Battling fleas in a very large rural yard

[HillWilliam]

7. You're absolutely right

there are no quick or easy solutions. We've tried the completely natural and as much mainstream as we're willing to risk. The latest was BioSpot (similar to Advantage). The effectiveness seems to be about three good days and you can not treat more than once a month. I am absolutely convinced (due to the symptoms) that Advantage killed two of my dogs. Again, after the results of the posts, my vet finally had to agree. My current vet recommended an oral, but after reading about the lethargy, loss of appetite, and a myriad of other symptoms, then the marked increase in mortality in groups receiving it, I had to politely decline that particular option. He and I are still looking for something that will do. Thank heaven I have a vet who really cares and is willing to help research. I try to read everything I can and keep an open mind until I've exhausted everything that looks like science.

It's a lot of work, but if you care, you'll do it, yannow?

We're located in north-central NC, just south of Danville, VA. We've had very mild winters the last two and this winter is slated to be mild and wet as well. It's doubtful we'll have any relief from an extended freeze.

This summer has been by far the worst. With the explosion of rabbits we've had an explosion of fleas. I did break down and use permethrin in the blackberry thickets where rabbits are most prone to hide out (until the dogs have their fun in chasing them to the fenceline). As much as it pained me to use strong chemistry (or anything made by Syngenta, period) my dogs come first. I treated again in seven days (just at the hatch cycle). The effect was almost nil.

So far DE has been the most effective inside. It's just been a bear to figure out some kind of way to spread it effectively outside.

Unless there's something better that I could actually manage. I'm up against a few things: I'm 55, not in the greatest of shape, my job is an hour and a half drive each way, my partner is disabled, so my time is kinda taken up. I'm not complaining at all; it's just how life shaped up. Funny how things turn out not at all the way you envisaged when you were younger (insert wry smile emoticon here).

Thanks for the rejoinder and keeping the thread kicked. Between all of us, we'll get it figured out yet