AIKEN RESIDENT'S QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO TICK PREVENTION

Ticks can be a serious threat to dogs, cats, and people. The diseases they are able to spread, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, tularemia, Powassan virus, southern tick-associated rash illness, and more, are able to cause severe symptoms, chronic illness, and, in some cases, can even lead to death. All it takes is one infected tick to feed on your blood. That is why tick prevention is something every Aiken resident should be up to speed on. Here is a quick reference guide to help you protect yourself, your family, and your pets from ticks.

Tick Prevention Around Your Home

There are several ways you can reduce contact with ticks in your yard, and especially inside your home. They are linked to three factors: hosts, humidity, and harborage.

Hosts

• Furry animals bring ticks into your yard and into your home. Everything you do to keep animals away from your home will help to reduce tick populations near your home.
• Use fencing to protect food sources and prevent animals from building a den or nest under the structures on your property.
• Keep all exterior trash in sealed receptacles that cannot be tipped over.
• Keep your lawn trimmed and remove unnecessary vegetation.
• Remove lawn clutter.
• Put bird feeders at least 20 feet from your exterior.

Humidity

• Ticks require high levels of moisture to survive. If your foundation perimeter is dry, ticks will have a harder time developing from larvae to adult ticks.
• Make sure there are no obstructions in your gutter system.
• Fix leaks in exterior spigots, pipes, or hoses.
• Water your plants in the morning to give the sun time to dry the moisture.

Harborage

If mice, rats, squirrels, and other animals can get into your home, they can bring ticks in with them. 

Do a detailed inspection of your exterior and examine some of the following potential entry points:

• Gaps in the rubber seals around exterior doors
• Gaps around pipes
• Gaps around window and door frames
• Cracks in your foundation wall
• Holes created by wood-destroying pests

Personal Tick Prevention

• Keep in mind that mosquito repellent can cause ticks to fall off of you as they attempt to crawl up your body and find a spot to attach. Spray your legs and feet before going into your backyard or out into nature.
• If possible, avoid tall grass and other tall vegetation. Ticks sit at the top waiting to cling to animals as they pass by.
• Wear pants when you go outside and consider tucking your pants into your socks if you'll be passing through tall grass or walking in wooded areas. Ticks don't fall onto you. They cling to your legs and climb up.
• Wear bright-colored clothing so you can see ticks more easily.
• Always check for ticks when you come back in from spending time out in nature. Some tick diseases take hours to be transmitted from a tick. Lyme disease can take 12 to 24 hours.

Tick Prevention For Pets

• Collars are your frontline defense against ticks. While they aren't 100 percent protection, they can help quite a bit.
• Check with your vet to see if tick collars are right for your pet and your family.
• If you have a dog, and you don't have a fenced-in recreation area, consider building one. This keeps your dog from exploring your landscaping where ticks can be hiding, and it keeps wildlife from bringing ticks into your dog's environment.
• Do routine ticks checks. You can do this by running your fingers through your pets' hair and feeling for bumps.

Professional Tick Reduction

The way to get the greatest control of ticks around your home is to invest in Seasonal Mosquito, Flea & Tick Control. At Aiken Pest Control, we combine all of these harmful pests into one program that comes with 7 services per year, and a Money Back Guarantee if you're not satisfied with the results. If you'd like to see what a difference this service can make, reach out to us today. We'd be happy to address any questions you have and to schedule service for your Aiken area home.

There are many things that can threaten the health of your family. With seasonal Mosquito, Flea & Tick Control from Aiken Pest Control, you can take one off the table.