Springtime is here and you know what that means – ticks are out in full force again! Ticks are a very real danger to both humans and animals alike, so it’s a smart idea to practice tick prevention everywhere. Several varieties of ticks are common in the New England area, including the black legged tick, also known as the deer tick, the lone star tick, the dog tick, and the brown dog tick.
Because these ticks can carry seriously debilitating diseases like Lyme disease, Babesisis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, among others, tick prevention is more effective than dealing with the aftermath of a bite from a disease-carrying tick. The symptoms of these illnesses can include rashes, fever, nausea, emesis (vomiting), headaches, muscle pain, and loss of appetite in the short term, and if left unchecked can cause joint pain, abdominal pain, and forgetfulness in the long term.
Ticks thrive in tall grass, bushes and shrubbery, and wooded areas. Their primary strategy is to climb up to a location that allows them to catch a ride on any animals or people that pass by too closely. Once a tick has managed to climb onto a suitable host, it usually crawls upward until it finds a warm, protected place to bite. When you practice proper tick prevention, it’s likely that you will be able to remove any ticks before they bite you.
Ford’s Hometown Services specializes in pest control and can address any of your tick prevention needs. Call us today with questions!