Realistically, every home and pet is at risk of encountering fleas, ticks
and mosquitoes. These pests exist in virtually every area of the
country, and just keeping a pet indoors isn't enough to prevent
infestation. Pests may travel indoors on a person or through open
doors or windows. They are super sleuths when it comes to finding
a host for their insatiable appetites, managing to find their way
into the cleanest and most secure homes.
Sneaky
Little Buggers
- Fleas,
which can carry tapeworm and wreak
havoc on your pet's skin, can jump
more than eight inches high - the equivalent
of a human jumping over the Statue
of Liberty!
- Ticks,
carriers of Lyme disease and Rocky
Mountain Spotted Fever, burrow into
the fur of their hosts and can be so
small that they are barely visible.
- Mosquitoes,
which can carry deadly heartworm, are experts
at finding their way through the smallest
of cracks or screens, despite diligent
efforts to keep them out.
Favorite
Places
The likelihood that a pet or home will become infested with one of these
pests depends on many factors, climate being one of the most important.
- Fleas
are most common in warm, humid areas
and can be found year-round in flea-friendly
climates such as the Gulf Coast states
and Southern California. Their peak
season in other parts of the country
is generally May through September,
although weather conditions may extend
that season.
- Ticks
thrive in a moist, shaded environment
and are especially common in heavily
wooded regions and areas with a lot
of brush and grass. Tick season is
worst during warm months, usually late
spring through summer in most parts
of the U.S. They are found most often
in the eastern states, the Upper Midwest,
and parts of Texas and the Pacific
Northwest. Consequently, these same
areas have the highest occurrence of
tick-borne illnesses including Lyme
disease.
- Mosquitoes
are found throughout the U.S., thriving
in areas where they can find standing
water. An unattended bucket, discarded
tire or unchecked pet bowl can provide
sufficient stagnant water for females
to lay their eggs.
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