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Prevention and Treatment
Beavers advises taking these steps at home to reduce the number of fleas, ticks and mosquitoes on your property:
* Adult fleas like humidity and shade, so eliminate shaded areas around your home.
* Remove unkempt grass and weeds, prune bushes and generally maintain your yard to reduce the number of ticks, mosquitoes and fleas on vegetation. Keep leaf litter to a minimum, as pests like to live in this damp, protected shelter.
* Keep raccoons, opossums, deer and rodents off your property, as these animals can carry ticks and fleas.
* Remove standing water from gutters and frequently change out water in bird baths, fountains and potted plants.
* Frequently vacuum, wash and dry indoor and outdoor pet bedding.
* Regularly groom and bathe your pet to help identify and prevent problems.
* Discuss prevention strategies with your veterinarian and have them check your pet for pests if you are worried. Your vet can recommend special flea and tick collars, treatments and shampoos to help protect your pet.
To keep pests out of your home and away from your pets, work with your pest management provider to create a prevention and treatment plan. For more pest prevention tips, or to bring in a professional to assess your pest activity, visit Orkin.com.