Fleas!!!

[jussi]

I found out some stray cats have made my small wood pile their home for the last couple of weeks. I think they've moved on as I haven't seen them for the last couple of days. But they left a nice present behind... a flea infestation. Now I can't get near 5 feet from the area without having a half dozen of the little #@!*## on my leg.

I was going to get a few cans of flea sprays and spray the stack but was wondering if that some how stains/discolors the wood?

[Uncle Cracker]

Maybe you could tent it and bomb it?

[Bill in Buena Park]

Jussi,
I wouldn't think you'd need so much spray that you'd saturate the wood. Flea problems can be resolve with ground-cover spraying; I believe there may even be a powder-based product (such as this one - http://www.fleabuster.com/).

[Gator95]

just put some frontline on your legs

[ironhat]

There are granulated yard treatments for fleas, crickets and other insects which you can broadcast around and under your pile. They are toxic for a short time - I can't say what the half-life is - but it won't stain the lumber.

[cabinetman]

If you have one of those pump sprayers, pick up some Liquid Sevin, or Malathion concentrate, mix accordingly with water, and spray away. They won't cause any discoloration, that can't be wiped off. You can also use Borax laundry soap powder spread around the area. When they land in that stuff they get all choked up, and die. If you get close to where they are and listen carefully, you might be able to hear them little buggers coughing and choking. They are tiny, and you can barely hear them.
.

[jussi]

The powder sounds like a good solution. I'll give 'er a try.

[MikeMcCoy]

I went through this last year when I moved into a flea infested house and yard. I'm posting a link to an article that recommends against using boric acid (Borax) out of doors. The second page (linked to toward the bottom) has some good alternatives.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/flea-...it-part-1.html

[Hellrazor]

Now I can't get near 5 feet from the area without having a half dozen of the little #@!*## on my leg.

Go to the local pet store and buy 2 flea collars. You can tell everyone they are ankle bracelets

[rfisher7381]

You may need to spray several times. We had a flea infestation at work a few years ago and the company that sprayed said the eggs hatch and the infestation starts all over again so they sprayed weekly for about 5 weeks.

[Tom Slick]

a spray with permethrin in it would be quite effective and inexpensive. It is the usual chemical in dog's flea spray and human's lice shampoo. It's not considered too toxic to humans but it is toxic to cats though. you can buy it in a hose end sprayer which makes application easy and can be done at a distance.