What Spreads Ticks in Saint Joseph

Ticks may be tiny, but they can turn up far from where they hatched. They don’t move quickly on their own, but are skilled at selecting pets, wildlife, and even people to help them travel. Southwest Michigan has a plethora of woods, dune grass, and parkland, making opportunities for ticks to find hosts. For those concerned about Saint Joseph, MI tick control, Mosquito Squad Plus provides tick control services that reduce tick activity around outdoor spaces.

What Are Ticks?

Ticks are arachnids, making them relatives of spiders and mites rather than insects like beetles. Michigan has more than 20 tick species, but the most common are:

• American Dog Tick: Most commonly found tick on the Southwest Shore, these rarely carry diseases in Michigan, but could carry tularemia. They stay active even into cooler, autumn months.
• Blacklegged Tick: A known carrier of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness in Michigan, the blacklegged tick is about the same size as a sesame seed.
• Lone Star Tick: The most aggressive tick species. Known to actively seek humans to bite over wildlife. May carry ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and Alpha-gal syndrome.

Ticks survive by taking blood meals from hosts such as mammals and birds, which also gives them a way to move through the landscape. A tick bite doesn't automatically cause an illness, but it is important to check for tick bites. This can apply to pets as well; check them before they come inside. Several tick-borne illnesses can make cats and dogs tick too, so professional tick control can complement veterinarian-recommended prevention.

Ticks Do Not Fly or Jump—They Hitch a Ride

A tick usually reaches a host through a behavior called questing. It will climb onto tall grass blades, leaves, brush, and similar areas to wait for a host. Questing is when it climbs and then holds on with its back legs, and stretches its front legs outward. When a person or animal brushes past, the tick climbs aboard. Deer, rodents, birds, dogs, and other animals can transport ticks between habitats, while people may carry an unattached tick on clothing or gear.

Reduce the Ways Ticks Reach Your Yard and Home

Property maintenance is part of discouraging ticks from staying on your property. Keeping landscaping trimmed and damp piles of leaves and other organic materials gives them fewer places to hide. Take note of the places you and your pets spend time, and then create some separation between recreation spaces and wooded edges when practical. After hiking, gardening, or spending time in brushy areas, check clothing, skin, children, and pets carefully for ticks.

Professional Tick Control in Saint Joseph

Professional treatment can add another layer of control around areas where ticks are likely to shelter. Mosquito Squad Plus technicians inspect the property during each treatment and focus applications on likely pest habitats. We do offer the option of pest packages for convenience and broader pest control. There are multiple options that can target ticks alongside mosquitoes and other qualifying outdoor pests.

Make Tick Control Part of Your Outdoor Routine

Ticks spread with help from other wildlife and humans. They wait for a host to pass by and latch on for a meal and a lift. Get a free quote by phone at (810) 202-9771 and discuss options with our Saint Joseph team that best fit your home.