How to Control Deer Ticks

A bacterial infection called Borrelia burgdorferi (B burgdorferi) is a disease that deer ticks transmit. Symptoms of this disease include headache, fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, chills, numbness in arms and legs, vision changes, and weakness. Deer carry adult ticks that disloges from their bodies and overwinters in leaf-litter, under debris or in the ground. With the arrival of spring, female ticks lay eggs that hatch into larval ticks that are not yet infected with the bacteria-causing Lyme. They will, however, become infected sucking the blood of mice. Although these pests are given the name deer tick there are other host that are responsible for deer ticks such as chipmunks, moose, dogs, bovines, raccons, birds., shrews, mice and reptiles.

Deer Tick Identification

Deer ticks are blood sucking insect pests that are about the size of a sesame seed, they posses eight legs, females are orange-brown with black spot near head, males are all black and smaller than females. Nymphs are even smaller and are all brown.

How to Look for Deer Tick

Use a white T-shirt, tie a string around one end of the T-shirt and drag it through the grass and weeds. This movement will get the attention of the ticks causing them to become excited. This excitement will cause the ticks to cling to the T-shirt.

Examine the number of ticks that are attached to your T-shirt by counting. Ticks will also seek to attach to you, therefore, when performing this test, wear a pair of long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, use an insect repellent, and also tuck your pants into your socks.

Other harbourages of Deer Tick

Other areas where deer ticks find refuge are grass thatch, mulched areas, dog pen, low bushes, tall grassy and weedy areas, and where wooded areas meet manicured lawns.

How to Control Deer Tick Naturally

• Trees that provide shade should be removed.
• Keep ground cover thinned.
• Your lawn turf should be closely trimmed to discourage deer ticks from harboring.
• Shrubs should also be cut back.
• Remove mulch.
• Clean up leaf litter and place in your compost bin or properly dispose of.
• Clear away other yard and garden debris.
• Keep your pets from roaming into wooded areas.
• Remove leaves and bush from around wood piles and stonewalls.
• Remove old furniture or trash from your yard that may act as a hiding place for ticks to.
• Keep firewood and bird feeders away from your home.
• Because deer ticks suck the blood of mice and other rodents ensure to discourage the preseant of rodents from your home pratcing good hygiene and sealing any entery points such as cracks and small holes. Make sure that door thresholds are present and in good repair.
• Fix damaged door and window screens.
• Make sure that outdoor pipes and faucets are not leaking.
• Remove other sources that collect rain water, which will not only harbor mice, rats, and other rodents but mosquitoes.

Protecting Yourself from Deer Ticks

• If you have a deer tick issue, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants is important.
• Avoid sitting directly on stone walls or the ground.
• Wearing light-colored clothing with a tight weave can help to spot ticks easily.
• Use tick repellents when recommended by your family doctor, follow directions for application.
• When gardening, keep long hair tied back.
• Wear enclosed shoes.
• While outdoors, check exposed skin and clothing frequently, once indoors check again.
• Stay on marked trails when hiking.
• Move children’s sand boxes and swing sets away from the edge of woodland and place them on a mulched foundation or wood chip.

Protecting Your Dog and Cat

• Check with your veterinarian for treatments that can be used on your dog to protect against deer ticks.
• Keep your Pets from roaming into wooded areas.

Controlling Deer Tick Outdoors with Insecticides

• Outdoor treatments involve directing granule and liquid products for deer tick control in areas where tall grassy, weedy and wooded areas meet manicured lawns. Liquid treatments should be allowed to soak into mulched areas, leaf litter, and grass thatch. Before the applications of insecticides, read and follow the manfacture’s directions on the label for safety and proper use that will provide effective results.

Additional information

The best success can be achieved by treating early in the spring, but a follow-up application in mid to late summer is also helpful.

Concluion

Treating to control deer ticks where their population is reduced and eliminated is possible, this guide will help you to gain control and prevent the infestation of these insect pests that pose a health threat. This best line of defence is the education of deer ticks and taking quick action that will provide success.