Ticks are a very common problem in the northeast. Whether you live in Sussex County, New Jersey in towns like Sparta, Vernon or Newton, or Pike County, Pennsylvania towns of Dingmans Ferry, Hawley, Shohola or Milford, ticks present a real health risk. Ticks are also a common pest in Orange County, New York in towns like Warwick, Goshen, Monroe, Middletown, and Port Jervis.
Maybe you found a tick on your pet, yourself, or even worse your child. The thought of this makes your skin crawl, as well a little bit angry. “How dare these creatures violate my loved ones”? You’re concerned and you should be. Exposure to ticks increases our exposure to tick-borne pathogens. Did you know that ticks can carry more than one pathogen simultaneously, and approximately 30,000 people annually contract Lyme disease, and the CDC believes only a fraction of the illnesses are reported? It is estimated that 75% of Lyme disease cases are contracted within 100 feet of the home.
It is important to note that not all ticks carry disease, and ticks cannot infect you just by crawling on you. They must embed themselves first. Proper removal of an embedded tick is also important. If you don’t have access to a tool specifically designed to safely remove an embedded tick (visit www.ticktwister.com for the correct tool). Your second best choice is a pair of tweezers.
I’ve heard people say to use the hot end of a cigarette butt or smother the tick in Vaseline to remove a tick. Neither of these are good ideas and should be avoided along with some other hair-brained ideas because the process of doing so may cause the tick to regurgitate pathogens from their gut into the wound. For more information about tick removal, Lyme disease, and more click this link: http://www.masterspestcontrol.com/lyme-disease-fact-sheet
Want to know more about ticks and how to create a tick-free safe zone? Ask the Masters. Did you know that Masters Pest Control offers a green tick control program that can greatly reduce your risk of exposure to ticks and their pathogens? Give us a call and schedule a free tick audit, or email us at info@masterspestcontrol.com. We can inspect your property and provide valuable information on what can be done to protect loved ones from exposure to ticks. Of course, nothing is 100%, but just a few simple steps and ideas can greatly reduce the risk of tick exposure. Don’t forget to ask your technician about the “ticktwister”. If he has one onboard I’m sure he will be happy to give it to you. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Want to know more about ticks? Check out Tick Biology 101 for more info!