Akron tick control begins with tick prevention, and we have the info you need to make your property far less attractive to ticks who are out looking for their next meal, i.e., you, your family, or your pet. Professional tick control definitely plays a role in all this, and an important one, too, but there's a lot you can do to make tick problems much easier to handle.
This article will expand your tick knowledge, getting into the effects these pests can have on your family, ways to discourage them from staying in your yard, and the steps you can take when you've noticed a tick problem that's just gotten completely out of hand.
How Ticks Affect People And Pets
This is a pretty fundamental subject, but it's very important to know what ticks are really capable of so that you can safeguard the health of your family and your furry friends. Because ticks come into direct contact with the bloodstream of their host, the problems they can cause are centered around health concerns.
Ticks in the United States can spread a large number of diseases, including ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Of course, there are also ticks that carry Lyme disease, and this remains a serious and dangerous disease.
But humans aren't the only ones at risk of contracting diseases from ticks. Pets can contract many of the same diseases humans can receive from ticks. Beyond diseases, ticks can also cause serious blood loss for pets, especially smaller breeds.
Lastly, there's the danger of ticks moving from pets to people or vice versa, which increases the risk of diseases spreading from one to the other. An additional note is that these dangers can be amplified because ticks can attach to hosts and remain for days at a time without being noticed.
It's clear that ticks are dangerous. So, how can you keep them away?
How To Minimize Ticks Around Your Akron Property
Let's get into how to get rid of ticks in your yard. We've compiled a list of tips to help you minimize the number of ticks active in the area by addressing factors that create environments amenable to tick activity. Here they are:
- Use gravel or mulch to separate lawn areas from patios or play areas.
- Keep your lawn trimmed relatively short throughout the year.
- Manage hedges and bushes along the edges of your yard.
- If you keep wood piles, put them in a dry place to prevent decomposition and rodents.
- Remove any upholstered furniture from your yard.
- In the fall, rake or mulch leaves on a regular basis.
These tips are generally straightforward lawn care and maintenance tips, but in combination, they really can minimize tick hiding places and deter tick activity.
What Attracts Ticks To My Yard?
An important part of tick control for your yard is understanding why ticks are attracted to our yards and properties in the first place. It probably goes without saying, but ticks thrive in natural environments and generally only venture indoors when they're attached to a host.
More specifically, ticks are most comfortable in wooded areas with dense undergrowth. It's common for ticks to lay their eggs in piles of leaves, for example, where they will be relatively well-protected until they're ready to search for hosts on their own.
If your yard offers conditions that are desirable for ticks, then they will be more likely to appear and thrive. Also, long grass, bushes, and overgrown areas offer ticks excellent hiding places where they can lie in wait for new hosts.
Another major factor that attracts ticks is the presence of other pests, specifically rodents. Rodents are small and low to the ground, which makes them easy targets for ticks. If there are rats, mice, or other rodents in your yard, they are likely bringing ticks with them.
What To Do If You've Started Seeing Ticks In Akron
Whether it's tick season or not, if you're seeing ticks around your property or on your pets, it's time to take action.
First of all, try not to panic. You don't need to assume the worst, but you should immediately check yourself and your pets for signs of other ticks. Try to avoid spending time in your yard, at least in the short term.
But the most important thing you can do to start managing your property's tick problem is to contact a reliable pest control service in the Akron area. Professionals can perform an inspection and provide the effective tick control you need.
For tick control near you, please reach out to us at Epcon Lane today.