Disease Carrying Ticks Found in Pennsylvania
Tick protection starts with controlling ticks in the yard, the place where everyone spends the most time outdoors
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (PRWEB) April 08, 2019
While some bugs are just annoying, others can pose serious risks, and ticks are at the top of the list. Ticks carry a variety of diseases that can harm people and pets and can cause some pretty awful symptoms and side effects. Lyme Disease, Powassan Virus, Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are some of the worst for humans and pets.
Not Just a Summer Insect
Ticks will go into hiding once the temperature dips below freezing, but once it's consistently above that 32 degree mark, they are back out and ready for action! That means ticks are out and about NOW in Pennsylvania! Fortunately, there are many actions homeowners can take to protect properties from dangerous ticks and the illnesses they can carry.
Controlling ticks in the yard
The best way to control ticks is to target their habitats to make the yard a place where ticks don't want to hang out. Here's what homeowners can do now to control ticks on the property:
1. Clean Up the Yard: Ticks are shade lovers and can’t survive in the sun! Cleaning up the overgrown vegetation will give ticks fewer places to congregate. Additionally, pruning tree branches and shrubs around the lawn edge will let in more sunlight. Mow the lawn regularly because longer grasses help ticks circulate around the yard.
2. Choose plants that deter ticks: Ticks are deterred by mint, lavender, rosemary, marigolds and citronella grass. An added bonus is that mosquitoes and fleas also hate these strong smelling plants, so start planting!
3. Keep Deer Off the Property: Deer are the primary carrier of ticks through the yard. Use Deer Repellent treatments to deter deer from feeding on valuable plants and carrying ticks into the yard. Homeowners can go a step further and check the landscape to identify and remove plants that are attracting deer to the yard.
4. Tick Control Treatments: There are organic and traditional chemical based treatments available to control ticks. Homeowners should call a Tick Control Expert to assess the property for tick "Hot Spots" and suggest a treatment plan to attack ticks where they gather. An expert will treat around the perimeter of the property and other high-risk areas where ticks are likely to live.
Check for ticks after outdoor activities: Even with tick control in the yard, it's still important to check family members and pets after any outdoor excursion.
“Tick protection starts with controlling ticks in the yard, the place where everyone spends the most time outdoors,” says Lou Giroud, President and ISA Certified Arborist. “However, families must take additional precautions by checking for ticks after outdoor activities and if discovered quickly removing ticks before disease can be spread.”
To find ticks on the body, the CDC recommends:
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors.
- Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror. Parents should check children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in the hair.
- Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs.
Removing a Tick Embedded in the Skin: If a tick is discovered, the CDC offers detailed instructions for removing a tick:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers.
- After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
- Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly with tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with fingers.
About Giroud Tree and Lawn
Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, lawn care and mosquito and tick control programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal, traditional and 100% organic lawn programs and mosquito and tick control. Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company is Accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association and Better Business Bureau. Giroud has also been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award® every year since 2005. The “Giroud Treework for Charity” program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Company’s service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.
