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Hughes Exterminators Blog

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Heavy Rain Rings Dinner Bell for Fleas and Ticks

Kimberly Beaudin

Although the rainy season is good news for the plant life in our area, it can cause an alarm to local cats and dogs. Wet weather combined with heat and humidity serves as the perfect condition to promote flea and tick infestations. Fleas and ticks can cause health risks to pets as well as people. In order to keep you and your family safe, we have provided these steps to help prevent an outbreak of fleas and ticks.

  1. Keep your lawn and garden free of brush, grass clippings, woodpiles and leaf debris. These are playgrounds for rodents, which often carry fleas and ticks.
  2. Give your pets a thorough bath, and be sure to visit your veterinarian for regular flea and tick treatments. Perform spot checks on pets when they decide it is time to snuggle, particularly around the shoulders, back, and ears.
  3. Regularly vacuuming your home can suck up fleas and ticks that decide to reside in your carpets and rugs. Immediately dispose of the vacuum bag, as a flea is a regular Houdini and can easily get back into your home.
  4. When going outdoors to areas where ticks are common (shady, moist areas), be sure to wear protective clothing. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and choose light colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot. For further protection, you can use a tick repellant containing DEET or Permethrin. Before you head back inside, inspect your clothing and skin thoroughly for ticks, especially the hairline and behind the ears.
  5. If you have reason to believe that fleas and ticks are heading into your home, contact a licensed pest control professional today.


The team at Hughes Exterminators hopes that you use these steps to help make your summer a time for relaxation, not dealing with a flea or tick infestation. Contact us today for a free whole home evaluation.