Take steps to control ticks that transmit Lyme disease this fall.

A tick control program started this fall can pay big dividends in the spring. Lyme disease cases in the U.S. have reached record levels, and tick control can play an important role in a Lyme disease prevention program. This article describes five steps you can take to reduce tick populations next spring and summer.

(PRWEB) September 23, 2004 -- The peak season for Lyme disease transmission has passed in most of the United States, but dont lower your guard yet. Adult blacklegged ticks can be abundant in the fall, and the potential for acquiring Lyme disease exists until cold winter weather sets in. Although immature ticks are more likely to transmit Lyme disease, adults that survive the winter will produce the next generation of these troubling pests. Fall is a good time to take back your yard from blacklegged ticks. Here are some simple steps you can take this fall to reduce tick populations next spring.

1) Raking leaves from lawns and adjacent wooded areas. Published research has demonstrated up to a 75% reduction in tick numbers following removal of leaves.

2) Placing a barrier between a lawn and forested areas. Borders of dry material like gravel or rock are most likely to be effective. This measure has been reported to reduce tick populations an average of 50%.

3) Mowing areas frequented by people. Mowing step reduces moisture at ground level, making it harder for ticks to survive. Although ticks can be found in mowed yards, their numbers tend to be greatly reduced, compared to the number of ticks in nearby woods.

4) Removing trees and shrubs can also reduce moisture in the soil, further disrupting the ticks habitat. Plantings that tend to discourage feeding by deer may also reduce tick numbers by reducing the number of deer frequenting your yard.

5) Contacting local pest control professional for guidance on host-directed tick control. New methods are available for controlling ticks on mice and deer, which can dramatically reduce tick numbers. One system controls ticks on mice, another controls ticks on deer. When used for several years, these control measures have been reported to reduce tick populations by over 90%.

Fall is a perfect time to put your tick control program in place. Start with these tips, and make your yard a haven for humans, not a habitat for ticks.

This information comes from a new book Ticks Off! Controlling Ticks That Transmit Lyme Disease On Your Property" by Patrick Guilfoile, Ph.D. More information about tick control and the book is available at www.tickbook.com or from the publisher, ForSte Press, Inc., P.O. Box 1537, Bemidji, MN 56619; (218) 243-4016. The book is available from www.tickbook.com, Amazon.com, and local booksellers.

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