The Trick To Keeping Fleas & Ticks Out Of Your McKinney Yard

Here in McKinney, there are all sorts of pests that threaten to invade our properties. However, of all the pests you may encounter in the area, few are as dangerous as fleas and ticks. That’s because both fleas and ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of various animals. In doing so, they can spread many bloodborne diseases from host to host. Having fleas or ticks living on your property, or in your home, puts you and your family at risk. You need to know the steps you can take to limit your exposure to these dangerous parasites.

What Do Fleas & Ticks Look Like?

Although they are both parasites, fleas and ticks are actually quite different pests. Ticks are arachnids which means they’re related to spiders. They have round to ovular bodies, eight legs, and range in colors depending on the species. Although flat before feeding, ticks’ bodies will engorge after they have fed on a blood meal.

Fleas are much smaller than ticks, growing to be only 1/12th of an inch long. They are typically reddish-brown, and they have flat bodies, six legs, and antennae. Unlike ticks, the rear legs on fleas are large and powerful. This allows them the ability to jump several times higher than their body size. In effect, this is how fleas will get onto a host.

Ticks, on the other hand, are unable to jump. Instead, they will hang out on a blade of tall grass or in brush and wait for a potential host to pass by. They will then latch on to the host, usually without the host ever knowing. Moreover, you most likely only pick up one tick at a time. Fleas, on the other hand, can infest in numbers.

What Problems Can Fleas & Ticks Cause?

As they feed on various animals, fleas and ticks pick up all sorts of harmful bloodborne diseases which they can spread. Unfortunately, this isn’t just dangerous to us humans, either. They can also infect our pets with dangerous diseases. Some bloodborne illnesses that fleas and ticks have been known to spread include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, bubonic plagues, murine typhus, bartonellosis, and tapeworms.

How Can You Keep Fleas & Ticks Off Of Your Property?

When it comes to keeping fleas and ticks off of your property, there are two goals you should keep in mind. First is to make your property less hospitable to both fleas and ticks. This includes:

Keep your lawn well-manicured.
Trim back branches, shrubs, bushes, and vegetation around your property.
Keep your yard free of debris such as leaf piles and other organic matter.

In addition to making your yard less hospitable to fleas and ticks, you should also make it less appealing to the wildlife which can bring these parasites onto our properties. This includes:

Place fencing around any vegetable gardens.
Pick up any fallen fruit or vegetables from your yard.
Keep outdoor dining spaces clear of food waste and trash.
Pick up any uneaten pet food after your pet has finished eating.

There are also some steps you can take to keep from picking up fleas and ticks while venturing out into the great outdoors. This includes:

Stick to the centers of hiking trails.
Avoid venturing in tall grass or brush.
Check you and your pet’s bodies for ticks or fleas when you return from spending time in the great outdoors.

For More Advice & Assistance

While you should take precautions when it comes to keeping fleas and ticks off of you, your pets and your property, the best method of control is a combination of ongoing professional treatment for your property and a flea and tick prevention plan with your vet.

Here at Adams Exterminating Company, we offer several ongoing treatment plans to best fit your needs. That way you can go back to enjoying your yard worry-free. After all, it’s your property; you should be able to use it at your leisure without needing to fret over fleas and ticks. So, give us a call today and get started on taking back your yard from these dangerous parasites.