Summer is the season for outdoor fun, and for many of us in North Bay, that means enjoying the parks, trails, and our own backyards with our beloved pets. But as our furry family members spend more time outside, they’re more likely to bring home tiny, unwanted hitchhikers: fleas and ticks.
These pests are more than just an itchy nuisance for your pet. They can lead to health issues for your animals and can quickly establish a distressing infestation in your home. At North Point Pest Solutions, we want to help you protect your entire pack—two-legged and four-legged alike—with this guide to effective flea and tick control.
The Problem Goes Beyond the Pet
It’s crucial to understand that what you see on your pet is often just the tip of the iceberg.
- Fleas: The adult fleas on your pet represent only about 5% of the total flea population in your home. The other 95% exists as eggs, larvae, and pupae, hiding in your carpets, furniture, pet beds, and floorboards. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day, leading to an explosive infestation in a very short time.
- Ticks: While ticks don’t typically infest homes, they are brought inside on pets and people. Ticks are notorious carriers of dangerous illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, posing a direct health risk to your family.
A Three-Pronged Strategy for Protection
The most effective way to control fleas and ticks is with a comprehensive strategy that addresses your pet, your yard, and your home.
1. Protect Your Pet: Your veterinarian is your first line of defense. They can recommend the best preventative products for your pet’s specific needs, such as flea collars, oral medications, or topical treatments. Regular checks for ticks after your pet has been outdoors are also essential.
2. Maintain Your Yard: Make your property less inviting to these pests with some simple landscaping:
- Keep Grass Mowed: Ticks prefer tall grass where they can wait for a host to pass by.
- Remove Leaf Litter: Clear away leaf piles, brush, and yard debris where fleas and ticks can hide and thrive.
- Create a Barrier: If your yard borders a wooded area, create a three-foot-wide buffer zone with wood chips or gravel. This makes it harder for ticks to migrate into your main lawn area.
3. Defend Your Home: If fleas have already made it inside, aggressive action is needed to break their lifecycle.
- Vacuum Vigorously: Vacuum all carpets, rugs, and furniture daily. Pay special attention to your pet’s favorite resting spots. Immediately seal and dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister outside.
- Wash Everything: Wash all pet bedding, blankets, and toys in the hottest water possible to kill eggs and larvae.
When to Call for Professional Reinforcements
Breaking the flea lifecycle is incredibly difficult with DIY methods alone. Flea pupae are encased in a protective cocoon that is resistant to most store-bought pesticides, allowing them to hatch weeks later and start the infestation all over again.
This is where professional intervention is critical. The experts at North Point Pest Solutions use a comprehensive approach to eliminate fleas and ticks from your home.
- We use professional-grade products, including Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs), which stop flea eggs and larvae from maturing into biting adults.
- Our treatments target all the hidden spots where fleas develop, ensuring no stage of the lifecycle is missed.
- We provide a safe, effective solution that gives you long-term relief and peace of mind.
Don’t let fleas and ticks threaten the health and comfort of your family and pets. Enjoy your summer knowing your pack is protected.
Suspect you have a flea or tick problem? Contact North Point Pest Solutions today for a thorough inspection and a customized treatment plan.
About North Point Pest Solutions:
North Point Pest Solutions is a leading provider of comprehensive pest control services in North Bay. We are dedicated to providing our customers with effective, environmentally responsible solutions to their pest problems. Our team of experienced and certified technicians is committed to delivering exceptional service and lasting results.
