As any New Englander will tell you that among the special influx of summertime pests, ticks are definitely in the mix. Whether you spend your time outdoors or you have pets that bring home these blood-sucking pests, you’ve probably done your share of tick-picking. Read below for the 401 on ticks, as well as some steps you can take to help keep them out of your hair this summer.
Types of Ticks
There are three main types of ticks that New Englanders should look out for:
- Dermacentor variabilis, also called the American dog tick or Eastern wood tick
- Amblyomma americanum, also called the Lone Star tick
- Ixodes scapularis, also called the deer tick or backlegged tick
Tick Dangers
While ticks can get annoying, they also carry some severe health risks. Ticks are known to transmit diseases including, but not limited to, Lyme disease, Colorado tick fever, heartland virus, babesiosis, Powassan virus, and analasmosis. Ticks in different regions are known to transmit different diseases. For example, Colorado tick fever is most prevalent in the Rocky Mountain states at high elevations. Regardless of your region, there are some strong needs to keep yourself and your family safe from ticks.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infectious disease that’s caused by a certain type of bacteria that ticks can carry. Lyme disease commonly creates a rash at the site of the bite as its first sign. Victims may then experience headache, fever, and tiredness. When left untreated, Lyme disease can cause joint pains, heart palpitations, loss of ability to move the face, and severe headaches accompanied by neck stiffness.
Tips for Preventing Ticks
To avoid getting ticks on yourself, try to avoid areas where they thrive, such as thick woods. If you will be in these areas, try and wear long sleeves and long pants to cover your skin, as well as an effective repellent that contains Permethrin or DEET. After a day outdoors, check yourself for ticks immediately and remove them as soon as possible, being sure to remove the tick slowly and close to the skin so that the head is also removed.
As for your yard and home, you can help prevent ticks by removing leaf litter, clearing brush around the perimeter of the home, placing wood chip barriers between lawns and wooded areas, mowing the law frequently, and using fences to discourage wildlife like deer and raccoons.
If you’re in need of New England pest control services, call the professionals at Bain Pest Control for a free consultation and a promise that your pests will get nixed.