Ticks and Fleas in a Lawn
Parasites such as ticks and fleas are a problem for you as well as your four-legged friends. Knowing about ticks and fleas will help you protect yourself and your pets from diseases and irritation. Does this Spark an idea?
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About Ticks
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Ticks are small arachnids that attach themselves to their host animal and suck its blood. They are a concern because they can transmit disease such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease. Both are serious bacterial infections that can lead to death.
Treatments for Ticks
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If you find yourself in areas where ticks are prevalent, such as long grass or heavily wooded areas, wear long sleeves and pants to limit skin exposure. This will limit the spots where ticks can bite you. After you have been outside, check yourself and your pets for ticks. Generally, it takes four hours for a tick to attach itself to you and checking will help find them early.
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About Fleas
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If you own a pet, you are familiar with fleas. They are small jumping insects that live off the blood of their host animals. Like ticks, they can transmit diseases when they bite. Possible diseases include typhus, plague and cat-scratch fever. All three diseases are bacterial infections, which, if left untreated, can be serious or even deadly.
Treatment for Fleas
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You have several options for treating your yard for fleas. The first option is to sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the lawn to dehydrate and kill the fleas. Another option is scattering cedar chips. The smell of cedar chips repels fleas. Nematodes are a third option. These are small worms that eat fleas. You can get nematodes at your local garden supply store and add them to your lawn.
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References
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