Exterior fleas and ticks
Flea and tick control for Amarillo-area yards
Exterior flea and tick treatment is available as an add-on to your Home Protection Plan, priced separately, for the yard where fleas and ticks start.
Overview
Fleas and ticks start in the yard
In Texas, most flea problems come from the cat flea, which feeds on cats, dogs and other animals, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Adult fleas are tiny, wingless and flat, and they spend most of their time on a host. The other stages of the flea life cycle live in the surroundings: in pet bedding, and outdoors in shaded, moist spots near where pets rest.
In a dry, sunny climate like the High Plains, that shade matters. Humidity in Amarillo is often low, occasionally dropping below 15 percent in spring (National Weather Service), and AgriLife notes that flea larvae die when relative humidity falls below 50 percent or soil temperatures climb above 95 degrees, so fleas do not survive well on hot, sunny lawns. Ticks are a separate problem: the CDC says they wait on the tips of grass and shrubs along well-used paths, and that they can ride into the house on clothing and pets.
Exterior flea and tick treatment is not part of the base Home Protection Plan. It is an add-on, priced separately, and it treats the outside of your property. It does not treat your pets, so ask your veterinarian about flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats.
What is covered
Fleas and ticks are an add-on, not part of the base plan:
- Exterior fleas and ticks: available as an add-on to the Home Protection Plan, priced separately
- Ticks in the yard: a tick add-on is also available for the Mosquito Reduction Plan, priced separately
The add-on treats the exterior of your property, not your pets. Pets and their living areas should be treated at the same time to prevent re-infestation, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, so talk to your veterinarian about the pet side.
The Home Protection Plan at a glance
One year-round plan covers most of the pests on this site, so you are not booking a separate visit for each problem. Here is how it works.
- Visits about every two months, year-round: six a year, each within about 15 days of its target date
- Covers rats, mice, spiders, wasps, carpenter bees, earwigs, non-wood-boring ants, millipedes and centipedes, American and Palmetto roaches, stink bugs, pill bugs and silverfish
- Add-ons: carpenter ants, voles and exterior fleas and ticks, priced separately, plus interior liquid application at no extra charge
- A 100% warranty: free re-service if covered pests return between visits and, if the same activity is verified to persist after two free re-services, a refund of your last charge and the end of your plan with no cancellation fee
- A 12-, 18- or 24-month initial commitment: 3 business days to cancel after you sign, and an early-termination fee if you end it sooner
- After your commitment ends, your plan continues on the same schedule until you ask us to stop (at least 30 days before your next scheduled service)
Signs of fleas and ticks
Because both start outdoors, the first signs often show up on pets and people.
Pets scratching or chewing
Frequent scratching or chewing is often the first sign of fleas. Some pets are allergic to flea bites, and even one or two bites can cause severe itching.
Small red bites on ankles and lower legs
Flea bites are small, red and itchy, and usually appear on the ankles and lower legs. Cat fleas do not normally live on people but will bite them.
Flea dirt in fur and bedding
Flea droppings look like a fine reddish-black dust in pet fur and bedding.
Ticks on pets, clothing or gear
Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets and attach to a person later, the CDC warns, so check pets and clothes after time outdoors.
Fleas near where pets rest
Outdoors, fleas cluster in moist, shaded spots near pet resting areas. Look at the shady places where your pets sleep or shelter.
Fleas in a home with no pets
Buildings sometimes get fleas even when no pets live there, when other animals nest in the structure. A home that has been empty can also fill with fleas when new residents move in, because pupae can wait in their cocoons for months.
How it works
What a typical flea and tick visit looks like
The add-on treats the outside of your property, where fleas and ticks come from.
Tell us about your yard and pets
When you request your quote or at your first visit, mention where your pets rest and play outdoors and where you have seen fleas or ticks.
Inspect the outside
Your technician may look over the yard, the edges of your property and the shaded areas around your home.
Treat the exterior
The outside of your property is typically treated for fleas and ticks with a backpack or hand sprayer.
Stay on schedule
Your regular Home Protection Plan visits continue about every two months, year-round. We confirm the schedule for the add-on when you sign up.
Seasons
When fleas and ticks are active in the Texas Panhandle
The CDC says ticks are most active during the warmer months, April through September, although tick exposure can occur year-round. For the American dog tick, which the CDC lists as widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, the highest risk of a bite is in spring and summer.
Outdoors, fleas struggle on hot, dry, sunny lawns and cluster in shaded, moist spots. Indoors, they follow a different clock: AgriLife notes that an adult flea can stay in its cocoon for up to five months and emerge within seconds when it senses a passing animal.
Season by season
Spring
Ticks become more active as the weather warms. The average last freeze in Amarillo comes around mid-April (National Weather Service).
Summer
Hot, dry, sunny lawns are hard on outdoor fleas, so shaded, moist spots near pet resting areas are where they gather. Ticks remain active through the warm months.
Fall
Keep checking pets and clothing after time outdoors, because ticks can ride into the house on both, the CDC warns.
Winter
Tick exposure can occur year-round, according to the CDC. Fleas that are already indoors, including dormant pupae, are not affected by the weather outside.
Flea and tick questions
Have a question that is not here? Call us and we will answer it.
Call (806) 209-4849Are fleas and ticks covered by the Home Protection Plan?
Exterior fleas and ticks are available as an add-on to the Home Protection Plan, priced separately. They are not part of the base plan. Ask for the add-on when you request your free quote.
Does the add-on treat my pets?
No, it treats the exterior of your property. Your veterinarian is the right person to recommend flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats, and pets and their living areas should be treated at the same time to prevent re-infestation.
Where do fleas live in a yard?
Fleas do not survive well on hot, sunny lawns. They cluster in moist, shaded spots near pet resting areas, so look at the places where your pets sleep or shelter outdoors.
How do I remove a tick?
The CDC advises grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible with clean, fine-tipped tweezers and pulling away with steady, even pressure, without twisting or jerking. Then clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. See a doctor if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks.
Can fleas come back after treatment?
They can, especially when pets bring them in or when dormant pupae inside the home emerge. If fleas or ticks return between visits, call us at (806) 209-4849 and we will explain what your agreement provides.
Is there a tick option for the mosquito plan?
Yes. The Mosquito Reduction Plan has its own tick add-on, priced separately. Ask about it when you request your quote.
Service areas
Where we work
We serve Amarillo and nearby communities across the Texas Panhandle. Choose your community to see what is active there through the year.
Ask about the flea and tick add-on
Request a free quote and ask to add exterior flea and tick treatment to your Home Protection Plan, or call us at (806) 209-4849 to talk it through.