Archive for category Deer ticks
May is Lyme disease Awareness Month
Posted by janegwalker in Deer ticks, Lyme disease, Tick Protection, Tick-borne illnesses and diseases on May 10, 2012
As we’ve discussed here before, Lyme disease can be a devastating disease that unfortunately is on the rise in many parts of the United States. Cause by the bite of a deer tick, Lyme can cause nausea, fatigue and joint pain. Although treated with antibiotics, if left untreated, symptoms can become more serious.
May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month which we at Mosquito Squad are happy to participate in. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the country with over 30,000 Americans contracting the disease every year! Our vector expert and co-founder of Mosquito Squad, Boyd Huneycutt explains: “there is no doubt that ticks present a threat to the health of Americans, their families and even their pets, due to the movement and rise in the deer tick population. We urge everyone to control the factors that they can, and check themselves thoroughly when in areas that can house ticks.”
In recognition of Lyme Awareness Month, we want to reiterate Mosquito Squad 6 C for tick-proof yards:
- Clear out. Reduce your tick exposure by clearing out areas where lawn and tree debris gathers. Ticks thrive in moist, shady areas and tend to die in sunny, dry areas. Locate compost piles away from play areas or high traffic. Separate them with wood chips or gravel. Don’t position playground equipment, decks and patios near treed areas.
- Clean. Eliminate leaf litter and brush by cleaning it up around the house and lawn edges, mow tall grasses and keep your lawn short.
- Choose plants. Select plants and shrubs that are not attractive to deer and/or install physical barriers to keep deer out of your yard. Check with your local nursery to determine the best choices for your area.
- Check hiding places. Know tick hiding places and check them frequently. Fences, brick walls and patio retaining walls are popular hiding places.
- Care for family pets. Family pets can suffer from tick-borne disease and also carry infected ticks into the home. Talk to your veterinarian about using tick collars and sprays. As with all pest control products, be sure to follow directions carefully.
- Call the pros. Professionals utilize both barrier sprays that can kill live ticks on the spot as well as “tick tubes.” Strategically placed, “tick tubes” prompt field mice to incorporate tick-killing material in their bedding, effectively eliminating hundreds of tick nymphs found in each mouse nest.
Even if you follow the 6Cs, it is important to take the necessary precautions when spending time outdoors. The CDC recommends wearing light, long-sleeved clothing when in areas where ticks may be present. Always make sure to do a thorough body check when coming inside. If you do find a tick on you that has attached, be sure to remove it properly and place in a plastic bag in case you need to take it in for testing. Be aware of any rashes that occur around the bite itself. One symptom of Lyme disease is a bulls eye rash around the bite mark. If you think you are showing any signs of Lyme, it is important to go see a doctor.
If you would like to learn more about tick control in your area, please visit us at MosquitoSquad.com or contact your local Squad.
Ticks! They’re Everywhere!
Posted by janegwalker in Deer ticks, Lyme disease, Mosquito Squad, Tick Protection, Types of ticks on April 19, 2012
I always thought that to have ticks in your yard you had to live in areas with large deer populations (as many deer ticks are carried by and bite deer, hence the name). Well, this year I have been proven wrong. You see, my husband, Drew, and I live in the city of Richmond. Although we have a yard, we are far away from the wooded areas I thought ticks lived and I had never seen a tick in our yard or on our dog. I thought we were safe…
Tick populations are on the rise, make sure you keep close attention when spending time outdoors
In an effort to help our grass grow and flowers bloom, Drew has been spending more time in our yard watering, trimming etc. (I could say I have been too, but that would be a lie). In our front yard, our hose is located in the shade behind some large azaleas that we have. It’s one of the few places of our yard that gets more shade than sun and holds moisture pretty well. After turning off the hose and before coming inside the other day, what do you think he found crawling up his leg? The dreaded tick! Drew was lucky he was wearing long pants and was able to see and remove the tick before it bit. Since then we’ve been extra careful to check ourselves and our dog when coming in from the outside.
Because of the mild winter that many areas of the country experienced this year, more ticks are expected this spring. And with the increase in the reported cases of Lyme disease, every family should be extra vigilant when spending time outdoors, whether in the woods or sitting on your deck. To help fight the bite, we at Mosquito Squad are happy to offer up our 6 Cs of tick control you can utilize in your yard.
- Clear out debris. Debris often accumulates in moist shady areas where ticks thrive (they usually die in sunny dry areas).
- Clean. Eliminate leaf litter, brush off sidewalks and mow tall grass to cut down on the places ticks can harbor.
- Choose plants that aren’t attractive to deer. In areas where deer are present this is very important because deer will carry ticks right into your yard.
- Check hiding places periodically. Ticks like to hide along the base of fences and brick walls.
- Care for family pets. Ticks can easy hide in the fur of your pets. If your animals (like our Wiley) spend time in areas where ticks may be present, make sure you apply a topical tick medication.
- Call the pros. Mosquito Squad’s tick control eliminates ticks before they can bit and danger your friends and family.
In a year when ticks are expected to be worse than normal, it’s important to be extra careful. Make sure you do a full body check when coming inside and, in the case that you are bitten, remove the ticks properly and place it in a plastic bag in case it needs to be tested for tick-transmitted diseases.
Protect Fido from Lyme disease
Posted by janegwalker in Deer ticks, Lyme disease, Mosquito Squad, Uncategorized on March 21, 2012
How can you not want to protect a face like that?
Hello, my name is Jane and yes I am a crazy dog owner. This cute face to the right is one of the lights of my life, Wiley. I rescued Wiley and those big ears four years ago and he’s been my number one running pal, cuddle body and just a great companion since day one. If you are a dog owner, you know this love. The love of a wiggling body and pure joy any time you walk through the door. I could go on forever about my pup, but I will stop and get to the topic at hand: protecting this little guy.
