Summer is for camping, picnics, and playing outside. However, spending time in the great outdoors comes with certain risks, even in your own back yard. It’s tick season, and these pesky parasites are everywhere. We are getting lots of calls on these lately, and it’s no wonder. It’s peak season for ticks right now and the numbers have been increasing.
The five most common ticks found in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana are the American dog tick (wood tick), Blacklegged tick (deer tick), Lone Star tick, Woodchuck tick and the Brown dog tick (kennel tick). Of those, the Blacklegged tick (deer tick) is the species which carries Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Not only do you need to worry about Lyme Disease, but ticks can also spread ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Tick (Not-So) Fun Facts
- Ticks are more closely related to spiders. They are arachnids.
- According to the Indiana Department of Health, over 40% of the ticks collected in Dearborn and Ohio counties were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.
- The Ohio Department of Health also reports increasing cases of Lyme disease in Ohio.
- It can take anywhere from three to 30 days from when the tick bite occurs to when symptoms of Lyme disease appear. Since most cases get sick in July and August, that means most cases are bitten by an infected blacklegged tick between June and July.
How to Prevent Tick Bites – Ticks need to be embedded for at least 36 hours before they can transfer bacteria, so early detection and removal is the key to preventing disease.
- Avoid areas with tall grass, shrubs or loose leaves on the ground.
- Use tick-prevention sprays while outdoors.
- Keep firewood stacked away from your home.
- Keep your lawn mowed and rid it of debris.
- Check yourself and children for ticks after spending time outdoors.
- Showering within a couple of hours of being outdoors can sometimes dislodge ticks that have not started to feed.
- Use tick prevention for your pets.
- CALL ROMANS PEST MANAGEMENT
That last one is a given, but we always urge our customers to give us a call at the beginning of summer for preventative treatment or to get set up on any of our affordable treatment plans. We certainly wouldn’t want you to miss out on any outdoor fun this summer for fear of ticks. We can treat at any point, so give us a call today.
At Romans Pest Management, we know that people tend to wait until they have exhausted all options before resorting to a professional. We get it! But, like most other professions, we’ll be the first to say, don’t wait! Instead of wasting time and money on over-the-counter products that are ineffective or wrong for the job, just give us a call to get it done right the first time. We’ll come out and do a FREE no-pressure inspection. If you’re not happy with the estimated amount, we’ll leave, no harm done.
Conveniently located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Romans Pest Management serves the whole Tri-State area, including Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana.