Ticks can be terrifying pests. They are small, less than a quarter of an inch long, and can hide easily. They feed on blood from mammals such as wildlife, pets, and even humans. In doing so, they may be transmitting one of over ten diseases associated with ticks. In South Carolina, ticks can be a problem year-round.
Tick Habits
Ticks are more active during the warmer months. They travel on mammals such as wildlife and rodents. They can cover long distances and be dropped off in your yard when a wild animal comes through. From there they will hide in bushes, tall grass, or other plants. When another mammal passes, they will try to crawl up it from the feet up. This could be a pet, a child, or even yourself.
The Danger Of Tick Bites
Often, ticks bite behind the knees or on the back of your neck. People often think about Lyme disease when thinking about ticks. Other diseases ticks can spread include Powassan Virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Typhus, Tularemia, Tick Paralysis, and more. These diseases have different effects and different methods of treatment. Many tick-borne illnesses include symptoms such as fevers, ranging from mild to severe. They may also cause headaches, muscle pain, rashes, joint pain, and even paralysis.
If a tick does carry a disease it must be able to attach itself long enough to transmit the disease. This is why it’s important to be on the lookout for ticks and to remove them as soon as you find one. If you are bitten by a tick and develop a fever, body aches, or other symptoms, get medical attention as soon as possible.
How To Prevent Ticks
There are some steps you can take to prevent tick bites. When you go outside, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to avoid exposing skin. Use bug repellent and wear light-colored clothes so you can see a tick crawling up your body. Use veterinary-recommended tick control products such as collars or drops on all your pets.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that ticks won’t come into your yard. Rather than live in fear of these tick-borne illnesses, constantly checking for ticks, consider calling professional pest control. Aiken Pest can help you solve your tick problem through year-round tick prevention. We use pest control treatment methods that keep ticks from taking up residence in your yard, waiting for prey. This way you can spend time outside without fear of tick bites. Rest easy by letting us at Aiken Pest take care of ticks for you.