Why Are Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes in Your Yard?

Why Are Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes in Your Yard?

Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes don't appear in your yard by accident. Outdoor areas can provide the food, moisture, shade, shelter and hosts these pests need to survive.

Understanding why they're attracted to your property can help you identify problem areas and make your yard less favorable for them.

Why Are Fleas in Your Yard?

Fleas often enter yards on animals.

Potential hosts include:

• Dogs and cats

• Squirrels

• Raccoons

• Rabbits

• Opossums

• Rodents

• Other wildlife

Once introduced, fleas may become established in protected areas where animals rest or travel.

They generally prefer areas that provide shade and moisture rather than hot, exposed sections of a lawn.

Where Are Fleas Most Likely to Be?

Pay particular attention to:

• Shaded grass

• Under decks and porches

• Around shrubs

• Pet resting areas

• Along fences

• Under trees

• Areas where wildlife travels

• Outdoor kennels or pet areas

• Other protected locations

If your pets repeatedly pick up fleas outdoors, inspect the areas where they spend the most time.

Why Are Ticks in Your Yard?

Ticks depend on animal hosts for feeding and can be carried onto residential properties by wildlife, pets and other animals.

Yards can provide favorable tick habitat when they contain:

• Tall grass

• Dense vegetation

• Leaf litter

• Brush

• Shrubs

• Wooded areas

• Shaded landscaping

• Yard debris

Ticks may also be concentrated along the edges where maintained lawns meet wooded or overgrown areas.

Does Wildlife Bring Ticks Into Your Yard?

Wildlife can contribute to tick activity.

Animals such as rodents and other mammals can carry ticks through residential properties.

This is one reason yards bordering wooded areas or frequently visited by wildlife may experience more tick activity.

Why Are Mosquitoes in Your Yard?

Mosquitoes are strongly associated with water because their immature stages develop in aquatic environments.

Standing water around your property can create potential mosquito breeding sites.

Check for water collecting in:

• Buckets

• Flowerpots

• Plant saucers

• Birdbaths

• Children's toys

• Wheelbarrows

• Tarps

• Clogged gutters

• Outdoor containers

• Low areas in the yard

Even relatively small amounts of standing water can become mosquito habitat.

Where Do Adult Mosquitoes Hide During the Day?

Adult mosquitoes often rest in cool, shaded and protected areas when they're not actively searching for a host.

Common resting areas can include:

• Shrubs

• Bushes

• Dense landscaping

• Under decks

• Under trees

• Shaded vegetation

• Areas around fences

• Other protected locations

These areas can be important when evaluating mosquito activity around your property.

Does an Overgrown Yard Attract Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes?

Overgrown vegetation can create favorable conditions for several outdoor pests.

Tall grass, thick shrubs, leaf litter and yard debris can provide:

• Shade

• Moisture

• Protection from direct sunlight

• Hiding places

• Habitat for wildlife and other potential hosts

Regular yard maintenance can reduce some of these conditions.

Can Pets Contribute to Fleas and Ticks in the Yard?

Pets can pick up fleas and ticks while spending time outdoors and may also transport them between different locations.

If fleas or ticks are a recurring problem, addressing the yard should be combined with appropriate veterinary-approved flea and tick prevention for your pets.

Treating only the lawn may not solve a recurring problem if animals continue introducing pests to the property.

How Can You Make Your Yard Less Attractive to Pests?

Basic yard maintenance can help reduce pest-friendly conditions.

Consider:

• Mowing grass regularly

• Trimming shrubs and vegetation

• Removing leaf litter

• Cleaning up yard debris

• Eliminating standing water

• Keeping gutters clear

• Cleaning pet areas

• Reducing clutter underneath decks

• Maintaining the edges of wooded areas

The goal is to reduce the moisture, shade, shelter and breeding areas that pests use.

Where Should You Focus Yard Treatment?

Rather than focusing only on the open center of your lawn, pay particular attention to pest-prone areas such as:

• Shaded landscaping

• Around shrubs

• Yard edges

• Under trees

• Along fences

• Around decks and patios

• Pet activity areas

• Locations where wildlife travels

Always treat only the locations permitted by the product label.

Control Outdoor Pests With Natural Armor

Natural Armor Flea, Tick & Mosquito Shield is designed to help control fleas, ticks and mosquitoes around appropriate outdoor areas when used according to the product directions.

For a more complete approach, combine appropriate treatment with regular lawn maintenance, vegetation management, removal of leaf litter and elimination of unnecessary standing water.

Understanding why fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are in your yard can help you focus your efforts on the areas where they're most likely to live, hide and reproduce.

Always read and follow all application instructions, approved uses and precautions on the Natural Armor Flea, Tick & Mosquito Shield product label.