I know. Far cry different than when my husband wrote this post a few months ago introducing the wild animals. At first, they were lovely. We enjoyed getting a window into their worlds for a bit, but now the time has come to rid ourselves of the beasts.
Why? Well, turns out foxes are particularly good sharers.
They've tried sharing their animal carcasses (rabbits, squirrels & birds have all been devoured and tails/bones left for us). They've shared their feces all over our deck.
And now? Now they're sharing something that is beyond unacceptable. Fleas. We have no pets, nor have any pets been in this home at all as far as we know. So it's definitely not coming from the inside.
We noticed our first flea the other night and ever since then, we've spotted at least 1-2 each day. Both yesterday and today, I spotted a flea on Benjamin's head! I immediately took action and he was never bit, but honestly. Leave my 4-month old baby alone you stupid little biters!
Not okay. Not okay in the least. There are reasons we don't want pets in our home and that's just one of the many. I lay down on B's bedroom floor to nurse him before naptime and today alone I received two bites. In his bedroom! That's especially the room I'd like to be flea-free, if you ask me. I walked in later and stood around with white socks (practically a bullseye for fleas) to be a martyr and sure enough, a flee jumped on. And sadly, he had no blood inside when I squished his guts to death...so the flea that bit me twice must be still lurking. Disgusting.
Most pet owners treat the actual pet when fleas are an issue. We can't actually do that! The boys went on a field trip last night to Home Depot to find some flea traps. Unfortunately, they didn't sell any. Instead, he came home with this:
Also I've officially decided the Midwest is disgusting in the summer. Bugs everywhere. There was some flying beetle in my car earlier that I couldn't rid myself of fast enough. And when I got home and took my hair out of the bun it was in? A beetle fell out of my bun onto the ground. OMG. Just typing that makes me all sick to my stomach.
It's ON. Any suggestions in the flea and/or fox ridding department?
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14 comments:
OMG..a beetle in your hair?! AH!!! that would have freaked me out. Gross bugs are the worst! I can't believe the animal control won't get rid of them for you. So lame. Good luck!!!
Omg!!! No suggestions, just sympathy! Geez! Gross all around!!
I would call them back and talk to someone else! That's their job and need to relocate them for you! We've done with with a oppossum (sp) that got hit and they took the babies. Best for the fleas is to rid of the fox and them bomb the house. My friends and sisters have done it. You have to be out of the house for a few hours though. Might be worth it after you get rid of the indruders
Not fun! Hope you find a solution soon! I know I'd freak too if I found a beetle in my hair, it give me goosebumps just thinking about it!!!
Oh! That is just awful! The only fleas we ever had were brought in by our dog...and once we treated the dog the issues went away. I can say I would start with fox eviction asap! You will want to place chemical deterrent for fleas. If I hear of any good products I will let you know.
you could sell your home and move? lol... i hope the foxes are gone soon! i have no suggestions... and the beetle in the hair... i think i just threw up in my mouth a little.
Call a professional for both the foxes and the fleas right away. Make sure the flea professional GUARANTEES they will solve the problem.
The house I lived in before I met my husband had fleas. I had NO idea until I had a painter come over to give an estimate and they were on him (this was prior to us moving in). I NEVER should have moved in, but figured it was an easy fix. The house was small and ALL hardwood floors. The old man who lived there before me had cats... and apparently they had fleas.
The cats were kept in Madison's room and she slept with me in my bed for over three months... because that is how long it took to get rid of them. The landlord let off his own flea bombs... no luck. Two different exterminators... no luck. I had pans of water with dish soap set up under nightlights in every room to catch them which I emptied when I vacuumed twice a day.
It was FLEA HELL!!! I was just sick over it. Finally a third company came out and I all but BEGGED the guy to get rid of them, he assured me he would... after asking me out for drinks... but the fleas were gone.
I will NEVER rent another home that has pets in it before me. I am itching now just typing this...
Yuck! I never would have thought those cute little guys would bring you fleas! We give our dogs an oral flea medication and have never had any issues, but it's not like you could feed each fox this magic pill. So sorry you are dealing with this, wish I had a solution.
I hear borax is awesome for flea control, I don't know first hand about that but I can attest to it's success at getting rid of ants.
As for the foxes, we had to get obnoxious dogs. My veto was totally ignored and while they have helped with the fox issue, (they got into our garbages) obnoxious dog issues now run rampant.
No one else seems to care. *sigh*
Good luck!!
Welcome to summer in the midwest! It is totally disgusting and buggy. You are absolutely right.
Getting rid of fleas is tricky when you want to be as non-toxic as possible. We treat our dogs and never have had a problem with fleas. I know you can also buy lawn treatment for your yard, but I'm sure it's chemically yucky. (Still, might be worth looking into).
As for the fox issues, I've got no idea... I wish they'd just pack up and move on their own so you wouldn't have to deal with it.
I agree with Melissa that you need to hire professionals. Hopefully not ridiculously expensive, but worth it to have them all gone. There are critter control professionals who will probably set live traps and relocate the foxes or at least get rid of them as far as you are concerned. As a kid, we used to have to set off flea bombs every so often when we'd leave for a few days, but an exterminator might be easier and quicker. Good luck!
The only way you can get rid of the fox problem is to make them not want to be there anymore. Even if you relocate them they will return next year to have their pups. The best, easiest, and least expensive solution is to have your husband start peeing around the deck. You can purchase animal urine deterrent from online or from somewhere like a bass pro shop but human, male urine is very effective. It may take awhile but once your husband has "established his territory" the foxes will leave on their own.
The only way you can get rid of the fox problem is to make them not want to be there anymore. Even if you relocate them they will return next year to have their pups. The best, easiest, and least expensive solution is to have your husband start peeing around the deck. You can purchase animal urine deterrent from online or from somewhere like a bass pro shop but human, male urine is very effective. It may take awhile but once your husband has "established his territory" the foxes will leave on their own.
The only way you can get rid of the fox problem is to make them not want to be there anymore. Even if you relocate them they will return next year to have their pups. The best, easiest, and least expensive solution is to have your husband start peeing around the deck. You can purchase animal urine deterrent from online or from somewhere like a bass pro shop but human, male urine is very effective. It may take awhile but once your husband has "established his territory" the foxes will leave on their own.
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