Categories: Fleas, Rodents
Read time: 5 minutes
Yard work is never fun, but it’s especially unpleasant when you have to deal with fleas.
They’re tiny, they’re hard to see, and they bite. A lot. And they reproduce quickly, so if you have a flea problem, it can feel like you’re fighting a losing battle.
In fact, they are able to lay around 40 – 50 eggs a day, and those eggs can hatch in as little as one to ten days. So if you’re dealing with fleas, you need to act fast.
The good news is that there are some things you can do to learn how to get rid of fleas and prevent them from taking over your yard – and your life.
How Do Fleas Get in Your Yard
Before you can learn how to get rid of fleas, you need to understand how they got there in the first place.
There are a few ways that fleas can end up in your yard:
- Pets: Dogs and cats can bring fleas into your yard from other places. And once they’re there, those fleas will jump off your pet and onto you – or anyone else who comes close.
- Rodents: Did you know that rodents such as mice and rats are some of the most common hosts for fleas in many urban areas? Well, it’s true. That is why it is important to control the rodent population in and around your home in order to prevent a flea infestation as well as other diseases that rodents can carry.
- Birds: Birds can also carry fleas into your yard. If you have bird feeders, make sure to clean them regularly to prevent fleas from taking up residence.
- Plants: If you have any plants that are infested with fleas, they can jump off the plants and into your yard – and then onto you. That’s why it’s important to inspect any new plants before you bring them home and to get rid of any flea-infested plants as soon as possible.
- People: Yep, people can carry fleas, too. If you have visitors over, there’s a chance they could bring fleas into your yard on their clothing or shoes.
By understanding how fleas get into your yard, you can take steps to prevent them from getting there in the first place.
Preventing Fleas in Your Yard
The best way to deal with any pest is to stop it from coming onto your property in the first place. This is especially true for fleas, which are incredibly hard to get rid of once they take up residence in your yard.
Here are a few things you can do to prevent fleas from moving in:
- Rodent control: As we mentioned, rodents are one of the most common hosts for fleas. By keeping the rodent population under control, you can help to prevent a flea infestation. You can do this by removing rodent shelters such as piles of leaves, wood, or debris.
- Avoid overwatering your lawn: Fleas love moisture, so if you keep your lawn too wet, it will be a prime breeding ground for them. Water only when necessary, and make sure that any standing water on your property is removed as soon as possible. Aside from fleas, standing water can also attract mosquitoes, which can be an additional problem.
- Trim your overgrown grass regularly: Long grass provides the perfect hiding place for fleas, so keep it trimmed short. This will make it harder for fleas to hide and lay their eggs.
- Remove potential flea habitats: What are fleas attracted to for their homes? Well, they like cool, shady areas where they can escape the heat. So if you have any piles of leaves, wood, or debris in your yard, make sure to remove them. This will also help reduce the risk of fleas infesting your home, as they’ll have fewer places to breed.
- Keep your pets treated: One of the most common ways that fleas make their way into yards is on the backs of animals. The best way to stop this is to keep your pets treated with flea preventatives like oral medication, shampoo, or spot-on treatment. And if you see any fleas on your pet, make sure to remove them right away and treat the affected area to terminate further infestation.
These are just a few things you can do to stop fleas from taking over your yard. So if you’re wondering how to get rid of fleas, the best place to start is by preventing them from moving in, in the first place. Your yard – and your sanity – will thank you for it.
What To Do if You Already Have Fleas in Your Yard
If you already have fleas in your yard, don’t despair, it’s not too late to get rid of them.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Use flea control products: You can try flea bombs, sprays, and powders as some can be effective as flea treatment. Just be sure to follow the directions on the product packaging carefully, as these products can be toxic to humans and animals if used incorrectly. For big jobs, you will need to bring in a professional pest technician as flea infestations are difficult to get under control.
- Treat your yard and home: It’s important to treat your home inside and out, in order to ensure that all of the fleas are eliminated and that they don’t come back.
- Contact a pest control company: Fox Pest Control has the expertise to take care of your flea problem safely. We will be able to identify the source of the problem and provide you with a customized plan to get rid of the fleas in your home and yard. Which will give you peace of mind – and finally allow you to enjoy your home again. And if you do see fleas returning before your next treatment Fox Pest Control will come back for free, that’s our satisfaction guarantee.
Dealing with fleas can be a frustrating experience, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking some simple precautions with your yard flea treatment and understanding basic flea facts, you can keep your yard flea-free all season long.
