Concerns over ticks have been on the rise in the U.S. as the tiny arachnids have found to spread at least 10 different diseases in North America, including Lyme disease.
Every year in the U.S., more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported. Other tick-borne diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever have added to the public’s increased interest in tick prevention.
How to prevent ticks
What can you do to avoid ticks? The first thing any homeowner or a business owner should do to avoid encountering ticks on their property is keeping their vegetation mowed. Ticks like to live in grasses and bushy areas.
When you walk in areas that have overgrown vegetation, ticks can latch onto you. By keeping your vegetation mowed you can create a micro-environment that’s not conducive to where a tick likes to live.
If you trim your vegetation often, ticks will have a lot of sun exposure and are not going to find that a favorable environment.
You are also making that environment unattractive to tick hosts like mice, raccoons and other small mammals by regularly mowing your lawn and pulling weeds.
How to deter tick hosts
Here are a few other steps you can take to deter tick hosts from entering your property:
- If you have a bird feeder, make sure that the area around the bird feeder is nice and clean so you are not attracting rodents.
- Garbage cans lids should be on your garbage cans at all times
- Use chimney caps
- If you are feeding stray animals, make sure you are cleaning up the bowls after they eat so you are not leaving food out overnight.
How to protect yourself from ticks
It is very important that you protect yourself when you are doing any type of outside activity.
- Wear long sleeve shirts and pants
- Tuck your pants into your socks
- Wear light colored clothing because ticks are easier to spot against the light colored surface.
- Check your yourself as well as your children and pets for ticks daily.
- Always use an insect repellent with an EPA registered active ingredient, the most recommended active ingredient is DEET.
Pets spend a lot of times outdoors so it is very important that they are protected against ticks around the clock. To protect your pets from ticks, seek the advice from your veterinarian. Instead of relying on over-the-counter products, consult your veterinarian who may prescribe the use of a prescription product.
If you’re worried about ticks, we recommend contacting your local Ehrlich branch to learn about our mosquito and tick control service. Ehrlich offers a seasonal service that creates a protective barrier around your home.
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