Deer ticks generally stay out of mowed open turf, but they are often very common in the shaded areas nearby like wooded park edges and restored natural areas.
You might associate ticks with rural areas, but that’s not quite the case. Ticks can and do live in urban park areas just like they do in the country. But there are some places where you’re more likely to run into them than others.
Blacklegged ticks are often commonly called deer ticks. They’re becoming more common in Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will counties. You’re not likely to run into them in mowed areas with short grass because they dry out easily in the sun. But shaded, humid areas are another story. Wooded edges and forest preserves can and often do have blacklegged ticks.
If you’re trying to size up risk for a particular area, it’s worth considering: where can the ticks hide when it’s hot? Ballfields and mowed lawns leave them with no real options. Trails with a lot of leaf litter leave them with plenty. That means you, and your pets or kids, are more likely to encounter ticks in areas like that than open fields.
To reduce your exposure to ticks, stay on mowed paths and out of brushy fringe areas. Tuck pants into socks when walking through the woods and consider using a tick repellent with DEET or picaridin. Do not sit on logs or leaf litter. And once you go back inside, check yourself for ticks and remove any you find promptly. Doing this can greatly reduce your odds of falling ill from a tickborne disease.
If ticks are turning up around your property, Mosquito Squad of Chicago can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded edges and leaf litter where ticks wait for a host. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
