As we ascend into spring and summer, more people may begin to think about pest control habits. You may check your home for torn screens and cracks in the wall or get a new set of durable storage containers. However, aside from protecting yourself from pests, you also should think about your pets. In these warmer months, pets are often exposed to pests and may have to deal with them more than you. Consider these tips to protect your pets from pests this season.
Some pests, such as fleas, mosquitoes and ticks, carry diseases that could threaten your pet's health. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus, some ticks possess Lyme's disease and fleas can transmit the plague, the American Veterinary Medical Association noted. If bitten by the wrong bug, your dog could get very ill. Yet these insects are prevalent in spring and summer, and can easily find their way onto your pet or wander inside your home. Regardless of where you live, many veterinarians will advise that pet parents protect their pets throughout the year using medication such as Frontline. However, that may not be enough.
Ticks: There are a different types of ticks that may be wandering around your neighborhood, The Tri-County Times noted. In wet summers and in grassy areas, ticks tend to be a significant problem. Over years, the population has expanded, causing this pest to come out as early as late winter and stick around until early fall. Given their long stay, there's a good chance one tick may find its way onto your pet. Specific types, such as the deer tick, carry an illness called Lyme's disease. This condition can make both humans and pets sick, and stays in their system forever. Ticks also carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Avoid bringing your pets around wet environments, and regularly inspect them to spot ticks.
Fleas: Fleas can get onto pets for a variety of reasons. However, fleas can be hard to spot and breed quickly. They also infest readily, so if you have more than one pet in your home, all of them will need to be treated for fleas. A flea's lifespan is three months, so they may last longer than you think. Prevent fleas from getting on your pets using a medication such as Frontline.
Mosquitoes: Some pet owners may be fearful that their pet will catch West Nile virus from a mosquito. However, there is a much deadlier disease that mosquitoes carry: heart-worm. Both dogs and cats are susceptible to developing heart-worm. Pet parents could put their pets at risk if left untreated.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
