No Fleas, Please!

No matter what you do, new fleas can move in anytime there are animals present. (Image courtesy of ArtToday.com.)

by Richard Fagerlund
Scripps Howard News Service

Q: We are having our second year of an unusual problem: our driveway has fleas! We personally do not own pets. But our neighbor has three dogs in his backyard (on the same side of the house as our driveway). And there is the occasional cat roaming around the neighborhood.

Last year when we had an indoor flea problem, we finally determined that the fleas were coming from our driveway. (If you stand on it in light-colored pants you can see fleas jump on you.) Our driveway is fully paved for about 20 feet, then it has a grass strip in the middle on down to the road. And one must pass by the driveway in order to get into the house when on foot. Consequently, we figure we've been dragging fleas into the house. We were finding fleas everywhere; in the bed, on couches and in the bathroom. I must be quite tasty because I constantly get bit.

Last year after having a pesticide specialist spray our yard twice the problem subsided. Now the fleas are back.

We try to use insect repellent before we leave the house and are vigilant upon returning and inspecting ourselves; but fleas are tiny creatures.

As you can see, we really need help. I'm tired of sucking in fumes from repellent sprays and having to douse my car and furniture with Raid, let alone having to pay $90 every couple of weeks to have someone spray the driveway.

Do you have any magic cures? Simple ideas? Complicated suggestions? It's so unfair; we don't own pets! We are very clean people, we shower daily and nonetheless have to check the couches and bedding to try and catch fleas that may have come in with us. Can you help us?

A: I recommend spraying the driveway and area around it with an Insect Growth Regulator for fleas. This will inhibit their development and reduce their numbers, although new fleas can move in anytime with the animals in the proximity.

There is also a flea trap available that will catch fleas in the house (and probably outside, with an extension cord). It will hold up to 10,000 fleas and attracts them by using heat and light. It is not available in stores, but if you are interested I will tell you where to get one. E-mail to fagerlun@unm.edu.

(Send questions for Richard Fagerlund to University of New Mexico Environmental Services, Physical Plant Department, 1818 Camino del Servicio N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87131-3500 or e-mail fagerlun@unm.edu.)