Flea and Tick Facts and Prevention

Fleas-Did you know that there are thousands of species of fleas worldwide? That fact alone probably has your skin crawling. In Wisconsin we (and our furry friends) tend to only have run-ins with a few types of fleas. The cat flea is the most common domestic flea that we meet.  

Fleas are small, wingless parasites that feed on blood. They appear flat, dark, and reddish-brown in color and the adults are about 1/12-1/6 of an inch long.  Fleas have 3 pairs of legs. They do not have the ability to fly, but they can jump! Fleas can jump as high as 8” vertically, which is 150 times their own height.  

Once a flea hatches and becomes an adult, it will jump onto a host. Fleas are attracted to and can live on any warm-blooded animal (yes, including humans), but seem to prefer hairy animals such as dogs, cats, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, rodents and other wildlife. Once attached to its host, the flea will feed. The female flea can consume 15 times her own body weight in blood daily. Fleas will mate and lay eggs upon their chosen host. A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs in her lifetime! Some of these eggs will drop off of the host and land in places such as our yards, bedding and carpeting.  ​

Ticks-Ticks can vary in color by species, and they have six legs during their larval stage and eight legs during their nymphal and adult stages. Adults can be smaller than a sunflower seed (over 1 cm long after feeding), while larvae can be less than 1 mm.

Common types in Wisconsin include deer (black-legged) tick, lone star tick, and wood (American dog) tick. 

The Treatment

Fleas-In order to properly treat fleas, a thorough inspection is required to determine where the immature stages of the flea population are residing. From there a treatment plan will be determined and the applied as necessary to target the type and severity of the infestation. 

Ticks-Ticks require cautious and thorough treatment. Whether on pets or people, they should be grasped behind the head by tweezers and pulled slowly away from the skin so as not to crush them and release toxic fluids. Treatment and extermination of ticks includes the use of tick control products and chemical applications to repel and eliminate any ticks, eggs and larvae present in various areas of your yard such as ground cover vegetation, areas where the lawn meets the woods, ornamental plantings and other similar shaded or protected areas. 

The Threats 

Fleas-Besides the itchy, painful red bumps that flea bites leave behind, flea bites and infestations can cause allergic reactions in humans and pets and can also transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in pets. When fleas populate a mouse colony, disease can become a very deep concern, the worst disease on record being the bubonic plague. They also transmit the bacterial disease murine typhus to humans through infected rats.

Ticks -Ticks can transmit illnesses like Lyme disease, which may lead to rashes, joint pain, chills, fever, and fatigue. They can also carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a disease associated with symptoms such as fever, nausea, red eyes, joint discomfort, and muscle aches. 

Prevention Tips 

Fleas-Check your home’s exterior for entry points and seal any gaps to keep out rodents and other wildlife that may be carrying fleas. Keep your yard clean and maintained. Vacuum regularly—washing any bedding that may carry fleas or their eggs.

Protect your pets by checking their coats for fleas, especially if you see any excessive scratching or licking, bathing your pet (and their bedding, collars and plush toys) regularly, and see your vet for annual check-ups and for advice on flea products and prevention.  

Ticks-Tick prevention options for your yard require modifying areas of tick habitat including exposing shaded areas to sunlight to reduce moisture, removing protective sites such as heavy leaf litter or thick ground cover around the perimeter of your home and removing protected areas like fallen logs, firewood piles and rock piles.