Tick Control Services in Central California

What Is a Tick?

A tick is an arachnid and a relative of the spider and similarly has eight legs. They don't jump or fly, but instead, they must crawl onto their hosts.

Ticks usually crawl to the top of a blade of grass and wait for a human, dog, deer, or another host to walk through the grass. Then, they use their strong legs to crawl onto their new host when they brush up against the grass. Ticks are parasites and feed on the blood of their host.

Ticks have been around for about 90 million years and there are over 800 different species throughout the world. However, only two families of ticks feed and transmit diseases to humans, the Ixodidae and Argasidae families.

Tick Life Cycle

Ticks have a complex life cycle that consists of four stages including eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adult ticks. They require blood meals in every life stage except for the egg stage.

Younger ticks may be less selective about where they get their food from and may even feed off of snakes, birds, and amphibians. And, while ticks do require blood to live, many species can survive up to a year or more without feeding.

What Does a Tick Look Like?

Adult ticks are about 3/16–1/4 inch in length and have eight legs. Ticks are flat and oval in appearance until they feed and their bodies expand. Depending upon the species, ticks can be yellow, reddish-brown, grayish-white, black, or brown.

Ticks in the larva stage are extremely small at about 1/32 of an inch and only have six legs as they are not yet fully developed. As ticks grow into the nymph stage, they develop all eight legs and measure about 1/16–1/18 inches in length. Ticks are capable of feeding on hosts during the larva, nymph, and adult stages.

Are Ticks Dangerous?

Ticks are parasites and may cause symptoms such as itching, burning, and swelling at the bite site. However, ticks release painkillers called kininases as they feed on their host, so you could possibly go for days without noticing that one has been feeding on you.

Some species of ticks can transmit disease instantly to their host. However, others are more likely to transmit disease when they are completely full, and that may take anywhere from 24–48 hours. It’s important that anytime you, your family, or your pets spend time outdoors that you check for ticks immediately afterward as this may prevent the spread of disease.

Tick Bite Effects

While ticks are small and won’t consume enough of your blood to cause problems, they usually cause redness and irritation at the site of the bite. For some people who are allergic, ticks are more dangerous even without considering the spread of diseases.

In those who are allergic, a tick bite can cause shortness of breath, swelling, paralysis, numbness, and a rash. While many people never notice that they’ve been bitten by a tick, occasionally a person can experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, confusion, headache, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, and swelling of the lymph nodes.

Tick-Borne Illnesses

The tick bite itself can be dangerous for a select group of people, but the diseases that ticks carry and transmit to their host are a much more urgent medical concern for most people. Lyme disease is the most well-known disease spread by ticks and can cause fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes.

The Powassan virus can also be transmitted by ticks and causes fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, seizures, swelling of the brain, and even meningitis. Ticks can spread these and many other dangerous diseases to you, your pet, and your family, including the following:

• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Borrelia mayonii
• Borrelia miyamotoi
• Bourbon virus
• Colorado tick fever
• Ehrlichiosis
• Heartland virus
• Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
• STARI (Southern tick-associated rash illness)
• Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF)
• Tularemia
• 364D rickettsiosis (Pacific Coast Tick Fever)

What Are the Signs of a Tick Bite?

Tick bites are not typically painful to the host, but there is usually some redness around the site of the bite. In addition, other common signs of a tick bite include swelling, burning, and itching.

People can experience some, none, or all of these symptoms when a tick bites them. If you begin to notice a bull’s eye-shaped rash at the site of the bite, this is a sign of Lyme disease. The rash may occur days or even months after the bite.

Ticks Common in Sacramento, CA, and the Surrounding Areas

With so many different species of ticks, it’s important to understand which are commonly found in Sacramento, CA, so you can properly protect yourself, your family, and your pets. It’s also imperative to understand which ticks are carriers of which diseases.

As the leading provider of tick control services in Central California, EarthWise Pest Management is here with useful information to help you stay safe from ticks. Read on to learn more about the most common ticks found in Sacramento, CA, and the surrounding areas.

The Winter Tick

Dermacentor albipictus, better known as the winter tick, commonly feeds on elk, deer, moose, and caribou, and occasionally cattle, black bears, and horses. Although this tick is found in Sacramento, it doesn’t commonly feed on humans and does not carry Lyme disease.

These ticks will typically feed on the same hosts throughout the winter until the spring when they drop off of the animal to lay their eggs. That's how this type of tick gained its moniker.

The Pacific Coast Tick

Dermacentor occidentalis, or the Pacific Coast Tick, is commonly found throughout California and Oregon. While younger Pacific Coast Ticks may feed on rodents such as squirrels, the adults prefer cattle, horses, and deer.

These ticks are known for spreading Rickettsia species 354D also sometimes called Pacific Coast Tick Fever. It’s a type of spotted fever that causes symptoms including fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, rash, and blackened or curated skin at the bite site. Pacific Coast Ticks are known for biting humans and also transmitting Tularemia.

The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick

The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, or Dermacentor andersoni, feeds primarily on large mammals in the adult stage. However, the larvae and nymphs are less selective and often feed off of small rodents.

This type of tick can spread diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia. Wooded and brushy areas are the common location of this type of tick.

The American Dog Tick

The American Dog Tick, or Dermacentor variabilis, is also sometimes called the Wood Tick. As the name implies, they often feed on dogs and other mammals including mice and deer.

These ticks commonly transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. The American Dog Tick can live up to two years without a host.

The Deer Tick

Ixodes scapularis, or the Deer Tick, is so named because, in the adult stage, they prefer to live on white-tailed deer, although they also commonly bite humans. These ticks are sometimes called Blacklegged Ticks due to their appearance.

