Did you know that late summer to early fall is flea season in GA?

These tiny blood feeders suck blood from mammals using tiny, straw-like mouth parts. Neither you nor your fur babies are safe from the bite of this pesky little creature.  If you have ever had the misfortune of being bitten by a flea, then you can appreciate the importance of good flea control.

We are right in the middle of flea season outside. Fleas live, feed, and breed outside July through late October. If they find their way indoors on one of your beloved pets, they can start an infestation that will last year-round. Adult fleas spend almost the entirety of their life on their host. If your pets are not kept on flea and tick medication, fleas can easily make your pet that host. Not only do they feed, breed, and live on their host once they find it, they also defecate (poop) and lay their eggs on their host, too. When the host the fleas are living on stands up, moves, shakes, or scratches, the eggs and dried blood (aka flea dirt–aka flea poop) fall off into bedding, carpet, upholstery, etc. This is where the rest of the flea life cycle takes place.

Juvenile fleas (larval fleas) spend their entire life in whatever bedding or substrate they hatch on. They crawl around through the fibers or the soil and feed on the flea dirt of their parents. After growing several times, the larvae enter the next stage of their life: the pupal stage (a resting stage to undergo the drastic change from larva to adult). During the pupal stage, the fleas are almost impossible to control. Most of the products on the market cannot penetrate the hard casing of pupal fleas. This is why hiring a professional is vital to the eradication of these irritating critters. Professionals have been taught how and when to treat and exactly what steps need to be taken to control flea populations in the home. On the same token, this is why it is important to perform all of the steps asked of you by your pest control professional. Failure to follow their directions may make the problem worse…or fail to control it at all!

Besides their nasty, itchy bite, what is the big deal about fleas? Well, certain species carry and transmit the plague [also referred to as black death (black plague)]. If you aren’t familiar with the plague, let me provide a short, but informative, history lesson. The plague was a serious issue in Europe back in the mid-1300s when sanitation was way worse than it is now. Rats roamed the streets and carried fleas around with them. When these fleas would transfer from feeding on infected rodents to feeding on people, they would transfer the virus Yersinia pestis [aka the causative virus of the plague (of which there are three types: pneumonic, septicemic, and bubonic)]. This disease was so bad that it wiped out around 60% of Europe’s population in the 1300s (somewhere in the millions, if not hundreds of millions). So, we see how it got the ‘death’ part of its name, but where does the word black come from? That is a result of one of the lovely side effects of the septicemic version of the plague. In addition to a handful of other problems, it also causes the skin to start turning black, usually starting in the lymph nodes, because of gangrene. The pneumonic version is the most dangerous as it can be spread from person to person thru infected fluids, and the bubonic version forms giant lumps/nodules (buboes) in the lymph nodes closest to the bite site. While the plague may not be as big of an issue in the Eastern United Sates, the western hemisphere of the U.S. is still at risk. Fleas living on the prairie dog populations out west have continued to transmit the plague to humans; the CDC states that there are an average of 7 new cases a year.

In addition to the plague, fleas also transmit tapeworms to dogs and cats. The tapeworm that dogs and cats get from fleas is the flea (or cucumber) tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum). Infection happens when a dog or cat is chewing at the fleas on its skin and swallows a flea that contains a tapeworm larva. When the stomach acids break down the flea, the tapeworm emerges and begins its life cycle. As it matures into its adult form, the tape worm grows larger and develops numerous segments, called proglottids. Each one of the proglottids can break off and be expelled from the animal’s body as it defecates. If you see a proglottid in your pet’s excrement, take them to the vet immediately to be dewormed; be sure to keep pets on flea medication, because each of the proglottids contain eggs that can re-infest flea larvae, starting the cycle all over again when the larvae become adults. The only risk a flea would pose to a human is if the human were to accidentally swallow a flea infected with tapeworms. While it is not impossible, the chance that this would happen is astronomical!

If you want to avoid ever being put in these situations in the first place, flea and tick medication is an absolute must for your pets! Just a reminder that cats need flea and tick medication as well. If a cat contracts the plague, it can transfer the plague to a human when the cat coughs or sneezes. In addition, pest control providers can service your yard for fleas or come indoors to control flea infestations that have found their way inside. Keeping wild animals out of your yard is a good way to keep fleas from being present in the first place. Remove piles of wood, rubbish, or other debris that wild animals may use as shelter. Putting a fence around your yard can also help, but that can be a rather expensive solution. Keeping grass at a reasonable height (ankle height) is also a great way to keep your home flea free!

For more information on flea tapeworms, please check out the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/dipylidium/about/

For more information on the plague, please visit the CDC website.

If you are a bug nerd like me and want more information about fleas, check out this informative page from Ohio State University:

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-2081-11

Author: G. Wyatt West –A University of Georgia Graduate of Entomology

Where relationships matter.

Yes, this is just a business tagline….. but to us at Active Pest Control it means so much more. Our business is built around the premise of our relationships with our customers, our employees, and our community. We believe that relationships mean everything. We strive to practice this “tagline” in everything we do.

We help people in times of need on a daily basis. We are called in when our customers are facing destructive home invaders and when they are dealing with expensive home damage. We take our time with our customers and provide multiple options to them to help them make informed decisions. We are always upfront about our pricing and what our pricing includes. We don’t bury anything in our fine print or surprise our customers with hidden fees. We also list our pricing on our website, unlike our competitors. We strive to be transparent.