As we’ve written about before, Lyme disease is a growing issue for many parts of the country, but what some people don’t know is that it affects dogs (cats don’t seem to show any symptoms). Unfortunately our four-legged friends can just tell us when they aren’t feeling well and their fur hides any hint of the bulls eye rash that human get. You may notice if your dog is a little “off” however. In the case of Lyme disease, here are canine symptoms:
- Lameness due to joint pain
- Sensitive to touch
- Lack of appetite
- Difficulty breathing
- Stiff walk
- And more
Lyme disease is transferred to humans and dogs alike through bites from deer ticks. As our dogs are more likely (in most cases) to run around in the woods, bushes and leaves piles than we are, they are also more likely to get bitten by ticks, making it all the more important to protect them. Topical flea and tick medicines that are applied monthly will help kill ticks if by chance one does bite your furry buddy. And just as you would if you were bitten by a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers and place it in a plastic bag in case it needs to be tested for Lyme.
If you live in an area where there are a lot of deer, it’s very likely that deer ticks are close by as well. In certain cases, tick control is necessary to protect you and family from tick bites and the diseases they carry. Mosquito Squad’s barrier spray and tick control will help kill ticks before they can get to you. Contact your local squad to learn more.
Is Global Warming Affecting the Tick Population?
Posted by janegwalker in Deer ticks, Life cycle of the tick, Lyme disease, Tick Protection, Tick Tubes on January 23, 2012
Global warming has been a hot topic the past few years resulting in a greater awareness of Mother Nature, her ever-changing status, and what we can do to protect her. According to PlanetSave, a blog focused on saving the planet, global warming could lead to the extinction of over a million species. Ticks, however, is not one of them.
Ticks thrive in warmer weather. Whether it’s the heat of the summer or dead of winter, ticks can become active anytime the temperature rises over 40 degrees and there isn’t snow and ice on the ground. For many areas around the country, that’s the case right now.
With ticks coming out earlier in the year and staying later, their population has increased in many areas, resulting in more cases of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. On a recent warm day here in Virginia a friend of mine asked me if I continue to give my dog flea and tick medication throughout the winter. The answer is yes as you never know when a tick is on that plant my four-legged friend is sniffing so intently. Depending on where you live, it’s important to protect yourself, your kids and your pets from ticks all year round (for those of you in states with inches of snow right now, you’re safe).
How can you protect yourself from ticks and the illnesses they carry? It’s all about being observant and proactive:
- If you are going outdoors, wear light colored and loose clothing that covers the majority of your body. Ticks’ dark bodies are easier to see on a light background.
- Check yourself. Check your clothing and skin for ticks when coming indoors. Make sure to check those hard-to-see areas like behind the ears, armpits, etc.
- Remove all ticks immediately. Here’s a guide to remove ticks properly from the CDC. Record the date and location of the bite and place the tick in a baggie if you can in case you notice any symptoms in the future.
Mosquito Squad kills ticks dead
Ticks are small, but they can be big trouble. If you want to rid your yard of ticks, contact Mosquito Squad. Our tick tube application will get to the ticks before they get to you.
Chalk one up for mama mouse and preventing Lyme disease
Posted by Robin Steele in Deer ticks, Lyme disease, Tick Protection, Tick Tubes, Tick-borne illnesses and diseases, Types of ticks on October 6, 2011
Mice nesting in auto air filter
Recently I took my car in for an oil change. The technician told me I needed a new air filter and proceeded to show me the reason why. It seems that a mama mouse had decided to use my car’s air filter for her nursery this year, my filter was full of tissues and other bedding materials that she was using to “feather” her warm, fall nest deep within my cars inner workings. No wonder every time I needed a Kleenex lately the box was empty?
Naturally I had the technician change the filter, but the point of the story is that mice are building their nests now for a warm spot to have their babies, this includes the white footed mice that are responsible for facilitating the cycle for Lyme disease. These mice will need, and will find, by one means or another a material to fill their winter nests. Why not provide the mice with nesting material ( so they will leave my tissues alone) and kill the Lyme carrying ticks that harbor on the mice and within their nests?
Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not, and it is happening more often with the use of tick tubes. Tick tubes are small tubes that contain an insecticide treated cotton to provide a way to kill ticks that harbor Lyme disease by using the mice as couriers. The insecticide is safe for humans and animals, but kills the ticks quickly and efficiently. The insecticide used to treat the cotton is a mild, plant-derived insecticide. Tick Tubes have been proven to reduce the chances of coming into contact with a tick infected with Lyme disease by up to 90%. This innovative tick abatement product presents a win/win answer for us and the mice. The mice get help building their nests and we reduce our chances of coming into contact with this tick-borne illness on our property.
This image shows tick tubes placed in the tick's environment for optimum results.
Here is a breakdown on how it works. Mosquito Squad places these tubes at random throughout the areas on your property where mice frequent. The mouse find the tick tube, and along with being a happy mouse for finding great bedding for her winter’s nest, she carries the treated cotton within the tube back and starts building. The young deer tick feed on the mice, this is part of the evolution of Lyme disease. The treated cotton in the nest and around the mouse breaks the chain of disease before it can infect a human because once exposed to the insecticide treated cotton, the tick perishes.
Mosquito Squad stops ticks dead in their tracks
Mosquito Squad uses these innovative tick tubes within their tick abatement program. Contact Mosquito Squad to learn more. Using tick tubes will keep the mice happy, and will give you peace of mind against tick-borne illnesses and disease. 804.353.6999 • info@mosquitosquad.com
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