Deer Ticks are known for their ability to transmit Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, and other dangerous diseases. They're commonly found in wooded and brushy areas.

The Brown Dog Tick

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, commonly referred to as the Brown Dog Tick, may feed off of dogs, deer, humans, and other mammals. They are known for hitching a ride on people’s dogs and then laying eggs in your home, leading to a tick infestation.

The adults and larvae are capable of living up to eight months without feeding. They commonly transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Canine Babesiosis, and Canine Ehrlichiosis.

Tips to Keep Ticks Out of Your Yard and Home

At Earthwise Pest Management, we can help you get rid of a tick infestation. However, we believe that the best form of treatment is prevention. As the leading provider of tick control services in Central California, we’re here to help you reduce the risks that ticks present to your family.

By keeping ticks out of your yard and home, you’re taking the first step to preventing an infestation from happening while protecting your family and pets from local tick populations. Here are a few tips for keeping these parasites away from your home:

1- Keep Your Yard Clean and Well-Manicured

Ticks need a place to live and hide while they are waiting for a host to walk by. Keeping your lawn mowed and trees trimmed makes your yard a less desirable place for ticks to live.

It’s also important to remove fallen leaves in the fall and keep any wood piles away from your home. That's because they are great places not only for ticks to hide but also for rodents to live who may carry ticks into your home.

2- Keep Children's Playground Equipment Away From Wooded Areas

If you have children, you know how important it is that they spend some free time outdoors. However, as parents, you want to ensure their safety at the same time.

Keeping children’s swing sets, sandboxes, and other playground equipment away from the woods or high grass will make it less likely that ticks will reside there. The farther away this equipment is from common tick habitats, the lower the risk you'll have to remove ticks from your children.

3- Fence in Your Yard

Keeping wild animals out of your yard that ticks commonly feed on will help to protect your home and family from the small parasites. One wild animal that comes to mind is the deer, which provides ample feeding opportunities for ticks.

By fencing in your yard, you’ll be able to keep your children and pets in your yard and away from wooded areas. Additionally, you can keep other mammals from bringing ticks into your yard.

4- Keep Pets Out of Wooded Areas

While going for walks and hiking, dogs have a habit of exploring and going off of the trail. And, while this curiosity is one of the things we love most about dogs, it also makes them more susceptible to picking up ticks and bringing them into your home.

How to Protect Yourself From Ticks

Ticks are widely known for their potential to transmit disease through their bite. Therefore, during the height of the tick season, it's essential to take measures to protect yourself from ticks. After all, preventing tick bites is the best way to keep yourself safe from tick-borne illnesses.

As the most common carriers of Lyme disease, many humans contract this disease from ticks. However, we have some recommendations for protecting yourself from Lyme disease and other illnesses from ticks.

Here are a few steps to prevent ticks from latching onto your skin and biting you. Remember that tick-borne diseases can occur anywhere, even in your yard. So here are some steps humans can take to prevent ticks from becoming problematic.

• Use a chemical repellant with DEET, permethrin, or picaridin.
  ● Wear light-colored protective clothing.
  ● Tuck your pant legs into your socks to limit your skin's exposure.
  ● Avoid tick-infested areas, such as wooded areas and high grass.
  ● Check yourself, your children, and your pets daily for ticks.

Our Effective Tick Control Services in Sacramento, CA, and the Surrounding Areas

At EarthWise Pest Management, we provide tick control services in Central California to rid your property of ticks. We also have a complete range of pest control services to eliminate insects, spiders, mosquitoes, and other pests.

So when you need tick pest control in Sacramento, CA, count on EarthWise Pest Management to do the job quickly and effectively. Furthermore, we offer methods of prevention and treatment to destroy tick eggs and protect your home from an infestation.

Tick Extermination Services

If you believe your property has tick infestations, scheduling an inspection and tick extermination services is essential. Certain types of ticks, such as deer ticks, could be Lyme disease carriers. With high-quality tick control services, you can eliminate the threat from your property and protect your family and pets.

Once ticks enter your residence, they can lay eggs there. When tick eggs are left untreated in areas of your home, this situation can lead to infection and possible disease. Ticks are common spreaders of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Colorado Tick Fever.

With our tick extermination services, we can protect you, your family, and your pets from a tick bite that may cause an infection or disease. As the leading tick control service in Central California, we want to help you prepare for tick season.

Our team of experienced tick exterminators knows where ticks live and use the latest tick treatments. For quick and reliable tick pest control in Stockton, CA, count on the experts at EarthWise Pest Management.

Professional Tick Treatment

When you want to keep your home free of ticks and other pests, trust the pros at EarthWise Pest Management. We offer professional tick treatment services to stop infestations and protect your property.

Our team of certified technicians provides quick and efficient tick control services to treat ticks in your home and yard. If you need professional tick treatment in your home or property, count on our certified experts for professional tick treatment to clear away pests.

Professional Tick Removal Services

Contacting a tick removal specialist is vital if you've spotted ticks on your property, whether on your pets or in the grass around your home. Professional tick removal is the most effective way to get rid of ticks.

The tick exterminators at EarthWise Pest Management use an environmentally friendly approach for professional tick removal. We use the most advanced tick removal services to protect your property from ticks. Our team of certified tick exterminators focuses on eliminating pests, including potentially harmful tick species, from your property.

Schedule Our Complete Tick Control Services Today!

When tick populations rapidly expand during tick season, getting rid of ticks near your home is crucial. With our comprehensive range of tick control services, EarthWise Pest Management can help you eliminate ticks from your property.

In addition to ticks, our integrated pest management program provides rodent control, bed bug services, and much more . So don't take any chances with the health of your family and pets. Contact us to learn more about our tick control services in Central California today!