Flea and Tick Control in Oshawa

For flea and tick control in Oshawa, AstraHive Pest Control treats the affected rooms, fogs the exterior perimeter for ticks and returns in four to six weeks, backed by a 90-day warranty. Durham Region says tick populations are now established throughout the region, so this is a regional issue, not a rare one.

Ticks in Durham Region: what the Health Department says

Durham Region says tick-borne disease is rising as tick populations are now established throughout the region, and that longer seasons of warm weather from climate change are increasing the number of blacklegged ticks. Blacklegged ticks are usually found in or near wooded or forested areas, in leaf litter, or on bushes and tall grass. They need blood to survive, and can become infected when they feed on wild animals such as birds, rodents or deer.

Ticks cannot fly or jump. They climb onto grass or bushes and wait for a host to brush past, which is why the edge of a yard matters more than the middle of a lawn. Durham advises an insect repellent with DEET or icaridin used as the label directs, and after time in wooded or brushy areas, putting outdoor clothing straight into a hot dryer for at least 15 minutes.

Oshawa's warm season in numbers

For Oshawa the nearest complete normals are from Oshawa WPCP (4.3 km), where a typical year brings 872 mm of precipitation, about 1190 degree-days above 10 °C and 20.6 °C in July. A year adds up to about 2152 degree-days above 5 °C and 1190 above 10 °C, and the mean temperature stays at or above 10 °C from May to September.

Environment and Climate Change Canada climate normals, 1981 to 2010, Oshawa WPCP station (4.3 km from Oshawa). A station is the nearest one with a full set of normals, not a reading from your street.

Longer warm seasons are what Durham links to more ticks, so the shape of this table matters more each year. Fleas follow a different clock: they live where pets sleep.

How AstraHive Pest Control gets rid of fleas and ticks in Oshawa

1. Ask first. We ask about pets, where the bites are and which rooms are affected.
2. Treat. Fleas are treated inside the affected areas, and ticks are treated with an exterior perimeter ULV fogging that lasts about 90 days on walls and about 30 days on grass and vegetation. Where needed we add an insect growth regulator (IGR) for fleas.
3. Treat the pets too. Pets must be treated by your vet at the same time, or they bring fleas back in and the cycle restarts.
4. Follow-up in 4 to 6 weeks. One treatment kills adult fleas but not the eggs, so the follow-up catches the next cycle before it matures.

All products we use are Health Canada approved and applied according to the product label. Our technicians are licensed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Our flea and tick work is backed by a 90-day warranty.

Fleas: why the pets matter as much as the house

Health Canada says flea eggs, larvae and pupae are found in and around where pets sleep, and that adult fleas prefer to stay on pets and leave only after feeding. Its advice is to vacuum carpets and cushioned furniture daily, wash pet and family bedding in hot, soapy water every two to three weeks, use a flea comb at the neck and tail, and use pet products according to the label.

That is why our treatment includes a follow-up in 4 to 6 weeks and why your vet should treat the pets at the same time. One treatment kills adult fleas but not the eggs, and untreated pets bring fleas back into the house.

Sources

1. Region of Durham: Tick-Borne Diseases . tick habitat, established populations, prevention
2. Health Canada: Fleas (pest control tips) . life cycle, pets, vacuuming
3. Environment and Climate Change Canada: Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 . monthly temperature, precipitation, frost days and degree-days