Tuesday, June 20th, 2017 by Lacey Vukovich-Short

When you think of Fleas and Ticks what comes to mind? Nuisance might be a good word for it. Fleas and Ticks are two of the most frequent pet concerns in the United States.

Fleas are the most common external pest to plaque our pets. They are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood and have the ability to jump up to two feet high. Fleas can actually live up to twelve months. In that amount of time they produce millions of off-spring. The most common flea in the United States is what we call the “Cat Flea” or its Latin name “Ctenocephalides Fellis”. 

 Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of their host.  Their hosts can vary from dogs, cats, to even humans. A tick is in the arachnid family. They carry and transmit many diseases through their bite. A couple of the most well known diseases they carry are Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 

 A way to help eliminate the existence of fleas and ticks in your yard would be to have it treated on a regular basis.  A yard treatment is a broadcast treatment that would take place in your yard and landscaping as well. Ways you can help alleviate some of your fleas and ticks would be to mow your grass regularly, get rid of tall weeds. Making your home inhospitable to rodents that carry ticks and fleas by keeping all garage covered.