Flea control in Rhode Island might not be all that high on your pest priority list, especially if you don't have pets. However, the fact that you don't have pets doesn't protect you from a flea infestation. In fact, fleas can happen to anyone, regardless of whether they live with pets or not. Learn how to identify a flea problem, common myths about these pests, and how Big Blue Bug Solutions can protect you from fleas and other pests.
How To Identify: Signs Of Flea Infestations
Fleas are so tiny that it's common for them to go unnoticed. You might look right at a flea and not see it unless it moves, which is why flea bites are among the first signs that you could have a flea problem. These bites will be heavily concentrated around your feet and ankles because that's the easiest part of the human body for fleas to access.
Bites are a major sign that fleas are present, but you may also see fleas themselves. Far away, they'll look like tiny black dots that can spring unbelievable distances. Unless you manage to capture a flea and put it under a magnifying glass, these dots will likely be all you see.
Common Myths About Fleas
A lot of home and business owners think that fleas only live on animals. However, this is not true. The reality is that fleas can breed and live just about anywhere as long as hosts are passing by frequently enough for them to get a blood meal.
When a potential host walks by their nests, fleas will leap onto the host, grab a quick bite, and then leap off either going back to their original nest or starting a new one. This is why you don't need pets to sustain a flea population. They're perfectly happy to feed on you.
That's why it's so tough to get rid of fleas. They can live just about anywhere and don't need to feed often, so it's not like you can starve them out, and store-bought treatments don't work either. Fortunately, there are other things you can do.
How To Prevent Future Flea Infestations In Your House
To keep fleas away, you’ll have to consider several issues. First, pets can and do introduce flea infestations into the home, especially if they’re indoor/outdoor or free-range pets. However, even if you don’t have pets, there is still another way fleas can find their way into your home: wildlife. We’ve got plenty of that here in Rhode Island.
If you’ve got rats, mice, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, and even birds on your property, they’re breeding grounds for fleas, and the fleas that infest them could end up on your property. Then, they’ll feed on you and the animals in your yard or home. So you have to factor in wildlife problems when formulating a flea prevention plan.
To prevent flea infestations from making it onto your property:
- Treat your pets with veterinary-approved flea treatments.
- Keep all indoor and outdoor trash cans covered with wildlife-proof lids.
- Seal construction gaps in your home against wildlife.
- Never leave pet foods or bowls sitting out.
- Store pantry foods in airtight containers to mask smells.
Following these steps can help keep wildlife and the fleas it carries off your Rhode Island property and prevent you from ever needing flea treatment in the first place.
Get Professional Help For Flea Control In Your Home
If, even after your best efforts, you still find yourself in need of flea treatment, call the experts here at Big Blue Bug Solutions. We can help eliminate existing flea infestations and prevent you from contracting new ones. So don’t wait, give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule your flea removal services today!