How Ticks Affect People and Pets
It’s essential to understand what ticks are capable of so you can better protect your family and furry friends. Because ticks come into direct contact with their host’s bloodstream, the problems they cause primarily involve health risks.
Ticks in the United States can spread a number of diseases, including ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Of course, some ticks also carry Lyme disease, which remains one of the most serious and dangerous tick-borne illnesses.
Humans aren’t the only ones at risk—pets can contract many of the same diseases transmitted by ticks. Beyond disease, ticks can also cause significant blood loss in pets, especially smaller breeds.
There’s also the danger of ticks moving between pets and people, increasing the risk of spreading illnesses from one to the other. These dangers are amplified by the fact that ticks can remain attached to a host for days at a time without being noticed.
It’s clear that ticks are a real threat. So how can you keep them away?
How to Minimize Ticks Around Your Akron Property
Let’s discuss how to get rid of ticks in your yard. Below are several practical tips to help reduce tick activity by addressing the factors that make your property appealing to them:
- Use gravel or mulch to separate lawn areas from patios or play spaces.
- Keep your lawn trimmed relatively short throughout the year.
- Maintain hedges and bushes, especially along the edges of your yard.
- Store woodpiles in dry areas to prevent decomposition and rodent activity.
- Remove upholstered furniture and similar items from your yard.
- Rake or mulch leaves regularly in the fall.
These may sound like simple lawn care and maintenance steps, but together they can significantly reduce hiding places and discourage tick activity around your home.
What Attracts Ticks to My Yard?
A key part of effective tick control is understanding why ticks are drawn to certain properties in the first place. As you might expect, ticks thrive in natural environments and typically only venture indoors when attached to a host.
Ticks prefer wooded areas with dense undergrowth. They often lay their eggs in piles of leaves, where the eggs are well protected until the larvae are ready to find hosts of their own.
If your yard offers ideal conditions—such as tall grass, thick bushes, or overgrown vegetation—ticks are more likely to settle and thrive. These areas provide excellent hiding spots where they can wait for passing hosts.
Another major factor that attracts ticks is the presence of rodents. Rats, mice, and other small mammals make easy hosts for ticks. If you have rodent activity around your property, they may be bringing ticks along with them.
What to Do If You’ve Started Seeing Ticks in Akron
Whether it’s tick season or not, seeing ticks on your property or on your pets means it’s time to take action.
First, don’t panic. You don’t need to assume the worst, but you should immediately check yourself, your family, and your pets for signs of additional ticks. Try to limit time spent outdoors in your yard until the issue is addressed.
The most important step you can take is to contact a trusted pest control provider in the Akron area. Professional technicians can inspect your property and deliver the effective tick control you need to reclaim your yard.
For reliable tick control near you, contact Epcon Lane today.
