Battling fleas in a very large rural yard [View all]

[HillWilliam]

I looked at "Outdoor Life" as a possible destination for this thread and nestling this question with gun- and hiking-threads didn't seem quite the venue.

My partner and I live smack dab in the middle of a rural county between a game reserve and a boy scout reservation. We share our surroundings with deer, raccoons, skunks, wild pigs, the occasional panther, a few coyotes, and about a million rabbits. This year has been the blue-ribbon year for rabbit reproduction and with it, the all-time record for fleas.

Our yard is 2-1/2 acres, surrounded by an electric fence, not so much to keep our six rescued herding dogs in as to keep the creatures that would do them harm out. Of course, such fence is only a mild suggestion to flea-carrying deer or rabbits who pay it no mind at all. With such an area to cover, I've tried everything organic I can think of to battle down the flea problem. So far, neem and volck (which are fair but very short-lived) and DE which is pretty good but difficult to distribute effectively over such large area. I detest the idea of using poisons since those are (1) fairly short-lived and (2) will sink into the water table. I really don't care to drink that kind of residue since my water comes from a well.

I priced predatory nematodes. The price is around $78 for 1/4 acre. At ten quarter-acres, that comes to $780 plus shipping. Yow!!!

There has got to be a better way without pricing me out of eating or poisoning the dogs, the well, or us. Has anyone any suggestions for taking care of such an area? I'm about at my wits' end. My two eldest girls are suffering from skin allergies. We've DE'd the house, treated them daily such as we can, lost endless sleep. It can't go on.

Thanks for anything you can offer.