Nothing spoils a peaceful walk through the woods like the sudden realization that you’ve picked up a tick!

 

These tiny creatures, though often overlooked, can carry dangerous pathogens that pose serious health risks. Understanding how ticks find their hosts, how they feed, and the potential diseases they can transmit is crucial to staying safe while enjoying the outdoors.

 

Ticks locate their hosts by detecting a range of environmental cues, including: the scent of breath and body odors, body heat, moisture, and even vibrations.

 

Some species are also capable of recognizing a shadow.

 

To find the ideal spot to wait for a host, ticks often choose areas along frequently traveled paths. They position themselves on the tips of grasses or shrubs, where they remain until an animal or person passes by.

 

Though ticks cannot fly or jump, they adopt a behavior called "questing" while waiting for a host.

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While questing, a tick will cling to grass or leaves with its third and fourth pairs of legs, extending its first pair outward, ready to climb onto any host that brushes by.

 

Depending on the species, a tick may attach to a host immediately or wander to other regions where the skin is thinner, a tick may take up to two hours to prepare for feeding.

 

Once it locates a suitable feeding spot, the tick will anchor itself to the skin and begin to insert its feeding tube. Additionally, some ticks release saliva that contains anesthetic properties, numbing the area to prevent the host from feeling the attachment.

 

Ticks typically feed for anywhere between a few minutes and several days. If the tick is positioned in a sheltered area, such as under fur or clothing, it can remain unnoticed.

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Ticks can also transmit diseases through their feeding process. In the U.S., certain types of ticks are capable of carrying pathogens that cause diseases in humans, such as Lyme disease.

 

If the host animal is infected with a bloodborne pathogen, the tick may ingest the pathogen while feeding. Additionally, during the feeding process, small amounts of tick saliva may enter the host’s skin. If the tick carries a pathogen, it can transmit the disease through this saliva.

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We always recommend using a topical bug spray whenever you're traveling through the woods or hiking on trails to protect yourself from ticks.

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Although we can't protect you while you are wandering in the woods, we can reduce the population of ticks in your yard.

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While we want to eliminate ticks in your yard, we also don't want to treat your yard "in mass" as that could potentially harm beneficial insects such as: bees, butterflies and fireflies. 

 

Our tick treatments consist of treating all wood lines/transition areas of your property to prevent them from journeying into your yard. 

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​We also highly recommend speaking with your pet's veterinarian to discuss topical or oral treatment options for tick prevention.

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​​For more information about our services, reach out to us today!