{"id":76,"date":"2023-08-04T19:44:53","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T23:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pestcomfort.com\/blog\/?p=76"},"modified":"2023-08-21T16:00:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T20:00:19","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-ticks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pestcomfort.com\/blog\/ticks\/how-to-get-rid-of-ticks","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Rid of Ticks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to get rid of ticks and keep the away from your home.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

As parasites, ticks feed on warm-blooded hosts like animals and humans. They have a history of host attachment and aggression, making them challenging to extricate. Because they can spread hazardous illnesses like Lyme disease, Colorado tick fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, to mention a few, ticks can also be dangerous and a severe tick infestation in your home might require the services of a tick control company near you<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether ticks are fed may be the only factor in how long they live. A tick that has not eaten will die within 24 hours, and even one that has just eaten will probably not live more than 2-3 days without the right circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of ticks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Milder winter has made it possible or allow the tick population to expand hence they spread rapidly into new environments by hitchhiking on other animals as their host. This adds to their expansion and subsequent transmitting of diseases like Lyme disease, Tularemia and Rocky Mountain around the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One tick in the house is one too many. While it’s unlikely that you have an infestation of ticks in the house, there’s a good chance that you’ve got some living nearby outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the University of Rhode Island’s Tick Encounter Resource Center (TERC) reports the results of a study in which immature deer ticks that were exposed to indoor humidity levels of 75 percent died in about 8 hours. While a tick might live a couple of days in a hamper full of moist clothing, it won’t be long enough to reproduce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps to get rid of ticks.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steps 1 IDENTIFICATION & INSPECTION:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first step in dealing with ticks is to do an inspection to identify what type of tick you are dealing with, which will help you better plan how to get rid of them. Knowing the tick type you’re dealing with is essential because there are about 1,000 species of ticks in the globe, 700 complex tick variants, and 200 soft tick varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The black-legged tick, Lone Star tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick are the four tick species that are most prevalent in the U.S. They can be identified by their body structure, colors, and legs, among other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2. DESTROY BREEDING SITES & HABITAT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To ensure that there are no locations for their ideal habitat, clear all debris. Ensure that any extra vegetation, including piles of wood, rubbish, tall grass, weeds, or other vegetation, is trimmed down or removed. The goal is to remove areas where ticks can hide while waiting for a host to attach and start sucking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. CREATE A BARRIER FROM A SHADED AREA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Add a 3′ border to your yard’s edge, add a 3-foot border made of wood chips or pea gravel if you live close to a tree line or wooded area to make it difficult for ticks to pass. It’s crucial to utilize conventional wood chip mulch rather than the colored version, which is sometimes wet. Ticks won’t cross these barriers naturally. Therefore, no other sprays are necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintain recreational spaces inside the perimeter. Swingsets, patios, and decks should be positioned as far from the treeline and inside the mulch border as possible to limit your exposure significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3. USE REPELLENT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Consider using an insect repellent that repels ticks. Create a swath barrier around the intended treatment area. You can spray insecticides in the dense brush or forested areas surrounding your home to assist you in getting rid of ticks. Most insecticides only require one or two treatments to be effective. Additionally, given that rodents (such as mice and rats) frequently transport ticks, you should clean up any locations near your home that can attract them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 4: USE PERMETHRIN YARD SPRAY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Permethrin is regarded as one of the most efficient pesticides for killing ticks. Pick a permethrin insecticide spray that can be used safely on the surfaces and plants you want to treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TICK SPECIES MOST COMMON IN HOMES.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The American dog tick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The American Dog tick is primarily found in low-lying undergrowth, tall grassy fields, and regions close to pathways and trails. They are common in most U.S. houses and have brown bodies and reddish-orange legs. It’s known that they can spread Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loan star tick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Lone Star tick is believed to spread widely across the Southeastern and Eastern United States. They are usually seen or visible in April and September. Their bites can cause an allergic reaction to red meat, known as ‘alpha-gal.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brown Dog ticks.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The brown dog tick is one of the many species that can be found worldwide. Animals can carry a variety of tick species indoors, but most of these species cannot develop their entire life cycle indoors. The brown dog tick is distinct from other ticks in that it may go through the entirety of its life cycle, both inside and outside. As a result, infestations of brown dog ticks can occur in homes and dog kennels, as well as in places with cooler climates (Dantas-Torres 2008).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blacklegged Tick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Blacklegged Tick, known by its scientific name, Ixodes Scapularis, has three distinct life cycle stages. Whether or not they’ve lately consumed a blood meal affects how they look. They have an oval form, and are flat and small (adults are only about the size of a sesame seed). They have eight legs and are dark reddish brown in hue. The smaller nymphs (baby ticks) and larvae have an oval form and a dark tint. Nymphal ticks resemble poppy seeds in appearance. They have grew in the north and are still moving west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diseases caused by ticks.