Ticks are one of the smallest insects, yet they carry diseases that can change lives. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is a department of the National Institutes of Health, tick bites are becoming more of a problem as people increasingly build on formerly uninhabited wilderness areas. Most people and pets become infected from tick bites during the spring and summer months, though the danger can continue into the fall months during mild years.
The most widely recognized disease spread by ticks is, of course, Lyme Disease, although there is a myriad of other diseases carried by various types of ticks all across the U.S., including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks may be attracted to your pet, who can then pass them on to you. But even those of us without pets are at risk since ticks feed on many wild host animals (squirrels, rabbits, foxes, etc.) that live all around us.
Protecting Yourself and Your Family
Pest control companies can spray your yard and property to kill off tick populations that can infect you and your family. Children spend a lot of time outdoors playing and are often more likely to come into contact with these tiny pests which attach themselves to skin and feed off blood. Ticks like moist, humid areas, and are often found near wooded areas, in tall grass, and in leaf litter. Once your property has been treated, you and your family will only have to worry about tick bites when you’re away from home hiking, camping, or enjoying other outdoor activities.
Education is Key
When hiking or walking through a field or an area with a heavy brush, wear long pants and tuck them into your socks or boots. Be sure to check yourself and your children carefully when you return home to make sure that nobody has picked up any ticks. (You may not even know you’ve been bitten until a rash appears. If you suspect that you’ve been bitten, check on the area daily to make sure that no tell-tale red “bulls-eye” ring appears in the area. Undetected tick bites often cause symptoms that resemble the flu — fever, chills, body aches, fever, etc. If you develop these symptoms and notice a bite anywhere on your body, see your doctor immediately since you’ll need to start a course of antibiotics before the infection progresses.
If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, contact us at AJB Pest & Termite for honest, efficient, timely and reliable service!