whether you have a pet or not, fleas can make it onto your property on these wildlife hosts. They can then get inside if you have a wildlife infestation or your pet encounters a wild animal or hangs out where fleas are.
Fleas prefer damp areas, which can include leaf piles and tall grass. If your pet or you contact fleas, they can easily be brought into your home. Once inside, they can be found behind baseboards, upholstered furniture, floor cracks, bedding, and rugs.
Flea infestations can be challenging to get rid of because they are fast reproducers, laying up to 50 eggs a day, are tiny, and have hard exoskeletons, which makes them hard to crush. On the other hand, preventing fleas can be easy if you implement several easy tips.
Can You Prevent Fleas?
When it comes to preventing fleas, you need to keep your yard maintained to deter wildlife. If you have a pet, you should also make sure they are protected and clean. Implement the following tips to keep fleas away from your West Chester home:
- Bird feeders and baths can entice flea-carrying wildlife, so you should remove them or keep them away from your home.
- Because fleas like areas like tall grass, you should keep your lawn cut short. You should also remove debris like leaf piles, grass cutting, and excess foliage.
- Using a three feet wide barrier of stone between your property and woods or open land can help keep fleas moving onto your property.
- Inspecting your home for possible entry points for wildlife and rodents can help ensure they don’t get inside.
- Talking to your vet about year-round preventative care is essential to protecting your pet and home against fleas.
- If you know there are fleas in your area, inspecting your pets and children before they come inside can be beneficial to preventing the pest.
- Regularly bathing pets and cleaning their bedding can help catch fleas before they have the chance to reproduce.
While prevention is easy and helpful, it is not always 100% effective. This is why you should consider professional assistance.
Can Professionals Help With Fleas?
For more advice or assistance, contact the professionals at Masters Touch Pest Solutions. Our team of trained technicians can help keep wildlife off your property, remove a flea infestation from your home, and assist with any other pest problem you might be having. Contact us today and get started on our effective home pest control services.
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