Is It Unhealthy To Be Around Fleas In Southeast Florida?

A lot of people think of fleas as a mere annoyance. However, fleas can actually be quite hazardous to your health. In fact, fleas were one of the primary vectors for one of the worst public health catastrophes in all of human history: the Black Plague. While bubonic plague is not anywhere near as much of a threat today, fleas can still spread a number of diseases you really don't want to deal with. That's why they should be high on your Southeast Florida pest control to-do list.  

Is This A Flea?

It's pretty easy to differentiate a flea from other pests because of their insane acrobatic abilities. Fleas can jump horizontally up to 200 times their own body length. That's like a human being able to jump over ten football fields! Fleas are unlike other external parasites like ticks and bed bugs, which are not agile at all. So if you're getting bitten by tiny insects that can leap tall sofas in a single bound, it's almost assuredly fleas. 

You can also distinguish flea bites from other insect bites by their location. Bites from fleas typically appear on your feet and ankles because these are the most accessible areas. 

Fleas In Southeast Florida Can Be Dangerous

Though they no longer spread the plague to tens of millions, fleas can still be dangerous to both people and pets. Fleas spread diseases to humans, including typhus, tularemia, and tungiasis. Though it's rare, fleas also can still spread bubonic plague. 

Fleas can also put your cats and dogs at risk. Fleas can carry everything from tapeworm to bartonellosis to cat scratch fever. Aside from the pathogens they carry, flea allergies can also lead to dermatitis and skin infections. Serious infestations can even cause anemia!

Six Ways To Keep The Fleas Away

Keeping fleas away doesn't have to be a hassle. There are plenty of things you can do to make your home harder for them to infest:

1. Talk to your vet about getting your pets on flea prophylactic medicine. 
2. Wash pet bedding frequently to kill fleas and eggs. 
3. Use cedar shavings or diluted eucalyptus spray on pet items to repel fleas. 
4. Trim back shrubs and keep grass cut short to eliminate flea shelters. 
5. Wash or clean patio furniture cushions to make it harder for fleas to stay. 
6. Keep wildlife pests off your property. 

Of all the items on this list, keeping rodents and wildlife off your property is the most important for non-pet owners. Even if you have no pets, you can still wind up with a flea infestation courtesy of wild animals. 

How To Get Fleas Out Of Your Home For Good

If you do wind up with fleas, don't bother with ineffective over-the-counter products like flea spray or flea dust. These products are typically ineffective and nothing more than a waste of time and money, especially since it's often difficult for amateur pest controllers to know where exactly the infestation is breeding. To truly get rid of a flea infestation you'll need professional help like the kind you'll find here at Squash A Bug Pest Control.

Our experts can not only find all of the areas in your property that fleas are infesting. We can also help you figure out how you're getting flea issues in the first place. If you have pets, this may be obvious. But if you don't have pets, you may have a rodent or wildlife problem you don't know about. So don't take a gamble; call us or visit our contact page to get started with your home pest inspection today!