Tick Facts & Information
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Ticks may be small, but the problems they can cause certainly aren’t. These tiny bugs are parasites that latch onto people and pets and can spread serious illnesses to both. Fortunately, with a little know-how and proper precautions, you can keep your home tick-free and your loved ones—including your pets—safe as they enjoy the outdoors on your property.
Let’s take a closer look ticks and what you can do to keep them in check.
Tick Identification
Here’s a fact you may not know: Ticks aren’t insects—they’re arachnids, which means they’re related to spiders and mites. They have eight legs, a flat, oval body that plumps up when they feed, and they’re usually found in tall grass, leaf litter, or wooded areas.
A few ticks you may come across include:
- Blacklegged (Deer) Tick: A major carrier of Lyme disease.
- American Dog Tick: Known for transmitting Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Tularemia.
- Lone Star Tick: An aggressive species often found in wooded spots, also capable of spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tularemia, and Ehrlichiosis.
The Dangers of Tick Bites
Ticks are far more than a nuisance—one bite from the wrong tick can pass on multiple diseases. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, and Powassan virus are some of the more common illnesses linked to tick bites in the U.S.
Many of these diseases have overlapping symptoms like fever, rash, headache, and fatigue—sometimes with more serious issues such as muscle aches or even temporary paralysis. If you do find a tick attached to you or your pet, remove it as fast as possible to lower the risk of infection.
How to Avoid Ticks
Ticks prefer environments with tall grass, dense shrubs, or piles of leaves. When spending time in areas that could have ticks, wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes to reduce the chance of encountering them. It also helps to tuck your pants into your socks.
Clothing is just one aspect. Consider using an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on any exposed skin. Once you’re back indoors, do a thorough tick check on yourself, your kids, and your pets—especially around the ears, neck, armpits, and other warmer spots where ticks like to hide. If you have a pet, talk with your vet about the best tick prevention products and check them carefully after each outing.
Keeping your yard less inviting to ticks also makes a huge difference. Mow the grass, trim back shrubs, and remove leaf litter. You can even create a barrier of gravel or wood chips around the perimeter of your lawn to discourage ticks from migrating in.
What to Do If Your Pet Brings Ticks Inside
Pets that love exploring the outdoors might come home with one or even several ticks attached to their body. Regular tick checks on your furry friends are essential—pay special attention around their ears, neck, and paws. If you discover a tick, remove it promptly with a pair of tweezers, grasping it close to the skin and pulling straight out.
Avoidance may sometimes be the safest tactic. Minimizing your pets’ contact with tall grass or wooded areas can help keep ticks off your pets in the first place.
Hawx is Ready to Handle Your Tick Problem
Sometimes you need more than DIY methods to keep ticks at bay. Ticks can thrive in areas just outside your home, so if you have pets or spend plenty of time outdoors, you need to treat your property to minimize the risk of ticks.
Let Hawx handle the job with thorough, targeted treatments that address ticks at every stage of their life cycle. We customize a plan for your property by starting with a comprehensive inspection, then applying treatments around your home’s perimeter. This approach not only eliminates ticks you already have, but also helps keep new ones from settling in.
Contact Hawx Pest Control today to schedule your inspection and get a personalized plan. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing you have a reliable barrier against ticks, helping you, your family, and your pets stay comfortable and safe on your property all season long.
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