Do Fleas Go Away in the Winter?
The popular myth that fleas go away in the winter is false. While the cold temperatures kill off many fleas outside, they are still likely to find a way into your home and onto your pet. While their activity may be low, flea eggs may still hatch and survive the colder months. A preventative treatment for fleas will help you keep your pets flea-free throughout the winter.
Although ticks and fleas do go dormant during winter, it is not always the case. During this time, many ticks and fleas may be dormant, waiting for warmer and wetter weather. While they are not as active, they still have a number of microenvironments that they can use to survive, and this can make the winter a prime time for them to emerge.
Even though fleas do not like cold temperatures, they can still survive a cold winter indoors, and you can protect your home and pets by keeping them indoors. In addition to keeping your pets indoors, you should also clean your pets’ bedding regularly and use an effective flea control product to protect them from these pests.
Fleas are more vulnerable to the cold during their adult stages. During this time, they need temperatures that are either below freezing for several days in a row. However, if your pet is indoors, you will not see fleas indoors, so it is still recommended that you continue your flea treatment during the winter.