Are you finding ticks in your yard? Would you recognize ticks if you did see them in your yard? You might not. Ticks don't always look like ticks. What do we mean? Let's take a look at a few facts you should know about ticks in Tampa and what to do about them when you find them in your yard.
What Do The Ticks In Tampa Look Like?
You may know that ticks are tiny eight-legged bugs, but are you aware that they don't always have eight legs? Baby ticks, referred to as seed ticks, only have six legs when they hatch from their eggs. They grow another pair later as they develop. If you see tiny, six-legged, brownish-colored insects in your yard, or you find them attached to your skin, you might not know that you have a tick problem.
Once ticks develop into eight-legged bugs, you'll probably have no trouble telling them apart from other bugs in your yard. You'll likely have even less trouble when you find an engorged tick on your pet or on your body. No other pest turns into a big, bloated mass attached to the skin.
Ticks Can Be Dangerous
Once you've determined that you have ticks in your yard, how you decide to get rid of ticks is likely to be linked to how much of a threat you consider them to be. We recommend checking out resources offered by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There, you'll find the data you need in order to evaluate the threat these pests present to dogs, cats, and humans.
How To Effectively Deter Ticks In Tampa
There are a surprising number of natural tick-prevention methods available to deter ticks. Here are a few you should consider:
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Animals bring ticks into yards. A single field mouse can have as many as a hundred seed ticks on its body. When those ticks drop off, they look for another host. This will have them getting on you, your family, and your pets. Keep your trash in covered containers and secure your containers so they can't be knocked over easily by mid-sized animals, such as raccoons. Use fencing material to protect voids underneath structures. This works to prevent animal harborage.
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Birds can have ticks on them. If you have bird feeders near your home, it is a good idea to remove them or hang them at least 20 feet from your exterior. This will also help to keep certain wild animals away. Seeds are a great food source for animals as well as birds.
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Rodents are the worst when it comes to ticks. Why? Because they don't just bring them into your yard. They bring them into your home. A mouse or a rat can chew a hole in your exterior, climb into your wall voids, and explore every level of your home. As they explore your home, they can drop ticks. This is often how tick infestations occur in homes where there are no pets. You can prevent this by using a caulking gun to seal small gaps, cracks, and holes in your exterior walls and foundation. If you see a spot where rodents are chewing on a building's material, you might need to use metal flashing to bolster your defenses. Along with these exclusions, remove hiding places near your home to reduce mouse and rat activity in your perimeter.
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It is common to find ticks in grass. If you keep grass trimmed low, it will make your grass less attractive to ticks. It is also a good practice to remove grass from landscaping.
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If you have a dog, it is a good idea to create a fenced-in play area for your pet. This deters wild animals from getting into this zone and dropping ticks. It also prevents your pooch from exploring your landscaping and other key areas where ticks may be waiting for a host.
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Ticks don't get around much, but sometimes they'll crawl into an outdoor recreation area. One way to prevent this is to put gravel or mulch down. The legs of a tick are sensitive and ticks don't prefer to crawl across these materials. This can make outdoor recreation zones tick-free zones.
How To Keep Ticks Off My Tampa Property
Natural tick prevention is a great way to deter ticks, but if you want to keep ticks off your property, the most effective approach is to get professional tick treatments for your property. Appropriate treatments can make it difficult for ticks to live on your property and near your home.
If you need tick pest control in Tampa, contact EcoTech Pest Control Services. We use trusted methods and products to get results. Reach out to us today to schedule service.
