Fleas in garden - help!

Hello all. I'm looking for helpful suggestions please ... Long post

I have a bad flea problem in the gardens (both front garden and back garden). I need to start by saying they are definitely fleas and nothing else, I've caught them and identified them under a powerful lens and the study of insects is a hobby of mine so there's no doubt what they are. The magnification I've got isn't high enough to identify the species of flea but having said that, some will happily live on a variety of different hosts so it wouldn't necessarily help me.

It isn't a common problem, I've read about a handful of other people with the issue, but I'm yet to read about a solution. I've spoken to pest control, there's no chemical control for outdoors but as they rightly point out they have to be coming from somewhere - an animal host - from which the flea eggs are dropping and developing. So my question is what should I be looking out for?

We've had a long dry spell - I think this hasn't helped the problem. There are two cats in the neighbourhood who frequent the garden but they both have owners. I find it hard to believe this many fleas would come from a domestic pet though. I go outside (now in white trousers so I can see them) and they are literally climbing up my legs within seconds of being out, shocked to say the least. Ive been gardening for over 20 years and spend a lot of time outdoors and I've never seen anything like this before. Pest control hasn't heard of it so bad either.

I should mention that I'm not a pet owner. Unfortunately we have brought them into the house as well from outside - unavoidable as if you've got dark clothes or Jeans on you can't see them and that's proving to be a big problem in itself and we've been bitten an unbelievable amount, presumably in the absence of a cat / dog, they're biting us instead so the house has been treated. Of course every time we go outside we are then bringing more in with each trip so something has to be done about outside. I've only learned just how many we're bringing in from wearing white.

Pest control suggested they could be coming from squirrels, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, cats, and then of course there's the possibility of rats / mice that I'm trying not to think about! One pest controller said I'm likely to find something has died somewhere - it's not a massive garden and there's no thick hedges etc and usually you can smell when an animal has died. I feel without finding the source though I could have this problem for a very long time.

I'm sure we don't have badgers. What tell tale signs of hedgehogs should I look for? Or mice? I've never seen squirrels here. We have a lot of birds and a feeder and I know there were hedgehogs about the area years ago but not seen one recently.

I've ordered a motion activated trail camera that should arrive in the next fortnight in an attempt to see what nighttime visitors we have.

We can't go out in the garden at the moment and can't enjoy it. I've had them on my clothing from the grass, the front path, the vegetable bed, the bin store, the shed. Essentially all parts of the front and back garden. Would appreciate thoughts on where they may be coming from.

Thank you.

 

Flea Control For Gardens: Learn About Lawn And Garden Flea Control.. You've probably seen this already . So sorry to hear of your problem, it sounds horrendous! Wish I could be of more help to you.

Oops how rude of me..sorry!!

 

Hi upsydaisy thank you for your reply. Yes, I've read that one already but thank you for including it in your reply.

I've got lots of work to do in the garden but don't want to be out there!

 

I can imagine!!. There was an old thread on here with a similar problem...I'll see if I can find the link. Not sure if it will be of much help..but I bet your willing for any help that's on offer!
I'm sure someone 'in the know ' will look in later.

Ah silly me!! Look at the base of this page and you will see all related last threads.....you've probably already discovered them

 

Thanks for your reply. Yep, I've read those too. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on!

Noone has managed to solve it though or found where it's coming from for them. I was hoping for a bit of a clue. My best guess is wild animals of some kind. I braved going to the car boot this afternoon and picked up another 2!

Just want to be able to enjoy the garden again, esp at the mo.

 

North of England

 

Right so Ive been in garden to look and iv found this. Do you think this could be mouse or rat hole? It's about 2-3 inches diameter best pic I could get and if it is what can I do? Thank you

 

It could be rats, put a hose down the hole and turn it on.

Soapy water works on other insects Greene, It might be worth spraying your whole garden and see what effect it has.

 

So sorry about your problem. I’d get onto the council, you will probably have to pay, but I’d have everything sprayed!
I once had a problem with fleas, my cat, my problem, but it was horrendous! It was sorted ASAP !
If you don’t know where it’s coming from, spray everywhere! Fleas are the only critter I would happily kill

 

Totally agree with Loki. I am not sure, but I should imagine that under DEFRA rules etc that such infestations may be notifiable, for several reasons.

I have never experienced such an infestation. Having owned dogs and a cat, I am familiar with the existence of fleas. We did hand rear two baby squirrells some years back. When the last one died, I soon became aware that the soil base of their large outdoor cage was pulsating, like something out of a Quatermas film. I used a flame burner on the area and in time no more fleas. Sincerely sorry I can't be of more help. There is help out there.