Flea Triggers

Fido and Whiskers are often the first flea-carrying suspects homeowners point to when they realize the irritating bites they’re reaching to itch, mostly on lower extremities, are from dreaded fleas.

In many ways, fleas are to pet owners what lice are to parents of young children. The mere thought makes you crawl out of your skin.

Certainly, pets contribute to household flea issues when owners do not adhere to consistent, recommended prevention prescribed by a veterinarian. Plenty tell their pest control companies, “Yep. We made sure Barker Jr. took his meds.”

They even may give reassurance when they call you back after a flea treatment because the problem persists: “Yes, we went to the vet.”

That’s when L.J. McCoy, Pest Professionals in Mission, Texas, wants to know, what did the vet prescribe?

If he gets the stammering reply, “Let me see what they used. … I don’t have a receipt,” the answer is clear. The pet is still a carrier and no preventive pet services were rendered.

But far beyond the pet is literally a wild range of flea-sporting rodents, Procyonidae and Sciuridae — mice, rats, racoons and squirrels — along with the casual possum, vole, bothersome chipmunks chipping away at a home’s foundation and even adorable rabbits living under the deck.

Mice and rats carry fleas into the home. Stray cats traversing a property also can drop flea eggs in the yard that are transferred indoors by smaller creatures that sneak in through cracks.

Jeffery Preece, owner of ZipZap Termite & Pest Control in Lawson, Mo., services clients in rural areas near its headquarters along with more urban environments in Kansas City.

Here, Preece and other PMPs who responded to our 2024 State of the Flea Control Market survey share common flea culprits — aside from four-legged family members.

STUCK! Attics and chimneys offer easy-to-access shelter for animals like racoons — and every animal has a life cycle. Preece has witnessed flea situations where the root cause is an expired animal in an area of the home where no one usually goes or really thinks about all that much. “Once the raccoon dies, the fleas start looking for another food source, and if they’re already in the house, [the owner is] probably next,” he said.

Crawlspaces underneath pier-and-beam foundations are target spots for wildlife to home in on and fleas to fester, says Camille Landry, president, FullScope Pest Control.

“When our technicians go out for a flea service, they look for openings, animal droppings and wildlife activity,” Landry said. “Then we have a secondary problem: We need to do an exclusion to reduce the wildlife population and control the fleas.”

Chad Highley added, “Crawlspaces offer ideal conditions because there is no plant life and there is nothing to obstruct fleas from jumping and they like places with low to no groundcover.” The president of Environmental Pest Control in Lawton, Okla., finds “a whole menagerie of critters” that appreciate these harborage areas and bring the fleas with them.

WELCOME IN! Landry generally treats fleas in residential environments, but some commercial hotspots include mechanics’ shops when garage bays are left open (the same applies to homes) and mobile homes that are converted into offices. “They probably already had an infestation,” she said.

Homeowners who purchase a house or move into a rental property may discover after the fact that fleas also are taking up residence.

“We talk to customers to really understand what’s going on,” Landry says. “Do you have pets? Did you just move in? When did you start noticing the problem? Garages are a big deal. People don’t think about leaving their doors open, and then their cat might walk into the garage and pick up the eggs.”

Mostly, humans and pets bring in fleas from the outdoors. So, the yard is a key treatment target, Landry said. “If you are in the yard and they are on your shoes, you probably won’t notice and walk indoors.”

YARD ALERT. Fleas aren’t big fans of moisture, so when the grass is lush, they’ll find another hangout. McCoy said, “bald spots in the lawn where it’s just dirt, the fleas love that. They also gravitate toward mulch, wood piles and wood shavings.”

He advises clients to maintain their properties and “keep things neat and tidy,” along with watching out to see which wild creatures pay a visit.

Highley notes that high traffic times for fleas include early spring and late summer when rodents are on the move. “In spring, rodents are moving out of their overwintering spots to find harborage or breeding grounds outdoors, and in late summer, they are getting ready for winter so they are on the move looking for a cold-weather hangout,” he said.

Before providing service to treat fleas, Landry often will inquire whether the lawn has been recently mowed.

“And if we are in a dry season, we suggest putting out a sprinkler to get moisture in the soil to help with exterior [flea] control,” she said, citing adverse environments for fleas. In Cowleys Pest Services’ New Jersey region, Technical Advisor Jim Regan said shore towns are “hit very heavy” because of sandier soils. “Fleas are a bit more present,” he says.