Are Fleas a Serious Problem in Nashville?
Are fleas a serious problem in Nashville? They can be! Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of animals and people. Fleas do not normally live on humans, rather on cats, dogs and wildlife. They do however bite people who handle infested animals
. Fleabites cause small, red, itchy bumps, and are most often found on the ankles and lower legs of humans. For relief from itching wash with soap and water, then apply ice
.
Ridding your home of fleas can be a daunting and costly endeavor . Flea bites can cause intense itching and irritation, and a hypersensitive animal will often require veterinary assistance. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms and bacterial infections. The pests are highly prolific — the biting adult stage might be living on the pet, in addition to hundreds or thousands of eggs, larvae, and pupae elsewhere in the home or yard. If early signs of fleas are ignored, infestations can quickly spiral out of control .
Prevention
- Change pet bedding regularly.
- Bathe and brush pets regularly . Soap acts as a gentle insecticide and helps control light infestations on your pet.
- For pet infestations that are more significant, consider using orally applied veterinary products for flea control.
- Vacuum under furniture, cushions, along walls and pet bedding. Discard vacuum cleaner bags regularly. Fleas can continue to develop inside vacuum cleaner bags and re-infest the house.
- Avoid flea collars as these are often impregnated with toxicants that are harmful to humans.
- Exclude bats and wild birds from your home by maintaining good bug screens over air vents in your attic. Maintain chimney structures so that birds and bats cannot use them for roosting or nest sites. These pests can carry their own fleas.
- An outbreak of human fleas in the immediate area should be taken seriously , particularly in schools. Contact professionals and ask for an IPM solution.
- Flea populations can be monitored with a simple homemade apparatus . Place a little dish detergent into a shallow pan of water. The detergent acts as a wetting agent, which breaks water surface tension. Place the pan on the floor overnight, and position a bright light source about five inches above the liquid surface. Fleas attracted by the light, fall into the detergent solution and drown.
- Trim lawns and weeds to create a drier, less inviting environment for flea larvae . Avoid piles of sand and gravel around the home for long periods. Avoid over-watering lawns.
- Monitor pets closely for fleas.
Are fleas a serious problem in Nashville? Yes, they can be. Got ’em? Please contact 247 Local Pest Control HERE . We want to help!
Contact Us
247localpestcontrol.com is a referral service that connects you with pest control service providers in your area. All pest control providers are operated independently of 247localpestcontrol.com. It is the responsibility of each user to verify that the pest control provider connected with meets all licensing and insurance requirements in that jurisdiction.
The photos on the 247localpestcontrol.com website are for design purposes only and do not represent the actual pest control services provided in your area.
Please note that pest control services may not be available in all areas, and when available, the services may vary depending on the providers available. 247localpestcontrol.com does not guarantee the availability of any specific pest control service or provider in your area.
It is recommended that you thoroughly research and vet any pest control service provider before hiring them to ensure that they meet your specific needs and requirements. 247localpestcontrol.com is not responsible for any issues or damages resulting from the services provided by any pest control service provider connected through our referral service.