You can do a lot when it comes to Lyme disease prevention, such as using repellent and checking for ticks and removing them before they have a long time to latch. But the lowest-stress option in the long run is to reduce the number of ticks in your yard.
Lyme disease was named for a town in this franchise's service area. Eastern Connecticut residents are not being paranoid when they worry about it. The blacklegged ticks that carry it are everywhere here. But the encouraging thing to remember is that prevention works, and most of it costs almost nothing.
First, if you’re going out on the trails, stay center-path and out of the brush. It’s a good idea to use EPA-registered repellents on skin and to wear permethrin-treated clothing. It’s also a good idea to tuck pants into socks when in tick-prone areas. It looks silly, but it also works.
Ticks need to be attached for 24–48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. After time outdoors, check everyone, especially warm hidden spots, behind knees, waistband, hairline, behind the ears. Shower soon after coming in. Toss the clothes in a hot dryer for ten minutes, as this is known to reduce the number of ticks that survive. If you find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grab it as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up. Wash the bite and write down the date. If you develop a spreading rash, fever, or body aches later on, see a doctor immediately. These are classic signs of Lyme disease, and early treatment makes all the difference.
Beyond this, you can also reduce the presence of ticks in the areas you spend the most time. Most tick encounters happen close to home, after all. Ticks concentrate in leaf litter, tall grass, and the shaded transition where lawn meets woods. Mow, rake, cut back brush, and consider a dry border of wood chips between yard and treeline. Then reduce the population directly through professional, recurring barrier treatment.
If you'd rather not gamble on a disease named after a Connecticut town, Mosquito Squad of Middlesex, New London & Windham County can help. Mosquito Squad targets the zones where ticks live, helping protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
