Many people use common tick prevention methods during the spring and summer months. But once the weather starts to cool off, many homeowners begin to let their guard down because they mistakenly think the threat of ticks is gone.
Unfortunately, ticks can cause problems for you and your pets most of the year. At Heritage Pest Control, we have been providing tick control in New Jersey for over 26 years. Here is a look at some of the most effective techniques and solutions we use to keep our customers' homes tick-free all year.
An Introduction To Ticks: Understanding The Basics
Ticks are tiny animals that are a member of the arachnid family. They typically measure anywhere from 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch long. Their bodies are generally flat and dark if they haven't fed recently. After they have fed, some ticks will swell to look like little gray balls.
Ticks are external parasites that need human or animal blood to survive. They have a special type of mouthpiece that allows them to insert their mouths into their host´s body to stay attached while feeding. Ticks will use any animal or person as a host, but they prefer to use animals with long fur that they can hide under and stay for an extended period. Ticks are also known to lay their eggs under the fur of the animals that they are feeding from. Once the tick has eaten enough, it will fall off its host. If it uses your pet as a host, this could mean that the tick will fall off inside of your home.
This is why keeping a tick prevention treatment on your pets all year is so important.
The Dangers Of Tick-Borne Diseases: Risks And Symptoms
If a tick bites you, you will most likely feel a small, itchy bump on your skin after removing the tick. However, it can leave behind more than just an irritating bump. The ticks in this area can carry and spread dangerous diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The ticks spread these diseases when they inject a bit of their saliva into your body while feeding. Some species of ticks are known to inject neurotoxins into their host, which has the potential to cause tick paralysis.
Ticks can stay attached to animals longer than they typically do to humans because they can hide under the animalś fur. This also means that animals have a higher chance of contracting a tick-borne illness or becoming anemic.
Professional tick lawn treatments can help control the tick population around your home.
Preventing Tick Bites: Essential Tips For Outdoor Space
Ticks can be found in almost any yard. However, our local tick control specialists have noticed that certain things attract ticks to a specific property. Some of the things that you can do to deter ticks include:
- Mow your yard regularly
- Keep bushes trimmed away from your home
- Remove fallen branches and other debris from your yard
Having your home regularly inspected and treated by an experienced tick exterminator is the best way to keep ticks at bay.
Professional Tick Control Services: Stress-free And Effective
New Jersey residents still have to be on the lookout for ticks when the weather is mild. Our customized tick extermination plans at Heritage Pest Control can prevent these pests from bothering you all year.