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ticks carry many diseases that can be spread through their bites. Although, not all of them spread diseases. The CDC <\/a>has outlined more than 15 types of infections caused by Ticks in the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what are the most common conditions associated with ticks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyme Disease <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is a potentially serious bacterial infection affecting humans and animals. It is believed to be the most common tick-borne disease reported in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colorado Tick Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Colorado tick fever is spread by the wood tick of the Rocky Mountains (Dermacentor andersoni). According to estimates, it occurs throughout the Rocky Mountain states at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 10,500 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocky Mountain spotted fever <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous) all transmit different diseases brought on by ticks. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is connected to the brown dog tick and other tick species in Central and South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anaplasmosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the northeastern, upper midwestern, and along the U.S Pacific coast, black-legged ticks and western black-legged ticks are the main ticks that transmit anaplasmosis to people through tick bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stari<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stari, a southern tick-associated rash illness, occurs due to a bite from a lone star tick. These ticks are predominantly found in the southeastern and eastern U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tularemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The disease Tularemia or Rabbit fever as it is sometimes called, occurs throughout the U.S. and is transmitted by the dog, wood, and lone star ticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Attracts Ticks In Homes.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ticks enjoy warm, damp environments. They are drawn to pets, deer, mice, stonewalls, dense grass, leaf litter, and wood piles. They can be found in human hair, and between April and September, their activity tends to rise as the weather warms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it’s warm outside, and your home or neighborhood is wooded or bushy, you could come into contact with ticks. The tick will latch onto your body somewhere and burrow its head into your skin. Any area of the body is susceptible to tick attachment, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Under the arms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Hair<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Inside the ears<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. behind the knee etc<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    You can also find them attached to pets. Especially dogs. Due to their size, seeing them on your skin or hiding inside your pet’s fur is usually tricky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ticks can lay their eggs in several locations throughout the house. However, they frequently lay their eggs close to furnishings, rugs, furniture, window and door frames, baseboards, and curtains. Once a tick enters your residence, a tick infestation could develop as soon as they start reproducing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to get rid of ticks naturally.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    1 . Mix cedar oil spray.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Mixing 60 drops of cedar-wood essential oil into a dark-colored spray bottle filled with water and 1-ounce grain alcohol is effective in the fight against ticks. The non-toxic chemical spray is also believed to be safe for humans and pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Shake the mixture well and spray anywhere you’ve noticed tick activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Use eucalyptus or neem oil.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Neem oil is a powerful natural antibacterial, anti-fungal, and insect repellent that repels insects without any nasty chemicals. The mixing of eucalyptus and neem oil kills ticks when they come into contact. To use these to get rid of ticks, combine 4 ounces of purified water into a spray bottle with 30 drops of carrier oil of your choice. Shake and spray anywhere you want to eliminate ticks instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Use diatomaceous earth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    One of the best organic pest control methods is diatomaceous earth (D.E.), a powder derived from fossilized diatoms. It is regarded as risky for pests but safe for children, animals, and adults. Ticks are instantly dehydrated by diatomaceous earth and die within hours. Sprinkle DE anywhere ticks have been spotted in your yard to use it as a tick repellent. It can also be used to divide a grassy area from a woody region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Prevent Tick Infestation.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Make an effort to make the surrounding property unsuitable for ticks to live in to avoid tick infestations in your home. Ticks cannot survive in short vegetation and dislike sunny, dry settings. You may get rid of ticks close to your property by keeping weeds and brush out of your yard and maintaining your lawn. Below are some other ways to avoid a tick infestation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Know where to expect ticks.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Ticks naturally enjoy being in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas or even on animals. Knowing where to expect them is a step towards preventing future tick infestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Use insect repellent.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Spray repellent all around and inside your house. If you have a tick latching onto you or your pet, firmly hold the tick as close to the skin as you can using tweezers or a tissue. Try to remove it by pulling firmly and slowly without twisting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Regularly check your pets for ticks.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Regularly check your pets, and use tick repellent. Animals that are permitted to go outside are more likely to acquire ticks. If you find a tick on your pet, remove the tick from your pet and contact your veterinarian right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Below are some steps you can take to limit chances of a tick infestation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n