Flea and Tick Control in the Phoenix Valley

  • Decades of Local Expertise

  • Experienced, Trustworthy, and Licensed Technicians

  • Family-Owned with a Strong Community Connection

  • Eco-Conscious Approach to Pest Control

Fleas and ticks can be transmitted to your pet in many ways. Being around other pets, the dog park, or even in their own backyard after a rabbit, small rodent, or feral cat has wandered through can give these unpleasant pests access to your pets. It’s not unknown for visitors to bring in pests which may be clinging to their pant legs, shoes, or socks.

The entire home should be treated once the presence of fleas or ticks has been verified. This treatment includes carpets and rugs. Your pet will have to be treated, as well, so we recommend using a medicated shampoo so fleas and ticks won’t reinfest the home following treatment.

What are fleas?

A flea is an external parasite which prefers the 40-50 oval, .5 mm eggs per day after a blood meal, which fall from the fur of the pet wherever it goes, whether than be on the carpet, upholstery, or yard. In 2-14 days, the eggs hatch. The larvae are 2 mm long, slender and pale. They hide in dark places and grow to a length of 5 mm before pupating. Once they pupate, the heat and carbon dioxide (breath) of a host animal will cause them to hatch and launch themselves onto a host. The head, neck, tail, and belly area where fleas can remain warm and protected are the most popular hiding spots for fleas on your pet.

What are ticks?

A tick is a small, blood-sucking parasite that lives in grass, leaves, and other damp areas until it can attach itself to a warm-blooded host. Once it climbs onto a victim, it finds a warm niche to hide. Once they crawl onto a pet, they will attach themselves beneath the collar, between the toes, under the tail or front legs, or at the elbows. In other words--check the ‘corners’ and tucked away spots. A human host will find them beneath the armpits or in the groin area.

Once the tick finds a spot where it can hunker down in relative privacy, it will bite and attach itself to the host, where it will continue to live, still attached, to feed and grow for the next ten days. At first, the tick may be impossible to see, but as it grows, it becomes noticeable. Most people have no symptoms, but those who are allergic can have pain, burning, swelling, and, in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. Ticks can also transmit Lyme disease, but that will typically have a larger area of swelling, up to six inches.

OUR REVIEWS

Our Service Area

Our service area covers all cities Valleywide, including Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Good Year, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Rio Verde, Ahwatukee, North Mountain, Camelback East, Deer Valley, and more. If you aren’t sure whether or not we service your area, call us!

Phoenix Neighborhoods We Serve

Grandview, Liberty, Wild Flower, Westgate, Arrowhead Ranch, North Mountain Village, Maryvale Village, Encanto Village, Deer Valley, Peoria, Hillcrest Ranch, Mountain Cove, San Estrella Estates, PebbleCreek, Encore at Eastmark, Desert View, Central City, Eastlake Park, Coronado, Windsor Square, Willo, Sunnyslope, Nuestro Barrio, North Gateway, Maryvale Village, Estrella, Tatum Ranch, Biltmore, Papago, Squaw Peak, Kierland, Desert Ridge, Pleasant Valley Estates, Laveen, Melrose, Oakland, Royal Palm, Washington Park, Midtown, East Orangewood, Moon Valley, Autumn Ridge, Basking Ridge, Sweetwater Ranch, Heritage Terrace, McCormick Ranch, McDowell Mountain Ranch, Turtle Creek, Cheyenne Village, Parque Vista Estates, Norma Estates, Melrose Estates, Sun View Estates

Benefits of Hiring Professional Flea and Tick Control Services

  • Professional pest control specialists bring a comprehensive understanding of flea and tick biology, behavior patterns, and life cycles essential for effective management. This expertise allows for precisely identifying species-specific vulnerabilities and appropriate treatment timing targeting each life stage. At Russell Pest Control, our technicians receive specialized training in recognizing the subtle differences between flea and tick species common to our region, each requiring slightly different control approaches. This knowledge extends to understanding seasonal activity patterns, habitat preferences, and environmental conditions supporting these persistent pests. Our application techniques utilize proper equipment calibration, product selection, and placement methodology based on scientific principles rather than generalized approaches. This professional precision delivers superior results to consumer-level treatments, particularly for addressing the hidden portions of flea and tick populations residing in carpets, upholstery, and outdoor harborage areas.

