Simple Ways To Outwit The Ticks and Keep Your Family Lyme-Free
If they were bigger and more conspicuous, ticks would not be such a threat and nuisance. But their eighth-of-an-inch size in adulthood compounds tick-related problems. This is because they often go unnoticed and you’re likely to see them only after they’ve taken a deep bite into their host. It could be in your skin, your pet’s fur, or your farm animal’s skin. Worse still, the longer they lodge in the skin, the greater the chances they can transmit disease.
Nevertheless, you can’t afford to fold your arms and just “hope for the best.” Dealing with ticks requires you to be unapologetically ruthless. Because if you aren’t, you’ll go through the devastation of Lyme Disease or another tick-related illness. This post will help you outwit the ticks.
Beware They Can Be Anywhere
In the past, it was common to find ticks in woody areas. Deer ticks were the common type and mostly, you’d be extra careful after taking a walk. But things have changed and you need to be on the lookout wherever you are.
Turns out the woodlands aren’t the only places ticks love to hide out. The tiny insects known for carrying the bacterium that causes Lyme disease can be spotted at beaches, too.
New research found that black-legged ticks are plentiful in the coastal brush, grasses, and sand around the beaches in California.
The findings, which recently published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, also found that about 4 percent of ticks in coastal areas tested positive for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi).
The study is the first to evaluate the bacterium carried by ticks in coastal areas. Read more at Healthline
So, as you spend more time outdoors this summer, look out for these tiny pests. They could be lurking just about anywhere!
Beware They Prefer Warmer Wetter Weather
Every organism has an optimum environment where they thrive. For ticks, they prefer warm humid conditions. So, if your area has these characteristics during this season, then you can be sure the little pests will be all over.
Why does a wet winter matter? Ticks thrive in humidity. As a result, “regions that experienced wetter and warmer winters will have higher tick populations this spring and summer,” says Ben Hottel, Ph.D., technical services manager for Orkin.
The warmer and moister an environment becomes, “the faster the arthropod life cycle is completed,” explains Anna Berry, a board-certified entomologist and technical manager at Terminix. “When it gets very cold, very hot, or very dry, it may take longer to go from one stage of development to the next.” A wet winter and spring, along with warm temperatures, “provides the necessary warmth and humidity for fast development,” she says. Read more at Prevention
You’re not the only one enjoying the fair weather after all!
Practical Tips To Outwit Ticks
It would be so amazing to have an app that could track tick movement, wouldn’t it? Well, if you get a hold of an app, just use it. Even so, you are likely to encounter one sneaky tick that breaks through to where you’re at. Here’s how to ensure you’re a step ahead of them.
Keep your pets in check. Cats and dogs can bring ticks into your home and deposit them onto your bed, your couch, and just about anywhere they like to curl up. The best solution is to keep cats indoors and check your dog regularly for ticks. Pet owners who are especially concerned may want to ask their vet about vaccinating their dog against Lyme as well as other preventive measures, such as insecticide-laced collars.
Choose deer-resistant plants. A single deer can transport hundreds of ticks, so it’s essential to keep Bambi away from your garden. A good starting point is to lean into landscaping options that deer won’t eat, such as bleeding hearts, lavender, mint, buttercups, and black-eyed Susans.
Build that dream patio. It’s simple—ticks inhabit grass and shallow woodlands, not bluestone patios with four-burner liquid propane grills and tiki bars. Bonus: the more patio, the less lawn to mow.
Rake the leaves. To survive winter, many ticks shelter in place under leaf litter. Deprive them of that pleasure by raking up in the fall and staying on top of yard work. Read more at Boston Magazine
Simple actionable steps like these in your yard will go a long way in keeping your family safe.
But you can go the extra mile and see to it that your home is tick-free. With Backyard Bug Patrol, you can save yourself the headache of looking out for ticks. Our barrier spray program will go deep into your yard’s foliage and any tick will be dead on contact. You deserve a relaxed summer! Go ahead and call us today!