Upper Peninsula: (906) 553-4841   Petoskey Area: (231) 330-6992

Flea Extermination Services

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Exterminating & Treating Fleas

Close up image of a flea; Northern Pest safely treats and prevents fleas.

Fleas are tiny parasites that require a host, like rodents or pets, to survive. Their highly developed jumping legs enable them to leap 200 times their body length, making them vexing transmitters of diseases such as typhus, tularemia, tapeworms, and the infamous Bubonic Plague, which decimated a quarter of Europe's population. More commonly, flea bites lead to intense itching, hair loss, and skin infections, highlighting the need for diligent pest control to prevent outbreaks.

Fleas have a 3-week life cycle with four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Preferring warm and humid conditions, adult fleas thrive indoors, while other stages develop in the environment. Each female lays about 40 eggs daily on her host's skin. Fleas are hard to see as they are about 1/8 of an inch with flattened reddish-brown bodies. They can live without food for two months to a year, making the disruption of their life cycle challenging.

While you can’t completely prevent your risk of exposure, you can minimize it. Prevention is key; it is much easier than trying to eliminate fleas once they're established in your home. Be sure to maintain year-round, consistent flea prevention for all pets in the household. Manage your home by vacuuming frequently and washing your pets’ bedding regularly. Also, keep your lawn tidy by removing leaf and brush piles, keeping the grass cut short, and storing food and garbage properly to keep rodents away.

Exterminating Fleas

Flea populations are increasing due to resistance to over-the-counter treatments. Once identified, it is crucial to professionally treat both your pets and the family home. Animals should receive vet-prescribed products, while a certified pest control professional, such as Northern Pest, should treat the house. Failure to coordinate these treatments makes eliminating a flea infestation almost impossible.

At Northern Pest, we assess the severity of the flea infestation and their environment to determine the most effective extermination method. Our all-natural application agent will eliminate fleas and their eggs and is harmless to humans. If you suspect a flea infestation, contact Northern Pest today. Rest assured, we’ll handle your pest problem quickly and discreetly with professionalism and care. All our services are confidential.

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Scratching during the day may indicate the presence of a bat, but this is rare.

A more familiar source of scratching or clawing during the daytime are squirrels or a yellowjacket hive in the drywall.

Scratching sounds coming from the attic is an indication of the presence of bats. The scratching may be constant or sporadic and may occur during the day, but mostly at night, if it's a bat. The sound you hear is the bat's claws and its wings as it flies about.

A scratching sound may also indicate the presence of mice. An inspection from Northern Pest is necessary to pinpoint the sound source directly.

Gnawing sounds during the day are usually always caused by the presence of a rodent, like a mouse, squirrel, or chipmunk. Rodents have large incisor teeth that continually grow and must be worn down by constantly gnawing. These pests will chew on wires, wood, insulation, and anything else they find. Many house fires result from rodents chewing through electrical wires.

If you hear gnawing or chewing sounds at night, this may indicate the presence of a raccoon, which is accompanied by other noises, such as heavy walking. If you don’t hear hefty movement, it may be a flying squirrel or some other rodent.

A "rolling" noise, similar to the sound of rolling marbles, is frequently due to the presence of a squirrel bringing in nuts or other materials as they move around in the attic. Squirrels use attics to hoard food or nest. If you hear this sound during the day, it most certainly is a red squirrel as they are the only mammals that will commonly breach attics, and they are most active during the day. Flying squirrels will too, but they are nocturnal and active at night.

The other possible cause of a rolling sound may be birds fluttering around tight corridors.

Rolling sounds made at night can be caused by flying squirrels that are nocturnal. This noise is the squirrel bringing nuts and other debris into the attic or wall.

Raccoons may also make a rolling sound, although this is not common.

The scampering or scurrying sounds made during the day is usually always caused by a squirrel, as most other quick-moving, agile pests (such as mice) are nocturnal.

A scurrying or scampering sound at night usually indicates mice traveling along the walls, ceiling, or floorboards.

Nocturnal flying squirrels also make this noise, although their peak periods of activity are just before dawn and right after sunset. Their movement is quick and light.

Raccoon’s sound similar; however, it's a slower "walking" sound and is "heavier" than a squirrel.

Heavy walking or crawling is a unique sound that usually indicates the presence of a raccoon and can be heard either day or night.

Heavy walking or crawling is a unique sound that usually always indicates the presence of a raccoon and can be heard either day or night.

If you hear “flapping” during the day, it is definitely a bird.

If you hear “flapping” at night, it is either a trapped bird or a bat. Nuisance birds are usually not active at night, so most likely, this is the sound of a trapped bird trying to find its way out. With bats, the flapping of their wings is very soft, like a dull “whirring.” If you hear a faint humming sound, it may be a bat flying about after dark.

Crackling, or the sound of Rice Krispies popping, is a distinct noise commonly caused by a yellowjacket hive within your home's drywall. Yellowjackets can pick and gnaw on drywall and use the pieces to build their hives. This activity sounds like and is often described as a "crackling." Upon hearing this, know that yellowjackets are close to chewing through the drywall. This noise is most common at night but can be heard during the day if the hive is large enough.

Crackling, or the sound of Rice Krispies popping, is a distinct noise commonly caused by a yellowjacket hive within your home's drywall. Yellowjackets can pick and gnaw on drywall and use the pieces to build their hives. This activity sounds like and is often described as a "crackling." Upon hearing this, know that yellowjackets are close to chewing through the drywall.

If you hear sounds of chirping or chattering, this usually indicates that baby animals are present. Depending on the season helps determine which pest you are dealing with; it is common for baby squirrels, raccoons, or birds (especially chimney swifts) to make these noises. Contact Northern Pest for a thorough assessment and removal.

If you hear sounds of chirping or chattering, this usually indicates that baby animals are present. Depending on the season helps determine which pest you are dealing with; it is common for baby squirrels, raccoons, or birds (especially chimney swifts) to make these noises. Contact Northern Pest for a thorough assessment and removal.

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Servicing Marquette, Dickinson, Menominee, Alger, Delta, Schoolcraft, Mackinac, Chippewa, Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Charlevoix, Antrim, and Otsego Counties

Not Sure if You Are in Our Service Area?
Call Upper Peninsula: (906) 553-4841 or Petoskey Area: (231) 330-6992

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