Protect Pets and Kids with Professional Tick Control in Boston

Ticks lay thousands of eggs at once, creating a much more difficult pest to control if they are not caught early or if preventive methods are not applied often enough. There are hard and soft ticks, and both have been known to frequent the New England states and the Boston area. These pesky blood sucking parasites carry a number of different diseases, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease.

Ticks aren’t just dangerous for humans. They’re also dangerous for animals. Ticks can survive for up to a year without feeding, and while they are most prevalent in summer months, they can be found at any time of year in the right conditions.

The one advantage humans have over ticks is coordination– or, rather, the lack thereof. That is, ticks don’t fly or jump like a lot of pests do when attempting to find their next victim. Ticks literally fall onto people and animals, hoping to land accordingly. They can also use their back legs to hold a piece of grass or brush while reaching their front legs out to grasp a passing host. This is known as questing, and it makes it just a little harder for ticks to get around.

That isn’t to say it’s impossible. Thousands of people and pets get ticks every year. Whether it’s one or an infestation, it’s best to stay away from them at all costs. Doing this starts with prevention– that way you can take care of the risks associated with ticks before they even become a problem.

Ticks to Watch For

In New England, and most of the Eastern U.S., the majority of ticks that people encounter will belong to one of two species: the blacklegged tick (deer tick) and the american dog tick (brown tick).

Blacklegged Tick: Named for the dark legs that contrast a pale body. During winter, these ticks primarily feed on white-tailed deer, hence the nickname of “deer tick”. They are about 2.7 mm in length, making them difficult to spot.

American Dog Tick: These are the ticks usually found in fields, open grassy spaces, trails, and forest perimeters. They are summer creatures, and measure between 1/16” and ¼” prior to feeding. These ticks feed from deer, mice, domestic pets, and humans. As the name suggests, these are the biggest threat to family dogs.

Tick Prevention and Control Tips

Ticks are attracted to tall grasses, trees, and other overgrown, dense areas. They need a place to hide and they need the taller grasses or trees to be able to reach their hosts. If you are able to make a few small changes to your yard, you might actually reduce your risk of having a tick problem in the first place.

For starters, make sure that you keep your yard neat and trimmed during the summer months. Choose smaller plants and avoid tall grasses or bushes that would be inviting to a tick. Also, consider putting a barrier of mulch around the perimeter of your property. This will not only help you reduce exposure to ticks, who hate the feeling of wood chips or gravel, but it will keep out other wildlife that could carry ticks themselves as well as other pests and diseases.

American beauty-berry bushes are also something to consider. These bushes are beautiful, indeed, but they have also been shown to repel ticks. Look for other natural plants that might deter pests and wildlife from your yard.

Keep Yourself and Your Pets Safe

Aside from treating your yard, there are ways you can protect yourself, your family, and your pets when you’re enjoying the great outdoors. To reduce the risk that you will encounter a tick that wants to stick around, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever possible. Tuck in pants, shirts, and socks to ensure that ticks have no way in.

If you wear light-colored clothes, you may be able to spot ticks before they get onto, and into, your skin. Make sure that you spray all your clothes and exposed skin areas with bug spray. Even on your clothes, the bug spray will repel the ticks before they get a chance to bite.

As for pets, you need to talk to your vet about tick prevention. Usually, pets are given a preventive treatment that covers fleas, ticks, and other parasites in one dose. Some products require monthly application. The exact formula that is best for your pet may vary, which is why you should consult your veterinarian before giving pets any tick prevention medications. You may also wish to look into Lyme Disease vaccinations for your pets.

Employ the Help of Professional Tick Control Services

A professional team of tick exterminators can come to your home and help protect you from ticks in a number of ways. If there is an existing infestation, they can eradicate the problem first and foremost. Then, they will begin looking into ways to prevent future issues and protect your home. This will include a thorough inspection of your yard, landscaping, and gardens. They will identify problem areas, such as overgrown weeds or shrubs, that may be inviting to ticks. The suggestions they make could include the things listed above, such as cleaning up the yard.

However, in addition to making suggestions, they will also apply a preventive treatment to your lawn. You don’t have to worry about kids or pets because today’s treatments are designed to be safe for use in family homes and yards. They will work with you to create a maintenance plan to keep ticks at bay, and if you want, they can offer advice and assistance with other pest prevention and control.

Boston Tick Prevention is Only a Phone Call Away (800.439.6321)

Ticks are a lot worse after you have them, and they are surprisingly easy to prevent from becoming a problem in your home and backyard. Contact the professionals at AAA Exterminating Company to discuss your concerns and find out how our tick prevention and control solutions can work for you.