  • Established flea and tick populations present complex challenges requiring multi-faceted treatment strategies beyond essential consumer products. Professional services utilize integrated approaches, combining several complementary methods addressing all life stages simultaneously. At Russell Pest Control, our advanced treatment options include specialized formulations unavailable to consumers. These include microencapsulated products providing extended protection, insect growth regulators preventing immature development, and advanced application equipment delivering products deep into carpet fibers and structural cracks where pests harbor. We implement targeted barrier treatments for severe outdoor tick populations, focusing on property transition zones where ticks concentrate while waiting for hosts. These professional-grade solutions prove particularly valuable for properties with historical flea or tick issues, homes with multiple pets, or locations adjacent to wildlife habitats where reinfestation pressure remains high despite basic treatment attempts.

  • Professional flea and tick management balances effective control with appropriate safety considerations for household members, pets, and the environment. At Russell Pest Control, our technicians implement precise application techniques, placing products exactly where they are needed rather than broadcasting them throughout entire properties. This targeted approach minimizes unnecessary chemical exposure while maximizing effectiveness against pest populations. We select appropriate formulations based on the specific treatment area, household composition, and pet presence, adjusting our protocols for sensitive situations, including homes with young children, elderly residents, or pets with health conditions. Our technicians receive comprehensive training regarding proper dilution rates, application methods, and safety protocols, which provide powerful pest elimination while maintaining appropriate margins of safety when used according to label instructions by adequately trained professionals.

  • Professional services provide comprehensive preventative measures beyond immediate elimination, creating long-term protection against re-infestation. At Russell Pest Control, our flea and tick management includes detailed recommendations addressing the environmental conditions supporting these pests. We guide landscape modifications to reduce tick harborage areas through strategic vegetation management, mulch selection, and property boundary treatments, creating protective barriers. Our specialists advise on housekeeping practices, pet management strategies, and monitoring techniques for flea prevention to identify early activity before populations are established. Through scheduled maintenance programs timed to coincide with seasonal flea and tick pressure periods, we maintain continuous protection rather than reactive treatments after problems develop. This prevention-focused approach proves particularly valuable for properties with historical pest issues or environmental factors creating ongoing reinfestation risk.

  • Professional flea and tick control ultimately provides economic advantages compared to repeated DIY attempts addressing persistent or returning infestations. The comprehensive nature of professional treatment typically resolves issues faster than sequential consumer product applications, reducing the duration of infestation-related discomfort for family members and pets. At Russell Pest Control, our integrated approach addressing both immediate elimination and prevention reduces long-term expenditures on repeated treatments by resolving root causes rather than symptoms alone. Our clients avoid costs associated with ineffective consumer products, unnecessary veterinary treatments for continued pest infestations, and potential medical expenses related to tick-borne illnesses. The value of professional expertise becomes particularly apparent when comparing the cumulative cost of repeated DIY attempts against the investment in comprehensive professional resolution, addressing problems thoroughly the first time.

The Flea and Tick Control Process

  • Inspection & Infestation Assessment

    Effective treatment begins with a thorough property evaluation identifying the full extent of flea and tick activity beyond apparent signs. At Russell Pest Control, our detailed inspection examines indoor and outdoor environments using specialized techniques to reveal hidden infestations. For flea assessment, our technicians utilize white-sock monitoring, targeted inspection of pet resting areas, and examining organic debris accumulations where larvae develop. Tick inspections focus on landscape transition zones, perimeter vegetation, and wildlife pathways where these parasites concentrate while seeking hosts. We document species identification, population density, distribution patterns, and environmental conditions supporting these pests throughout the property. This comprehensive assessment guides the development of tailored treatment strategies addressing the specific characteristics of each infestation rather than generic approaches missing crucial factors in the flea and tick life cycle.

  • Identification of High-Risk Areas

    Professional flea and tick management prioritize treatment focus based on a scientific understanding of where these pests concentrate during different life stages. At Russell Pest Control, our specialists identify and target areas with the highest population density and reproductive activity rather than treating entire properties uniformly. Indoor flea hotspots typically include pet resting areas, furniture contact points, floor covering transitions, and protected baseboards where eggs and larvae accumulate and are protected from cleaning activities. Outdoor tick concentrations develop in specific microhabitats, including wooded edge areas, tall grass boundaries, stone walls, woodpiles, and ornamental plantings where humidity levels support tick survival while providing host ambush opportunities. By focusing treatment intensity on these biological hotspots, we maximize effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary product application to areas with limited pest activity.

