A Guide To Effective Flea And Tick Control For Nashville Property Owners
Ticks and fleas are two very different creatures. While fleas are so small, they’re almost invisible to the naked eye, ticks are larger and easier to spot, especially after the feeding process causes their bodies to swell. Ticks access hosts by crawling onto them, unlike fleas, who use their powerful leg muscles to jump aboard. Heck, the two species aren’t even in the same animal class: fleas are insects, while ticks are arachnids. Despite all their differences, the ways these pests infest and the problems they can cause are all too similar.
Problems Associated With Fleas And Ticks In Nashville
Fleas and ticks are quite possibly the most recognizable and archetypal examples of parasites in the entirety of the animal kingdom. They directly live off the humans and other animals they attach themselves to. This quite literally bloodsucking behavior can no doubt be harmful on its own, especially if left untouched over time, as these parasites siphon more and more essential fluids from their hosts’ bodies.
Unfortunately, the problems ticks and fleas can cause don’t end there. The two pests can irritate the skin, leading to inflammation or itching where they bite. Some canine and feline variety pets have even been known to suffer allergic reactions to these parasites.
However, the most dangerous, even lethal, problems caused by these malignant mites emerge from their natures as carriers of infection. A flea or tick may carry on it an array of different pathogens, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and typhus. They may also carry parasites such as tapeworm which transfer to the host’s system as the bloodsucker feeds.
Even the removal of a tick or flea might cause problems, as attempting to pull one off with bare fingers may disconnect the body from the head, leaving the latter inside the host. At this point, all the maladies carried by the flea and tick can still infect the bloodstream. On top of this, a tick’s saliva, which contains virulent substances that, among other things, can trigger paralysis, would continue to enter the host’s system.
Keeping Fleas And Ticks Off Of Your Nashville Property
So how do you keep fleas and ticks off your property? After all, the farther away they are from your home, the less you’ll have to worry about encountering them!
Keep your lawn well-trimmed. These types of parasites are drawn to tall grass, as overgrown verdure not only serves as the perfect cover but provides the perfect vantage point from which to pass themselves onto passersby.
Be especially vigilant against grama and grass brushes stationed along the perimeter of your property. If you find yourself neighboring an area of forest, mark your turf with a few foot-wide boundary of wooden chips. It will do wonders to deter the itsy-bitsy pests that would otherwise attempt to wander through.
Be sure to keep vector animals away as well – animals like raccoons and deer can very easily allow ticks and fleas free passage. To make your property less attractive to wild animals keep your trash containers sealed and the empty food cans within them washed, keep your grass cut short, and install fencing around vegetable gardens.
When venturing outdoors for a walk or a hike, stay on the beaten path and away from patches of tall grass.
When spending an extended period of time outdoors, mask your smell to make yourself less appetizing to the parasites. Citrusy scents, such as those from oranges and lemons, or common fragrances like lavender and peppermint will make you as unappealing to the bloodsuckers as they are to you. You could also spray your clothing with a CDC approved insect repellent that contains DEET or permethrin.
Despite your best efforts, you may still find yourself battling these unwanted parasites, and the dangers associated with fleas and ticks are unnerving, to say the least. Fortunately, the experts at Urbanex Pest Control can help you reduce the flea and tick population in your Nashville yard so that you can rest easy knowing that your family and pets are protected from these unwanted pests. Reach out to the professionals at Urbanex Pest Control to learn more about your flea and tick control options today!
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