Michigan winters are tough. We get tons of snow, freezing rain, ice, cold temperatures, and… Ticks? Yes, ticks. There are over 20 known tick species in Michigan, and they don’t die off in the wintertime. Instead, ticks have two options when the weather gets cold: lay dormant, or (ideally) find a warm-blooded host to latch onto. This means your family and pets are at risk of a tick bite, which could ultimately lead to a tick infestation in your home.
Thankfully there are measures you can take to protect your home, your loved ones, and your pets from ticks. Follow these 4 tips to keep those nasty pests OUT!
Tip #1: Check Once, Check Twice, Then Check Again
Ticks prefer to hide out in natural wooded areas where there are lots of trees, leaves, tall grass, and cover. The most common ticks found in these areas in Michigan are:
- The American Dog Tick – Carries rocky mountain spotted fever and tularemia
- The Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) – Carries Lyme disease
It is critical in these months to constantly check yourself, and your pets for ticks. Especially when you go outside (even if it’s just in your front yard!) Ticks prefer to hide out in dark, moist places, so make sure you check under armpits, and between the creases in your knees and elbows. For your pets, make sure you thoroughly check their coat. There are even tools you can purchase that helps reveal the ticks when inspecting your dog or cat.
Tip #2: Protect Your Skin
While it is important to be aware of common tick areas, you don’t have to completely avoid them. After all, late fall/early winter hikes on a sunny day are wonderful! However, it is important to take measures to protect yourself from a potential tick bite. Here are some ways to do that:
- Wear light colored clothing – Ticks can be very small which makes them hard to see. By wearing light colored clothing, they become easier to identify
- Wear protective clothing – Tucking your pants into your socks, wearing a long sleeve shirt, and a hat goes a long way in tick protection and prevention
- Use insect repellent – Repellent on top of clothing is an effective line of defense that can prevent them from trying to latch on in the first place
Tip #3: Use A Tick Preventative
This one is for the cats and dogs, as they are unable to protect themselves with clothing as we can. Instead, a tick preventative can take on that role and keep those pests off your pets, and away from your home!
Most of these preventatives will eliminate ticks on contact, and will put a stop to any future infestations. This is accomplished by utilizing two chemicals: fipronil, which attacks the ticks nervous system, and methoprene, which prevents ticks from growing and doing any future damage.
Tip #4: Call The Professionals
At Custom Lawn Care our tick control program will help create a safe, tick-free home for you and your loved ones this winter. Our 5-step tick service will create a barrier of protection around your home, which will keep the ticks right where they belong… Outside.
Give us a call today at 800-570-3313 to hear more about this program, and how we can help you take back your yard once and for all!
