Ticks are small parasites that live externally off the blood of people, birds and mammals. They thrive in tall grass and shrubs where they wait on the edge of branches to attach to a passing host. Physical contact is the only method of transportation for ticks. Ticks don’t jump or fly, although they may fall onto a host. Ticks have harpoon shaped mouth parts, which allows them to anchor themselves firmly in place while feeding.
Tick bites look like mosquito bites, but can sometimes bruise or resemble a bullseye. Ticks are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of disease. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Meningoencephalitis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, babesiosis, Colorado tick fever, Q fever, tick paralysis, and several forms of ehrlichiosis. This is why it is extremely important to remove tick populations from your yard as soon as you spot one.
Tick Removal Tips
Please see a doctor or veterinarian to remove a tick.
Crushing or irritating the tick using heat or chemicals should be avoided, because these methods may cause it to regurgitate its stomach contents into the skin, increasing the possibility of infection.
Lyme disease found in deer ticks cannot be transmitted once the body is removed even if the mouthparts break off and are still in the skin. Prompt removal is important; infection generally takes an extended period of time – over 24 hours for Lyme disease alone.
It is commonly claimed that petroleum jelly placed on the tick will clog the animal’s breathing passages and cause it to detach itself. Many medical authorities advise against this and other smothering approaches as ticks only breathe a few times per hour and may continue to feed for some time. Smothering tactics may irritate the tick to the point of regurgitation and may cause otherwise avoidable infection.
Tick Control Protection Plans
Ticks are covered under our Standard Pest Protection program. To treat standard pests, we will begin by conducting a thorough inspection of the property. Once we determine the scope of the infestation, we will then apply a low toxicity, low odor pesticide to the perimeter of the home, setting up a barrier to keep pests out of your house.