How Long Do Fleas Last Through Winter?
WouterFleas are one of the most annoying creatures, but they do not hibernate in the winter. Instead, they seek warmer temperatures to multiply. As a result, your pet is infested with an exponentially higher number of fleas than usual. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent fleas from entering your home during the winter.
The first step to preventing fleas from entering your home is to keep the temperature of your home at 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. While this isn’t ideal for flea survival, it will help keep your pets’ body temperature warm enough to support the flea life cycle. A temperature below 50 degrees will cause fleas to cocoon, but the temperature will not kill them. The same holds true for pupae. Fleas can survive in cocoons for 30 weeks at temperatures around 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in places with near-freezing temperatures, no life stage can survive.
In addition to being susceptible to winter conditions, fleas can survive in temperatures as low as 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though they can survive in temperatures that are below freezing, they can die within five days if temperatures remain consistently below freezing for five days. So, while it is not uncommon for fleas to survive through the winter months, it is important to keep your home free of fleas.
During the winter, you should continue treating your home and yard with flea medications. If you have pets, you should consider using a vet-approved medicine to control your pet’s flea population.
