Fleas

Fleas are tiny biting insects that infest pets and homes, and they are a persistent problem in the mild, damp Pacific Northwest. On Whidbey and Fidalgo they also thrive around beaches, crawl spaces, and wildlife, biting people and animals alike.

How to identify fleas

About 1/16 to 1/8 inch, dark reddish-brown, flattened side-to-side, wingless, with powerful jumping legs. They are fast and hard to catch by hand.

Behavior & season on Whidbey & Fidalgo

Adults feed on blood while eggs, larvae, and pupae develop in carpet, bedding, crawl spaces, and yard soil. Our mild winters let populations persist year-round, and wildlife under the home reseeds them.

Why fleas are a problem

Flea bites cause itching and allergic reactions in people and pets, can transmit tapeworm to animals, and infestations are notoriously hard to clear because most of the population is immature and hidden.

Signs of fleas activity

• Pets scratching, biting, or restless
• Small itchy bites around ankles and lower legs
• Flea dirt (black specks) in pet bedding
• Fast-jumping insects in carpet and crawl spaces

How Salty Dog treats fleas

We treat the environment across all flea life stages — indoors and in crawl spaces and yard harborage — and coordinate with pet treatment so the cycle is fully broken. Learn more about our Flea Control service, or browse the full Pest Library.

Frequently asked questions

Why do fleas keep coming back after I treat my pet?

Most of the population is eggs, larvae, and pupae in carpet, bedding, and crawl spaces. Without treating the environment too, they re-emerge.

Can I get fleas without pets?

Yes — wildlife nesting under the home or in the crawl space can introduce and sustain fleas even in homes without pets.

Had a good experience with Salty Dog? Leave us a review — it helps your Whidbey and Fidalgo neighbors find honest, local pest control.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 Chris Irish 
 
 
 
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Matthew is a rockstar! He came out on a Friday night after a full day to make sure we were taken care of! Highly recommend!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Kristi Lovelady 
 
 
 
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Prompt, efficient and on-time service. Invoices provide written and visual information of service rendered. Mathew is very professional and knowledgeable.  Would recommend Salty Dog services.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Michele C. 
 
 
 
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We really like Salty Dog!  Matthew is very responsive and always on time.  His reports are thorough, he is on time and works with our needs!  Thank you Matthew!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Brenda Praggastis 
 
 
 
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Matthew is conscientious and careful. He has worked closely with us to address all of our concerns. He has tailored his efforts to the unique demands of our house as he performed an exclusion. The rodent activity has disappeared inside the house and has been vastly reduced outside. We are very happy with his work.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Sharon Heiber 
 
 
 
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Matthew solved our mouse problem! He quickly identified their entrance point and blocked it. That was last year. We haven't had a problem since. Thank you, Matthew!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Sandi Peterson 
 
 
 
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We had not done pest control for quite some time, (our bad) and one day I needed service right away.   Matthew came ASAP and got us started on the right track.  He did work above and beyond what I expected for a more than fair price and shows up for scheduled maintenance as promised.   He does a great job and I recommend him highly.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Rodger Schnee 
 
 
 
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Matt at Salty Dog is both personal and professional, and provides services that are high quality, and very reasonably priced. He is clearly a service provider first and last. I've had previous experiences(with pest services and other) with national companies, when I felt I was sent a representative that was sales first, service provider 2nd. Matt is also well networked with contractors in our community, and gave me a couple great referrals for other work I needed done. The bottom line is that I highly recommend Salty Dog and Matt for any rodent/pest related issues.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Nicholas Orozco 
 
 
 
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Extremely helpful and quick service who took his time and treated the issues that I had on the spot. I absolutely felt like the work was quality and he did not rush until I was satisfied with what was done. Thank you very much for the help!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 britt buchan 
 
 
 
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We’ve had an excellent experience with Salty Dog Pest Control. Matt’s attention to detail is outstanding, and what really sets him apart is his passion for treating the root of the problem—not just applying a quick fix. He took the time to explain what was going on, what he was doing, and why, which gave us a lot of confidence in the process.

His communication is clear, timely, and thoughtful from start to finish. It’s obvious he truly cares about his work and his clients. Highly recommend Salty Dog Pest Control if you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, thorough, and genuinely invested in doing the job right.