  • Customized Treatment Plan

    Following detailed assessment, our specialists develop tailored management strategies considering multiple variables, including infestation severity, property characteristics, pet factors, and household composition. Different situations require distinct approaches—apartment treatments differ substantially from large residential properties with extensive outdoor areas, while homes with multiple pets need different strategies than occasional pet-visitor households. At Russell Pest Control, our customized plans incorporate appropriate product selection, application timing, treatment sequence, and follow-up scheduling matched to each property's unique needs. We modify our protocols appropriately while maintaining effectiveness for sensitive situations involving young children, health-compromised individuals, or pets with medical conditions. This individualized planning creates superior outcomes compared to templated approaches, failing to address the specific characteristics influencing flea and tick populations at each location.

  • Targeted Indoor & Outdoor Treatment Application

    Effective flea and tick elimination requires precise product application based on understanding pest biology and habitat utilization. At Russell Pest Control, our indoor treatments focus on protected areas where immature stages develop, including carpet edges, furniture undersides, baseboards, and structural cracks that shelter eggs and larvae. Our technicians utilize specialized equipment to deliver acceptable mist applications reaching deep into carpet fibers while applying residual protection to surfaces where pets regularly come into contact. Outdoor tick applications concentrate on property perimeters, landscape transition zones, and ornamental plantings, creating tick-safe buffer zones around primary activity areas. We implement strategic barrier treatments interrupting tick migration paths from woodland edges and adjacent properties where wildlife hosts maintain tick populations. This biologically-targeted approach delivers superior results compared to generalized perimeter spraying or broadcast applications missing key developmental sites.

  • Pet-Safe Flea and Tick Prevention Recommendations

    Professional services complement direct pest management with practical guidance supporting long-term prevention through pet-focused strategies. At Russell Pest Control, we provide recommendations for coordinating environmental treatments with veterinary-prescribed preventatives, creating comprehensive protection for both premises and animals. Our specialists discuss appropriate cleaning protocols for pet bedding, resting areas, and play equipment where flea eggs and larvae accumulate and are protected from treatments. We advise on effective bathing and grooming practices, reducing pest transfer from pets to indoor environments without compromising dermal health. For multi-pet households, we develop coordinated treatment timelines aligning professional environmental services with veterinary preventative administration for maximum effectiveness. These complementary recommendations support lasting protection by addressing pets' critical role in flea life cycles while providing practical solutions compatible with everyday household routines and pet care practices.

Faq’s

  • Fleas and ticks multiply rapidly and can with a number of pathogens. While Treatment is a threefold process. The animal has to be treated for fleas and ticks, and measures taken to control picking up more hitchhikers. The home needs to be cleaned thoroughly, including bedding, carpets, rugs, flooring, and other places where eggs might be lurking or hatching. The outdoor area also needs to be treated to prevent another wave of infestation following the treatment of the first one. We don’t treat your pet or clean, but we can control these pests. Working together is the only way to control fleas and ticks, which can’t be reigned in merely by killing the adult population, as the eggs and larvae also need to be treated.

  • Common signs include excessive scratching in pets, flea bites on skin, black flea dirt in pet fur, or ticks attaching to clothing or body.

  • Yes, fleas can cause skin irritation, allergies, and carry diseases, while ticks are known to spread Lyme disease and other infections.

  • For prevention, treatments are recommended every 2-3 months, but severe infestations may require more frequent applications.

  • Yes, we use pet-friendly and child-safe solutions to ensure the safety of your family while effectively eliminating fleas and ticks.

  • Without ongoing prevention, fleas and ticks can return. That’s why we offer long-term solutions and prevention plans.

  • Our process includes thorough inspections, targeted treatments, and prevention techniques such as habitat modifications and safe pesticide applications.

  • Yes, fleas and ticks often breed in yards, especially in grassy and shaded areas. Outdoor treatment is crucial to prevent reinfestation.

  • Vacuum carpets and furniture, wash pet bedding, and keep pets away from treated areas until they are safe.

  • While DIY treatments can help, they are often less effective than professional-grade treatments, which target fleas and ticks at all life stages.

  • We offer same-day and emergency services for severe infestations. Contact us today for an inspection and treatment plan.