Will Fleas Really Die in the Winter?
WouterMany pet owners believe that fleas will die off in the winter, but that is not the case. While winter does slow down flea reproduction and gives pets a respite from itchy bites, fleas don’t completely die off. Instead, they migrate to warmer locations to survive and reproduce.
Although temperatures outside can reach freezing, fleas can remain indoors and survive the winter. This means that flea preventative treatments should be continued. Even though winter is supposed to be the season when fleas die off, fleas still find warm places to lay their eggs.
Fleas survive Winter by burrowing into a host’s fur. They rely on the heat of the host animal to survive, which means they can continue to lay eggs. While most of these eggs fall off the animal, some remain to hatch and continue breeding through the Winter.
While adults fleas will die when the temperature drops below freezing, non-adult fleas will go dormant. Ticks, on the other hand, won’t die when temperatures rise. This is one of the many reasons to remain vigilant and prevent tick bites during winter.
If you live in a climate that gets below 37 degrees Fahrenheit, you should keep in mind that fleas are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures. They won’t be able to emerge from their cocoons in freezing temperatures. This is because the immature stage of fleas is more susceptible to the cold season.
