As winter gives way to spring, tick season in Massachusetts has officially begun. We’re all looking forward to getting outside, but damp weather and rising temperatures can turn our yards into tick hotspots, providing them with everything they need to survive, thrive, and multiply. Here are some tips for protecting your yard and yourself from these bloodsucking pests.
Tips for Your Yard
Remove harborage areas. Ticks prefer dark, damp areas for hiding out. Remove leaf litter and yard debris, keep shrubs and bushes pruned, and mow the lawn frequently.
Smart firewood storage. Stack firewood neatly in a dry, sunny area away from your home.
Hire a Professional Tick Control Company. When hiring a company for tick control, ask the important questions: Are their technicians certified and trained? Are the products safe and effective? Do their treatments occur on a consistent schedule? At Burgess Pest, our licensed and certified technicians use 200-gallon hydraulic sprayers to apply a low-impact blend of products to the perimeter of your property, creating a residual barrier. These treatments are completed on a regular schedule, approximately every four weeks, to maintain this barrier.
Tips for Your Body
Prevention. Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot. Wear pants and long sleeves when possible. Use EPA-approved repellents. Avoid tall grass and brush. Perform frequent body checks on yourself, children, and pets.
Know where to check for ticks. Pay special attention to these areas: Hairline, behind ears, back of neck, armpits, bellybutton/waistline, groin, legs and behind knees, and ankles and between toes.
Know how to safely remove a tick: Gently pull back any hair from around the bite site. Using fine point tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the head as possible. Pull the tick straight outward until the head is removed – do not twist, turn, or wiggle. Dispose of the tick in toilet or a closed trash can wrapped in tissue. Clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Notify your doctor if: you have been bitten by a tick and experience fever, headache or body aches, fatigue, or rash/red ring.
Our team is here to Protect Your Pad from ticks and mosquitoes this season, with standalone plans starting at just $49/month. Treatments are beginning soon, so request a free estimate today!
For even more tips and information, download our free Mosquito & Tick Season Survival Guide and our 2022 Spring Pest Guidebook.
