Flea Season: What You Need to Know

​During flea and tick season, many cat owners are afraid and worried about their pets. Fleas and ticks, on the other hand, are pests that can kill not only our furry friends but all animals, including humans. You might wonder, "When is flea and tick season?" when the weather gets warmer. Our team of experts on insects has put together the most important facts about fleas, ticks, and the risks they pose.

How Fleas and Ticks Act

Ticks and fleas are parasitic insects that feed on living things. Most of the time, these bugs live outside in places with thick grass and lots of trees. Both bugs are known for the damage they can do and the itchy, painful bites they give. 

Fleas can live anywhere, even in your home, and dogs often have them. Flea adults lay eggs on their hosts, which soon turn into flea pups. Flea eggs can hatch in as little as two weeks, so a disease can spread quickly. Indoor tick infestations are rare, but they can happen if you bring ticks in on your clothes or if your cat or dog brings them in. Not only are these parasite diseases painful, but they could also be dangerous.

Why Ticks & Fleas Are Dangerous

Fleas and ticks don't usually like to feed on people, but when they do, it can cause serious health problems. Ticks can spread diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome to people. Even if fleas aren't known to carry diseases, they can still carry parasites and spread diseases. 

They also like to bite, which can be annoying at best and really uncomfortable at worst. Tick and flea bites can get sick like any other wound if they aren't taken care of properly. 

When the Flea Season Starts

Fleas and ticks often go into a state called diapause, which is like sleep, in the winter. Fleas and ticks could be around all year in places with weird weather trends. 

Most of the time, weather trends can tell when fleas and ticks will be active. Flea and tick numbers can be affected by many things, but they are most active when it is warm and damp outside. The flea and tick season usually lasts from March to December in the Southeastern states of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Best Ways to Keep Them Away from your Home

Fleas are generally hard to get rid of without help from a professional, so the best way to avoid a big flea problem is to start by protecting your dogs. Most of the time, fleas don't like to live on people. But if you find any signs of fleas, like live fleas, bites that don't make sense, or flea dirt, you should call a reputable pest control company right away.

How to Keep from Getting Bit by Ticks

Ticks are often found in places with a lot of trees or tall, thick vegetation. If you spend time outside, it's important to protect yourself from ticks by taking precautions. Most insect repellents work when they are used the right way. Ticks are more likely to hide in the folds of open clothing, so you might want to wear clothes that fit well. Tick prevention treatment is important for your dogs because, like fleas, ticks are more likely to bite an animal than a person.

How do you keep fleas off of your pet?

Pets like cats and dogs can bring dangerous bugs into your home if you don't take care. They are also more likely to get anemia, lose hair, and have other long-term problems from flea bites. You can get flea and tick medicines from your vet or over-the-counter to keep fleas and ticks from bothering your pet friends. These medicines can be applied directly to the skin or taken by mouth. 

Most vets recommend protecting your pet all year long. Talk to an animal care expert if you don't know which choice is best for your pets or if you want more information about how fleas and ticks might affect your pet's health.

​How to Deal with Fleas or Ticks

If you think you have fleas in your home, the best thing to do is to call a respected pest control company. Depending on the case, the wildlife agency in your area might be able to answer your questions about ticks. Any way you look at it, our pest control experts are ready to help in any way we can.  For a free meeting, get in touch with us right away.