Fleas and ticks are summer pests that just won’t quit, even here in Oregon. They infest pets relentlessly and can drive your dogs and cats crazy if you let them. But far from being just a pet problem, these pests can infest people and pets alike – and you don’t even have to have pets to wind up with fleas or ticks. There are plenty of ways to accidentally introduce them to your property. That’s why you need to include preventative steps in your Albany pest control plan.
How Fleas And Ticks Are Similar Pests
Fleas and ticks are similar in a number of ways. First off, they both feed exclusively on blood, though their strategies for getting bloodmeals are different. Fleas often live directly in the fur or feathers of their hosts, while ticks never live on their hosts. Instead, they embed themselves in the skin temporarily, feeding and then dropping off when full.
Flea and tick bites can also look similar under certain circumstances. Both leave red, itchy welts that can take days to heal, and tick bites can also be as small as flea bites, depending on the species of tick. However, there are also key differences. Regardless of the tick that bit you, you’ll likely only have a single bite that can be located virtually anywhere. Meanwhile, fleas will leave many bites, and they’ll typically be clustered around your feet and ankles.
The Diseases Fleas And Ticks Are Known To Spread
A flea or tick problem isn’t just an annoyance. These pests can spread a number of potentially deadly diseases, especially ticks. Fleas are not as much of a threat to humans now as they were in the past when they helped spread bubonic plague across large swaths of the world. However, they can still transmit plague (though this is rare), as well as a few other diseases like typhus, tularemia, and cat scratch fever.
Ticks are even more of an issue because they spread extremely dangerous illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These bacterial diseases are treatable in their early stages, but if they’re allowed to progress, they can attack multiple body systems and lead to debilitating symptoms that can be permanent.
How To Prevent Fleas And Ticks On Your Property
Pest control starts with prevention. There are many things you can do to avoid contracting an infestation. Keeping wildlife away from your property is a good place to start for people who don’t have pets. Wild animals like raccoons and rodents are typically covered in fleas and ticks. If a few of these pests decide to set up shop while these wild mammals are rooting through your garbage, you could easily wind up with an established breeding population within a few weeks.
If you do have pets, you’ll also need to ensure you’re keeping them on an effective prophylactic. Talk to your vet about what medicines work best. Also, ensure you’re checking yourself for ticks and wearing insect repellant when you’re out in wilderness areas so that you don’t bring ticks back on your body or in your gear.
The Best Flea And Tick Control For Your Property
Flea and tick control can be a real hassle if you wind up with a breeding population on your property. Most DIY methods to get rid of these pests will not eliminate the entire population. That’s why you’ll need help from the experts here at Kanga Pest Control. If you’re wanting to eliminate all the fleas and ticks on your property rather than just temporarily reducing their numbers, give us a call or visit our contact page to get started.
