Educational Resources, Mainely Ticks
Deer ticks didn’t leave the state over Labor Day weekend.
Summer months in Maine are peak for Lyme disease – a result of our extended outdoor activities in proximity to the tiny nymphal deer tick. But as we enter the fall season, please be aware that larval ticks and adult deer ticks will become most active.
Larval ticks are out now…
Encounters with larval ticks can be messy – people often describe these larval ticks as having stepped directly into a “tick nest.” Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts – take note! This is a fair description since these egg masses can contain 1,500 or more newly hatched ticks that are seeking their first blood meal. Don’t let it be from you! Given that you’ll encounter multiple larval ticks, it’s important to know how to protect yourself. Because larval ticks are so small (about the size of the period at the end of the sentence) that they can crawl right through socks, consider wearing clothing treated with 0.5 percent permethrin to stop them in their tracks. You can purchase treated socks, plants, shirts, and other garments online, at local sporting stores (Dicks, LL Bean, Dog Not Gone), treat your own clothing at home, or send clothing to Insect Shield www.insectshield.com to be treated professionally. (15 percent savings with MainelyTicks coupon code.) You can also tackle a swarm of larval ticks before they attach on your clothing or skin by using the sticky side of duct tape – that along with patience and a keen eye will remove large numbers of ticks. Thorough tick checks to find tiny ticks that have escaped the duct tape along with a pair of fine pointed tweezers to remove any attached ticks are both essential steps to reduce your tick encounters.
Coming soon…
While it seems as though they just left, adult blacklegged ticks will be returning near the end of September and continuing throughout the fall and into the winter…whenever the temperature is above freezing, deer ticks may be active. Adult female activity peaks in the fall. Be aware that dense leaf litter is prime tick habitat. Wear protective clothing, apply repellent to exposed skin, and do frequent tick checks when outdoors this fall.
Tick vectors…
Small rodents, not deer, are responsible for transmitting the Lyme disease bacteria to ticks. A typical field mouse can carry more than 100 ticks during peak activity periods, and all of those ticks have the potential of transmitting Lyme disease. Mouse and chipmunk activity on your property may support the presence of deer ticks.
Tick habitat and landscape modifications…
Ticks need moist areas to survive. Modifying your landscape is a simple way to reduce tick populations. Clean up your yard and keep grass short. Trim branches to let the sunshine in. Sunny areas are less likely to harbor ticks. Remove leaf litter and brush from your property and the perimeter. Move bird feeders and wood piles away from your home. Consider a run or invisible fence to keep pets out of the woods as the fall months are peak for canine Lyme.
Tick check…
The longer a deer tick is attached, the greater the chances of contracting Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Develop a routine of checking yourself, your children, and your pets frequently after outdoor activity. When showering or bathing, do a full body inspection for a rash or attached ticks. Also use the sensitivity of your fingertips to feel for attached ticks. Pay special attention to favorite tick spots, including the back of the knees, groin, waist, armpits, and scalp.
Tick educational partnership …
Mainely Ticks recently partnered with University of Rhode Island’s TickEncounter TickSPOTTERS where you will learn tick removal tips, tick identification with photo submission, and personalized risk assessment based on your specific tick photo submissions. Click the QR Code or enter the url in the ad below to use this site.
If you’re finding ticks on your property…
Visit www.mainelyticks.com to learn more about our educational resources. Click “Request a Quote” for a complimentary estimate for our professional services that will better protect your entire family. If you have a history of tick activity on your property, the spring and fall applications are the two most important treatments of the year. Prevention is the Best Prescription. <
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