Why Tick Prevention In Virginia Matters

When you hear about ticks, what’s the first thing that comes into your mind? Lyme disease, most likely. Lyme disease is the most widely spread tick-borne disease in the United States, with over 30,000 cases reported to the CDC every year. What you may not know is that ticks also cause numerous other diseases, which can also make us sick. What’s worse is, many people infected with Lyme disease don’t even know they have been in contact with a tick. Keeping your property free from these disease-causing insects is extremely important for you and your family’s safety, even in the cooler months as we tend to naturally let our guard down when it comes to pests.

Deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks, are known to spread disease throughout the Northeast - including Virginia and its surrounding states, where deer populations have grown due to a decrease in recreational hunting. Two other common types of ticks found in Virginia are dog ticks and lone star ticks. Often smaller than the head of a pin, they are jumping arachnids that can travel easily between the host animal and humans or pets.

Tick populations can flourish during the fall season. As trees shed their leaves for the winter, the leaf piles that accumulate become hospitable for ticks. Many people think that ticks only reside in wooded areas, but that isn’t the case. They can also be found in tall grasses, bushes, stone walls, and any place where small mammals live. If you have deer, or any type of rodents, living around your property, you likely have a thriving tick population.

What Can You Do To Prevent Being Bitten By A Tick?

The simplest steps are to wear long pants and long sleeves whenever you are outside and to use a strong-acting bug repellent to ward off ticks. Pants tucked into socks are helpful if you’re going to be walking through brush or tall grass. Always check young children and pets for ticks when you come indoors. And if you do spot a tick, make sure you carefully remove it right away, preferably with tweezers or a tick-removal device. Carefully wash the affected area with soap and water. And even if you only suspect that you may have been bitten, it’s best to consult a medical professional as soon as possible.

If you discover that you have an unusually high number of ticks on your property, act sooner rather than later! All Pest Control and Solutions has the pest control solution to keeping your home or business free from disease-causing ticks. Prevention is key, so even if you aren’t sure there’s an infestation, give us a call to schedule a free inspection.