Yesterday, we found ourselves on the other side of need. Instead of providing help to our community, we were the ones in need of help. Our community was hard hit with 6 inches of rain in a short 5 hour period. We had to ground our entire service team for safety reasons due to the widespread flash flooding.

Unfortunately, one of our service vehicles was caught in the rising flood waters in Loganville, Ga. We immediately reached out to a local tow company in the area that could help us get our vehicle out. Whitlock Towing said they could get the vehicle out and back to our office with no problem. They were prompt and courteous. They attached a chain to the truck and pulled it 10 feet out of the water and towed it back to our office in McDonough. We were grateful to have someone help us in our time of need.

When the tow truck arrived to our corporate office, things quickly took a turn for the worse. When Whitlock Towing was unloading our vehicle we were presented with their bill. A bill for 3,000 dollars. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS to pull a truck out of standing water and tow it from one side of metro Atlanta to the other. We understand that this wasn’t a normal tow. We understand that situation was not a normal circumstance. We also know what predatory business practice looks like, and Whitlock Towing was guilty of it. Pricing was never discussed. Extra fees were never explained to us. Whitlock Towing made sure that they provided the service in our time of need FIRST, before they discussed the exorbitant cost they felt their services were worth.

We want our customers to know that this is EXACTLY why our business is built around relationships. We want our customers to feel taken care of. We want our customers to make INFORMED decisions before spending their hard earned money.

We never want our customers to feel like we did yesterday. That’s why we are sharing this story publicly.

–Active Pest Control “Where Relationships Matter”

Issues stemming from Christmas trees can come back to haunt you even after Christmas is long gone! It all has to do with the disposal of the tree.

If you celebrated a fun Christmas season with a live tree then you need to find something to do with it after the holidays. For many people that is finding a nice spot of land on their property to throw the tree out. However, this can lead to some pretty big issues.

If you are not proACTIVE in the care you use to dispose of your tree, then you may have some issues come spring. In the months following December, your Christmas tree will transform from a lush green attraction to a dry withered husk. By the time March rolls around you will have a dead tree that is holding moisture against the ground and providing shelter to newly emerging insects. If you leave the dead and decaying tree near your home, you could pay the price.

Dead Christmas trees provide the perfect location for newly emerging insects to harbor, mate, relax, and more! If left near or against your home the dead tree can promote pest insects to venture inside. Furthermore, trees are a cellulosic material, which is the favorite snack of wood destroying organisms. You surely don’t want to promote termites or wood destroying beetles to venture into your home!

In addition to pests, termites, and other wood destroying organisms, that dead tree could provide the perfect home for rodents. With the presence of insects, moisture, and shelter will come rodents. It is an all you can eat buffet, with plenty to drink, and a safe location to take a rest. Once they are done the next stop could be indoors…your doors!

To avoid promoting pest insects, wood destroying organisms, and rodents from coming for an unexpected visit in your home, make sure you properly dispose of your tree. Use the following link for more information on proper tree disposal: http://www.pickyourownchristmastree.org/disposing.php

Don’t fret if you are receiving this information late; Active Pest Control will be here to help any time you need. Our trained and certified technicians are ready to handle any job big or small!

If you are ACTIVEly seeking help call the office today: 770-373-4341

Author: G. Wyatt West –A University of Georgia Graduate of Entomology

Hearing hissing in the wall might not be as uncommon as you think. Snakes that chase mice or rats into the home can often be heard slithering or hissing behind the drywall.

Snakes are not common invaders like rodents or insects, but that does not mean they will not find their way inside.

They are generally lured into homes due to conditions which would favor food sources, like rodents. Dampness, darkness, and rodent smell can be three factors that lure snakes inside.

The best way to get rid of snakes indoors (and rodents, too), is to bring in snake control experts.

How do you know if a snake is in the wall?

Not only can snakes be heard moving through the wall, but they can also be heard hissing or making other unusual noises.

Since snakes are skinny, they can fit into any cracks or crevices that any rodent can fit through. Dryer vents, improperly sealed doors or windows, open pipes sticking out of the home, cracks in brick or siding, gutters, and wire entries are just a few different methods snakes can use to gain entry into the home.

Snakes can be found in the attic or slithering through the walls in search of food. If you have a rodent issue in the home, your chance of seeing a snake inside will increase greatly. 

How long can a snake live in your walls?

If a snake finds its way into your walls, it can potentially survive for months. But it depends on the availability of food (including rodents) and water.

What to Do if a Snake Is in Your Walls

Sometimes, as homeowners, we can forget about areas like crawlspaces or unfinished basements. Be sure to keep a check on these areas to make sure you are not harboring any unwanted guests. If they can find their way under the home, they can find their way inside! 

Potted plants moved in from outdoors also need to be thoroughly checked for snakes and other unwanted visitors!

You can take certain precautions to deter snakes from coming indoors: seal entry points, make sure doors and windows have proper seals, keep the yard trimmed low, keep debris away from the home, cover vents with screen/mesh, and most importantly, if you have an issue with rodents, make sure you get that issue handled. Eliminating the food source will often eliminate the problem!

Snake Exterminators for Georgia Homes

If you do happen to come across snakes in the home, don’t try to handle them yourself. For more info on pricing and snake or rodent control, call our office today or fill out our contact form here. Let us take away your pests today!

Authors: G. Wyatt West – A University of Georgia Graduate of Entomology