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PEST CONTROL


Flea Identification & Prevention
What are fleas?
Fleas are blood-eating pests called ectoparasites which means they feed on the blood of their host from the outside of the host's body. These tiny pests have reddish-brown bodies that are flattened from side to side. Fleas have six legs, with the last pair being larger and stronger than the rest, providing them with the ability to jump that these pests are so well known for.
After an adult flea finds its way onto an animal host like a cat, dog, rodent, raccoon, deer, or another animal, that is where it will spend its short life. The average lifespan of a flea is about two to three months.
Adult fleas feed and breed on the backs of their animal hosts. After the females lay their eggs, they will roll off the animal host and onto the ground below where they will develop into new biting adults.
Fleas can and will bite people to feed on our blood, but we are not their preferred hosts, and they do not live on our bodies.
Are fleas dangerous?
Fleas are parasitic pests capable of transmitting diseases and parasites like tapeworms through their feeding process. However, the spread of diseases by fleas to people in the U.S. isn't as significant a threat as in other countries. Still, it is always best to avoid becoming a food source for these pests.
The biggest concern with fleas is that most people and animals are allergic to their saliva and develop red itchy rashes after being bitten. Excessive scratching can cause scabbing, scarring, and hair loss in animals. Secondary infections because of scratching at flea bites are also common.
Why do I have a flea problem?
Fleas live primarily outdoors where they have the easiest access to animal hosts. Since wild animals and rodents are typically the cause of a flea infestation, fleas can become a problem on any property, whether pets are present or not.
When fleas are present in your yard, it is only a matter of time before you or your pets come into contact with them and bring them into your home with you. Flea infestations can also develop after rodents or other wild animals that have fleas move into a house to nest.
When items like rugs or furniture that are infested with fleas are moved from home or home or purchased secondhand, this can also be the root cause of a flea infestation.
How can I prevent fleas in the future?
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Keep the grass cut short.
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Bathe and brush your pets frequently and place them on a year-round flea preventative.
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Bathe and brush your pets frequently and place them on a year-round flea preventative.
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Remove bird feeders and keep lids on trash cans to avoid attracting rodents and other wild animals to your property.
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Remove bird feeders and keep lids on trash cans to avoid attracting rodents and other wild animals to your property.
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Reach out to Green Day Pest today to learn more about our flea control services in Sacramento and keep fleas away from your property!