Flea & Tick Identification

Fleas are insects that feed on the blood of a variety of warm-blooded hosts. Adults will jump onto a host and begin to feed on their blood and live and breed within their fur. Some of their favorite hosts are cats, dogs, rodents, and wild animals like raccoons, skunks, and deer. People are not the flea’s preferred hosts, but they won’t pass up the chance for a meal and will feed on our blood if given the opportunity.

Ticks are a type of arachnid and related to critters like spiders and mites. They also feed on the blood of people and animals. They cannot fly or jump and instead find a host passively. The hungry ticks will crawl to the top of blades of grass, weeds, or other vegetation and wait for someone or something to pass by them that they can crawl onto.

Neither fleas nor ticks are creatures we want living in our Cedar Hill, TX & surrounding area yards in large numbers. Not only is having these creepy pests crawling on us or our pets unsettling, but it is also dangerous.

Fleas also spread some diseases, but the allergic reactions their bites cause are more of a concern. Those people and animals allergic to their saliva will develop a red itchy rash around the bite site. Scratching at the bites will cause scabbing, hair loss in animals, and the potential for a secondary infection to develop. These tiny insects also spread parasitic tapeworm to people and animals.

Ticks spread a variety of pathogens and bacteria that can cause serious health problems. They feed on several different hosts throughout their life, making it easy for them to transmit diseases. Ticks spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and ehrlichiosis.

In some parts of the country, fleas and ticks are only a problem during the warm summer months, but living in Texas means that you will have to deal with fleas and ticks throughout most of the year. Our warm, humid weather allows populations of these pests to explode.

Though you can blame the weather for some of the problems we have with fleas and ticks, the main reason they are on your property is because of wild animals or stray pets. As animals travel across your yard or invade your home, they will bring with them biting fleas and ticks. Once fleas are on our property, these tiny, fast-breeding pests are tough to eliminate.

Fleas and ticks both like to hang out in damp, dark areas. You, your kids, and your pets can come into contact with fleas and ticks in many different places, some of the most common include:

• Parks
• Meadows and fields
• Wooded areas
• Yards
• The grass next to sidewalks, walkways, and fence lines
• Under mulch, grass piles, or leaf piles

Most ticks are unable to breed indoors and therefore are mainly a concern in our yards. Fleas can reproduce indoors and create a massive problem for people inside their homes and businesses.

Fleas and ticks are a constant source of frustration for people; they always seem to be around, and avoiding contact with them is difficult. They thrive in our area, and the best solution to these tiny terrors is a professional solution!

These pests are prolific breeders and constantly being introduced onto our properties by wild animals, making controlling these pests without the help of a professional impossible. Partner with our professionals and put in place the services needed to control flea and tick populations on your property.

At Proactive Pest Services, we are committed to always going above and beyond to provide the most thorough and comprehensive pest services possible. “Protecting What's Important” is our daily mission! To learn more about controlling and eliminating fleas and ticks through our effective pest control offerings, reach out to us today.

Take action to prevent problems with fleas and ticks by partnering with the professionals at Proactive Pest Services and implementing our helpful prevention tips.

• Remove grass and leaf piles from your property where fleas and ticks will hide.
• Keep your grass cut short.
• Cut shrubs and bushes away from your exterior to help keep the soil near your home dry and less attractive to fleas and ticks.
• Deter rodents and wild animals from your property by keeping lids on trash cans, maintaining gardens, and removing bird feeders.
• Regularly vacuum your floors and upholstered furniture to remove stray fleas or ticks.
• If you own pets, regularly wash their bedding and place them on a year-round flea and tick preventative.