Tick Control

The Dangers of Ticks

With Lyme Disease on the rise in America, exposure to ticks is becoming a point of significant concern. Over the past decade, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported approximately 30,000 new cases of Lyme Disease each year. The symptoms of Lyme Disease include severe fatigue, rashes, fever, and joint pain. If caught early enough, antibiotics can help mitigate these symptoms.

Other tick-borne diseases include:

• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Babesiosis
• Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis
• Tularemia

Transmission of Lyme Disease

Ticks are the primary vector of human-contracted Lyme Disease. Dogs and cats are equally if not more susceptible to tick-borne Lyme Disease – given their active lifestyle and low to the ground physiques. Ticks tend to attach to anything they contact directly. As a result, when humans and animals brush against low-lying vegetation, the potential exposure to ticks magnifies greatly. Approximately three-fourths of all tick bites result from everyday outdoor activities, such as playing, gardening, and hiking outdoors.

Types of Tick Control Services

At Mosquito Squad, we are proud to offer two distinct types of tick-control service:

1. Our traditional mosquito barrier treatment effectively kills ticks on contact
2. Our tick tube treatment is an excellent strategy for eliminating ticks

Traditional Mosquito Barriers

If left untreated, tick populations can multiply quickly. The type of ticks that transmit Lyme Disease typically lay 3,000 or more eggs per batch. A single tick can lay up to 15,000 eggs over its lifetime. Our mosquito barrier treatment eliminates ticks at the source – their breeding grounds. We will also create a protective perimeter around your home. This perimeter is particularly successful with ticks, given they tend to live at the outer edges of lawns/fields.

Comprehensive Tick Control with Tick Tube Treatment

For comprehensive tick control, we also offer our special tick tube treatment. This treatment involves strategically placing biodegradable tick tubes around your property to lure mice. We fill each tick tube with insecticide-soaked cotton that the mice then collect and use for bedding. The reason we go after mice is simple: When ticks attach to mice, they will be taken to their nest and poisoned by the cotton.

Get Rid of Leaf Litter

Ticks love leafy foliage. If you have scattered piles of leaves around your yard, you are asking for trouble. It is especially beneficial to remove leaf litter at the edge of your property. We also suggest clearing your property of any ground-cover plants.

Clear or Cut Tall Grasses and Brush

High grasses, weeds, and brush are prime habitats for ticks. By trimming and pruning your yard, you will increase the amount of sunlight and thereby reduce the areas where ticks like to hang out.

Mow Lawn Consistently

Regularly mowing your lawn is an essential part of maintaining a tidy yard. Without tall grass and overgrown vegetation, there will be fewer shady spaces for ticks to dwell on. The act of mowing itself is also likely to kill any ticks in the area. Be sure to dress properly to avoid putting yourself at risk while doing yard work.

Stack Wood Neatly and in Dry Area

Woody, damp areas serve as safe havens for ticks. By keeping your yard as dry and organized as possible, you will significantly decrease the likelihood of tick infestations multiplying on your property.

Keep Recreational Equipment Away from Trees and Bush Areas

Move swing sets, sandboxes, and other children’s toys away from the edge of your yard. If possible, place all recreational equipment on dry woodchips, sand, or gravel. It is also smart to make sure there is as little clutter, moisture, and foliage in places where pets and children roam.

Keep Out Unwelcomed Animals from Yard

Ticks primarily migrate to human habitats via animals: attaching themselves to virtually every kind. If you live in an area where ticks are prevalent, we strongly advise against bird feeders. Birds may be pretty to look at and listen to, but they commonly harbor ticks and spread them to other animals, your pets, or your family.

Other wild animals that are common carriers of ticks include:

• Deer
• Squirrels
• Opossums
• Raccoons
• Rodents
• And many more!

Remove Old Yard Furniture or Trash from Yard

Random debris and junk in your yard will offer shady nooks of refuge for ticks. By getting rid of unnecessary objects, you will make your landscape less enticing to pesky pests. Reach out to our local team to learn more about how to protect your family from ticks today!