With so many nearby parks, woods, and recreation areas in Hendersonville and the Nashville area proper, there are plenty of reasons to get outdoors and enjoy your surroundings. But as the weather warms up (or cools down) and you plan on hitting the trails, being aware of ticks is important for keeping you, your family, and your pets safe.
At U.S. Pest Protection in Hendersonville, we’re pest control and prevention experts. Ticks are no exception. Let’s look at five ways to keep ticks from sucking the joy out of your outdoor adventures.
Know Your Ticks
There are several different species of ticks in Hendersonville, and all of them can play host to a variety of diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Being able to tell the difference between an American Dog Tick and a Lone Star Tick can help you know just how at risk you are for getting sick.
It’s also a good idea to know about the tick lifecycle. Tick larvae, for example, aren’t as dangerous as adults. That’s because they haven’t had the time to become infected with other diseases while feeding on deer and rodents. Adult females, however, feed on hosts and are the most dangerous type of tick you can encounter.
American Dog Tick
American Dog Ticks earned their name by being found only in North America. As you can probably guess, their preferred host is a domestic dog. These are among the most common ticks you’ll encounter in the wild.
Brown Dog Tick
The brown dog tick is a reddish brown color and is commonly found on dogs.
Lone Star Tick
Lone star ticks get their name from the single silvery spot on the backs of females. These ticks will readily attack humans. They’ve also been known to cause an allergy to red meat.
Black-Legged Tick
These ticks have dark legs that contrast with the lighter pale orange of their bodies. Compared to the past, this species is becoming more common.
Regularly Check for Ticks After Time Outside
Frequent tick checks are important. The longer a tick feeds, the higher chance it has of transmitting diseases. Make a habit of checking for ticks while you do other normal daily activities, such as changing clothes or showering. Pay close attention to the areas behind your knees, under your arms, and even in your belly button. If you find an attached tick, remove it with tweezers. You may want to save it for disease testing in case you start feeling sick.
Treat Outdoor Clothing with Tick Repellant
Permethrin is the most effective tick repellent on the market, and it can be safely applied to your clothing. Treat kids’ camp clothing, your yard work clothes, or hiking material before heading out to the woods. You can even spray it on your shoes, which is a great way to keep them from climbing up on you once you’re outdoors.
Keep Your Pets Protected
Don’t skimp on flea and tick prevention for your pets, even during the winter months. Ticks are active all year long, so keep using preventive tick treatments on both your pets and your yard.
Treat Your Yard for Ticks, Fleas, and Mosquitoes
U.S. Pest applies residual products to maintained outdoor settings such as yards and other landscaped areas. This helps keep tick larvae, nymphs, and adults under control while also being friendly to the environment. Our safe and effective insecticides are delivered with hand-held application equipment such as spreaders or backpack sprayers.
Set Up Regular Pest Prevention with U.S. Pest Protection
One of the best ways to keep your Hendersonville home protected from ticks—and pests of all types—is regular pest treatments from a U.S. Pest technician. In addition to targeted pest treatments, our experts can help identify areas of concern in and around your home that could be attractive to pests of all sorts, especially ticks. To get started, schedule your appointment for a free inspection today.