Most people associate the summer with bugs and bites. But, the fall season in Spartanburg, Sumter, Greenwood and the rest of the Upstate is a prime season for tick bites. With several factors working their favor, it is a smorgasbord for these little monsters.

We’ve waited months to turn off the air conditioning and enjoy some less sweaty outdoor living, so we are all outdoors a lot more right now.

Add to that, the autumn rain and the falling leaves, and now we have a lot of yard work to do.

Where do ticks like to hang out? They LOVE damp, cool, shady places. This makes your leaf piles a perfect place to wait for a meal.

Don’t let you, your pets, or your kids become victim to an annoying, gross, and potentially dangerous tick bite this fall. Follow the tick tips below.

Before you go outdoors:

Wear long pants and long sleeves

Tuck your pants into your socks to keep the ticks out.

Wear lighter colored clothes, so if a tick gets on you, you’ll see it right away.

Treat clothes with permethrin for extra protection and use an insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

When you come indoors:

Use a lint roller or duct tape to remove visible ticks from your clothing.

Remove clothes immediately and throw them in the dryer on high for 30 minutes to kill any ticks still hanging on.

Check your entire body for ticks before getting dressed. Many people like to take a shower to make it easier to knock them away before they can embed themselves. Be sure to start with your toes and work your way up, feeling and look, checking crevices such as behind your knees, your groin, armpits, belly buttons, and in your hair.

For further protection, call Mosquito Squad of Sumter-Spartanburg to treat your entire property for ticks. Our tick control services can eliminate up to 90% of ticks. We use a combination of barrier treatment and tick tubes for long-term success. Call today to learn more.