We have been having longer summers recently. That, in turn, has been kicking off tick season early, making it last longer and getting the pests to spread to areas they haven’t been in the past. To enjoy your summer, it’s essential to take care of yourself and any pets you might bring outside!
Many of us know to check ourselves for ticks after going for a hike. But the insect can be in your own yard. Thankfully, Consumer Reports’ Paul Hope shared helpful tips to keep your yard a safe haven for you to enjoy!
“Ticks love tall grass and dark shaded areas so in general, we recommend that you keep your grass cut to about three inches,” said Mr. Hope. “We generally recommend mulching your grass clippings but if you live in an area with a lot of ticks, it might be a good idea to bag them instead. If your property is surrounded by a large, wooded area, putting up a fence can help keep out deer, which transmit ticks.”
You should also remove leaf piles or other debris that could act as shady spots for ticks to hide in the grass. If a fence isn’t feasible, a three-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and woods makes a hot, dry line that ticks won’t cross. But mulch won’t work as it gets damp.
Consumer Reports does not recommend spraying your yard with pesticides. However, tick tubes that have a small amount of poison that gets onto mice and kills ticks can lower the population over years of use.
It’s also important to know your risk factors. Knowing what disease the ticks in your area or the areas you are visiting carry can help you look out for signs of if you need treatment.
If you are going to be spending time outdoors, a tick repellent will help keep them off your skin. If you plan on going camping or hiking, you can pretreat your gear and tent with an insecticide called permethrin. Do it outdoors and not while you’re wearing your clothes. When you come home, put your clothes in the drier for 10 minutes on high heat to kill any ticks before you wash them. And search your skin for ticks. Then shower thoroughly. Ticks infect you while feeding on you. But that process takes 36 to 48 hours. So, if you find one early, even if it has bitten you, you are most likely fine. Remove it with fine-tipped tweezers and clean the area with alcohol. Send the tick in a Zip-Lock bag to a lab to be identified. You can find your closest one here. Keep an eye on your health, and if you have any symptoms, you will be able to tell your doctor what kind of tick it was so they can treat you early.
We have built cities with more parks, and we have gotten more and more fond of camping as a country. With those two factors in mind, tick bites are increasing. Urban settings are more hospitable to whitetail deer than they once were and we are visiting the national parks in droves. With that in mind, it’s essential you look after yourself and be aware of your risks.
