When temperatures rise, people and their pets flock outside to enjoy the nice weather. That’s a good thing. The great outdoors offers a lot of health benefits…unless your yard is filled with fleas and ticks! If you’re not careful, those benefits can turn to liabilities.
Fleas and ticks are often mentioned together but are different from each other in so many ways. Not only are they shaped differently, they also have different habits. But they are alike in at least ways: both have a strong thirst for blood, and both can carry very dangerous diseases!
Let’s compare these pests by first taking a look at fleas. Even though they don’t have wings, fleas can jump like NBA superstars. This enables them to move easily across your yard and all over their host. Although they’re very mobile, once aboard a person or animal they prefer to establish residence. They’re happy to settle in for the long-haul.
In contrast, ticks only stay on a host until they are done feeding. Then, they move to another victim. Since they can’t jump, they have to find creative ways to crawl onto a host. To accomplish this, ticks often climb to the top of grass blades and the end of tree limbs where they wait for a person or animal to brush by them. When that happens, they grab with their front legs and begin crawling to a patch of skin where they begin gorging on blood.
Fleas often carry microorganisms that cause anemia and dermatitis. While less common, they can also introduce tapeworms to their hosts. They are still known to spread typhus and the plague, a couple of illnesses you don’t want to mess with!
Ticks also carry some pretty well-known diseases, too. Over 300,000 people develop Lyme disease through tick bites every year. Most cases occur in the Northeast and Midwest. U.S. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is not nearly as widespread, but it gets a lot of publicity because of the serious long-term health problems it causes. Ehrlichiosis, is carried by the lone star tick and is common to our region. Symptoms include fever, headache, and nausea. These are just a few of many illnesses you can contract from ticks…there are certainly others!
The presence of fleas or ticks may signal deeper problems that need attention. Both these pests are opportunistic travelers. They prefer riding on a host to walking. If they appear in your house or yard, be alert for rodents, stray dogs and cats, and wild animals. Also, take notice of poorly maintained properties. Get assistance as appropriate to eliminate unwanted hosts and environments.
Preparedness is the best deterrent. If you haven’t begun a home maintenance routine, we recommend starting immediately.
- Mow your lawn at least once a week
- Trim bushes and shrubs regularly
- Keep your yard clean of food to discourage wild animals from coming
- Eliminate clutter and debris around your property
- Invest in flea and tick collars for your pets
- Make sure your gutters are working properly
- Eliminate sources of standing water
- Treat your pets the same day your treat your home
Fleas and ticks can be hard to eliminate. They are persistent creatures. If you need assistance in your quest to overcome these pests, we’re here to help! Call or text KC Pest Control at (405) 679-8729 for a free assessment of your situation!
