Many pet owners don’t realize that flea season doesn’t end when cooler temperatures arrive in autumn. Your pets are actually more likely to carry fleas in the fall than in the spring or summer when most people are using flea and tick products regularly.

This late-season surge is caused by certain conditions that encourage fleas to reproduce.

Fall Rains Attract Pests

First, there’s usually more precipitation in the fall, and fleas are attracted to moisture. In addition to added moisture, your pet’s winter coat will start to come in during the fall, which makes it more difficult to pick off fleas.

These pests also reproduce rapidly. Flea eggs can be laid on carpets, furniture, or on the pets themselves. Fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day, which hatch within 10 days. Once the cocoon transforms into the pupae stage, it can remain there for days or even months until an adult flea forms. And once they’ve infested your home, you may need a more comprehensive plan to take care of the issue.

It’s important to protect your pets and your home since fleas can bite people as well, and they may be looking for a warm place to lay eggs when the weather turns cold.

Don’t Stop Flea & Tick Prevention in the Fall

However, the biggest reason fleas are such a problem in the fall is that people stop using flea and tick products.

Obviously, the best way to keep these pests at bay is to continue using flea and tick products regularly even after summer ends. Always be sure to read the instructions on flea treatments, and never use a product intended for dogs on a cat.