Avoid Bites and Stings this Summer

Avoid Bites and Stings this Summer

As the weather continues to pull you and your family towards more outdoor activities, the chances of getting bug bites increases. Here are some tips to prevent these bites and stings, and get back to enjoying your summer:

Mosquitoes

  • Use EPA-registered mosquito repellant. Always make sure to follow the precautions and instructions carefully.
  • Since mosquitoes are attracted to standing water, keep pools treated appropriately and keep the water circulating, and reduce or remove any other areas that accumulate water – bird baths, toys, buckets, flower pots, etc.
  • Have your yard sprayed monthly for mosquitoes with professional mosquito control treatments – the best way to reduce mosquitoes and prevent mosquito bites.

Fleas & Ticks

  • Avoid walking through tall grass. Be sure to keep grass cut low during the summer.
  • Treat pets with year-round preventatives to prevent flea and ticks bites and infestations.
  • If walking in wooded areas, wear light-colored clothing, long pants, and closed-toed shoes.

Fire Ants

  • Keep vegetation and trash bins away from your home.
  • If you spot nests in your yard, call your local exterminator to perform an inspection and provide a fire ant control plan, and keep away from mounds – especially young children and pets.

Treating bug bites and stings can put a damper on any outdoor activity. If you have issues with biting/stinging pests, call (866) 616-0862 or request a free pest inspection from your local pest control company.

 

The Dangers of Flea and Tick Bites

The Dangers of Flea and Tick Bites

Nothing puts a stop to outdoor summer fun faster than an encounter with a tick or flea. A bite from either is irritating and sometimes painful, but they can also cause a host of issues down the road.

Flea Bites

Bites from fleas are typically small, red bumps with a small halo that normally appear in a sequence of three to four. While pet owners are at a bigger risk of dealing with flea infestations, wandering wild animals or strays in your neighborhood can bring fleas in your yard causing a headache.

For humans, flea bites are very irritating, and the itch can lead to increased scratching. The excessive scratching can break the skin and cause secondary infections from bacteria. For your furry family members, flea bites can lead to severe dermatitis from a flea allergy, possible transmission of tapeworms, or anemia.

These bites can go away on their own; the use of calamine lotion can help with the itch. The best practice however is flea prevention. Fleas thrive in lawns with tall grass, so keeping lawns cut low and maintained will help with flea infestations. Also, regularly bathe and treat pets with preventative treatments year-round.

Tick Bites

Ticks, like fleas, rely on tall grass to have access to hosts. They will position themselves at the very top of a blade of grass. Once a host brushes past, they will have the opportunity to bite and attach. Deer ticks, which are very common here in the South, fortunately do not always carry disease, and if they do, they would need to feed for up to 48 hours before a disease can be transmitted. This is why inspection of yourself and your family members after spending time outdoors is essential. Removal within 24 hours reduces your chances of being exposed to tick-borne illness, like Lyme disease.

When removing a tick, it is very important to remain calm. Pull back any hair from around where the tick is located. Find the head, and using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. DO NOT grasp the body of the tick as this can squeeze the tick’s blood into the skin. Once you have a firm grasp on the head, pull in a straight motion, outward. Be sure to not twist when you pull as this can cause a tear, leaving the head to stay attached to the skin. Clean where the bite occurred and immediately flush the tick down the toilet or wrap tightly in tissue/paper towel and place in a trash can with a lid.

If you are going to be out in heavily wooded areas where the grass is unkept, wear long pants or high, light colored socks.  Make sure to remove woodpiles from around your home as this makes a great hiding place for ticks. Using an insect repellant with DEET when outdoors is another great preventative measureto take against a possible tick encounter.

If you are having issues with fleas or ticks, contact your local pest control company or schedule a free inspection now.

Don't Let Pests Crash Your Summer Party!

Don't Let Pests Crash Your Summer Party!

