While you may not ever really want to think about ticks, the truth is that you don’t really have a choice once the weather starts to get warmer. Considering this is exactly what we have been dealing with recently, it’s time to start thinking about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from these predatory pests. As you begin spending more time outdoors, hiking, playing sports, or simply sitting on patios relaxing, it’s important that you know in which environments ticks thrive and how you are most likely going to acquire them while you are out on summer adventures. Continue reading below to learn more about the risk involved with being outside this time of the year, as well as to learn how to limit your exposure to these incredibly dangerous pests.
The Truth About Ticks
Plain and simple, ticks are parasites that live by feeding on the blood of living things. This often can lead to health problems in both humans and their pets. The most common kind of tick in the United States is the American dog tick. These ticks feed on a variety of different hosts. Everything from mice to deer to (you guessed it) humans make an excellent choice for this species of tick. These ticks are also well-known for transmitting a number of diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. Additionally, American dog ticks are able to survive for up to two years without so much as feeding once. This makes them quite the threat.
How Do Ticks Operate?
For the most part, ticks will be located in overgrown areas. Tall grass and shrubbery is the perfect place for ticks to hang out as it allows for them to simply waiting for a host to pass that they can latch onto. Once the tick is attached, they can begin to transmit their organism through saliva. This is where this parasite becomes a real threat to the host. Along with the disease we mentioned before, some of the most common diseases spread to human by ticks are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. In fact, one tick could transmit all three of these diseases to the same person at one time.
On the other hand, dog ticks also happen to be fairly common in the United States. While these may not harm you or the other people in your household, they will attach themselves to your pet. Make sure you keep an eye out for ticks on your pet just as much as you do on yourself.
How To Avoid Ticks This Summer
Avoiding ticks entirely is an almost impossible task. Being proactive is the only real way to lower your chances of becoming a host to a tick. One way in which you can do this is to hire a professional pest control company to handle the problem for you, at least in your own yard. Having our local pest management team come up with a customized tick control solution for you is always a smart idea. If you are interested in learning more about how you can protect your family, your home, and yourself from ticks this summer, contact Earthwise Pest Management today.
[uxi_button link=”post_id-262″ new_window=”1″ tel=”0″ class=”button-block button-block-mobile button-32″ padding_x=”” padding_y=”” text=”Contact Us Right Now To Learn More” text_size=”14″ text_size_mobile=”” text_font=”header-font” sub_text=”” sub_text_size=”12″ sub_text_size_mobile=”” sub_text_font=”header-font” icon=”” icon_size=”12″ icon_size_mobile=”” icon_align=””]