With the last day of school, graduation ceremonies, and Memorial Day quickly approaching, you’re probably feeling the pressure to get your outdoor area ready for all the festivities. Not only are you concerned about the look of your lawn and impressing your guests, but you also need to know which pests to avoid and, if possible, prevent from ruining your celebration. Here’s your party pest avoidance checklist:

Mosquitoes

mosquitoes
We’d like to be completely rid of mosquitoes forever, but that would be a difficult task! Let’s look at what you can do to reduce their occurrence in and around your home:

  • Eliminate breeding grounds
  • Be cautious of the time of day you plan your festivities; mosquitoes are most active early morning and late afternoon
  • Minimize wearing floral prints and perfumes as they attract more mosquitoes
  • Receive regular mosquito reduction service

Ticks

ticks
We understand the concern that ticks can breed. Take a look at these tips to prevent one of these pests attaching to you:

  • Wear light-colored clothing to help you see if you have picked up any ticks if you live in a wooded area
  • Wearing long-sleeves, pants, and shoes without open toes is suggested if your festivities are in an area with tall grass. Ticks will use the tall grass to attach to you
  • Keep grass cut low and inspect yourself thoroughly after working in the yard

Fleas

fleas
Fleas are typically a nuisance for our furry friends, though they can still cause issues for you too. Here are a few suggestions to keep your home and pets flea-free:

  • Check pets frequently for fleas and flea dust
  • Vacuum carpets, mop floors, and clean furniture regularly
  • Bathe pets frequently and speak with a vet about preventative medicine
  • If you think you have a flea infestation in your home and/or yard, call your exterminator for a free flea treatment quote

Fire Ants

fire ants
Like mosquitoes, fire ants can be an unwanted fixture on your lawn during the warmer months. They leave painful bites and can be an issue for pets and humans alike. To prevent fire ants from ruining your summer fun, try these tips:

  • Avoid all contact with fire ant mounds
  • To stop them from coming into your home, seal any cracks and replace any weather-stripping
  • If you see mounds around your home, call a pest control company to discuss a treatment plan
8 Ways To Protect Your Pets From Fleas And Ticks

8 Ways To Protect Your Pets From Fleas And Ticks

Summer brings hot temperatures and high humidity. It also brings some of the most annoying pests – fleas and ticks. These parasites can cause significant health issues for your pets including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Fleas and ticks are practically impossible to keep at bay and can take weeks to months to get under control. What can you do to protect your pets from these parasites? Check out these 8 tips to prevent fleas and ticks from taking over your pets and your home.

  1. Use a preventative year-round. While fleas and ticks are more common in the summer months, some can survive indoors during the winter. Check with your vet to see which preventative product is best for your pet and use it as directed. Make sure to check the expiration dates on products as they will lose their effectiveness after the expiration date. Check with your vet to see if there are any new products you can try that may not have been on the market before. Make sure to check the labels to ensure dog products are used on dogs and cat products are used on cats. Some products that are made for dogs contain an ingredient that is toxic to cats.
  2. Check regularly for ticks. You should perform tick checks on your pets regularly, especially if you have been in areas that may have ticks. Make sure to check all over your pet’s skin, in their ears, and under their armpits. Remove any ticks that you find immediately and notify your vet if your pet has been bitten.
  3. Groom your pet regularly. Comb your pet on a regular basis with a flea comb/brush. this allows you to bond with your pet while still giving you a chance to check for any parasites that may be hiding under their fur. Bathe them at least once a week with a flea and tick shampoo.
  4. Get regular checkups. Make sure to stay up to date with routine examinations with your vet. During the exam your vet will check for any signs of parasite problems to make sure the preventative product you are using is effective.
  5. Clean behind your pets. Clean crates and carriers at least once a week with warm, soapy water. Commit to a weekly wipe down of their equipment. Bedding should be cleaned in hot water at least once a week. Choose a pet bed that has washable, removable cushions and covers. If you can, try and have more than one cover so you can replace one while the other is washing. If your pet’s bedding looks or smells dirty even after washing, replace it and start a regular laundering schedule.
  6. Vacuum often. Fleas are known to live in carpets, rugs, and pet bedding. Try to vacuum at least once a week and more often if you actually spot fleas. Fleas also avoid high traffic areas so make sure to vacuum along baseboards, under furniture, under cushions, and anywhere your pets sleep or spend significant time. Change your vacuum bags frequently.
  7. Clean up your yard. Fleas prefer warm, moist, shady areas while ticks like to hide in tall grass. Mow your lawn regularly. Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed back. Rake leaves, brush, and clippings from your yard to give pests fewer places to hide and breed.
  8. Don’t attract wildlife. Wildlife like opossums, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and feral cats can bring fleas and ticks into your yard. Try to limit the access these animals have around your house and in your yard. Don’t leave bowls of pet food and water outside. Keep pet food stored in sealed containers. Remove food from bird feeders nightly. Use trashcans with locking lids. Seal any openings to crawlspaces, garages, sheds, and decks.

If you suspect a flea or tick problem, call a professional pest control company who can come and thoroughly inspect your home and yard and provide you with a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan.

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