What Ticks Lurk in Your Yard?

The weather is nice and cool, which may lead you to believe that some pests may not be lurking around this time of year. Maybe like the tiny, nuisance, the tick! 

But, did you know that there are many types of ticks, and some of them are active year-round? Keeping up with your tick identification can ensure that you and your family stay safe from these little blood-thirsty creatures all year long. 

We’ve got all the details on the most common ticks that you are likely to see lurking around your homes during the year AND what to do about them. 

Why Are There Ticks In My Yard?

Unlike a lot of pests that we talk about, ticks aren’t attracted to food that you leave out. But, they are attracted to things in your yard that you can control. 

Ticks are sensitive to dry conditions. So they want to be in areas that take longer to dry and can shade them like tall grasses and bushes.  They will also congregate in leaf piles, especially ones that are nice and wet. 

Basically anything that will shade them is going to attract them. So think of things like wood piles, playgrounds, and things of that nature. 

But, on top of the ideal conditions, these pests also need to feed. So, they need a host to feed on. And that may sometimes be you, but it also can be wildlife or your own furry pals. 

What Types of Ticks are There?

Tick identification is important because there are so many different types of ticks in our area. And, if you want to make sure that they aren’t sticking around in your yard, it is important to know what you are dealing with. 

Blacklegged Tick (Deer Ticks) 

Most of us know that ticks are known to carry Lyme Disease. And this is the tick is known to do it. They are most likely to spread the disease late spring through summer. 

The tick identification key for this particular tick is their dark legs. With females having an orangish brown body and males having a reddish brown body. They are longer than they are wide. 

This tick lives mostly in forests and tall grasses. And relies greatly on the distribution of their reproductive host, white-tailed deer. Adult males and females can be active October through May. 

American Dog Ticks

These types of ticks don’t transmit Lyme Disease, but they do spread another type of bacterial disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. While this may be a lesser-known tick-borne disease, it can be a deadly one. 

You can identify the female American Dog Ticks by their dark brown bodies and their pale scutum, the shield-like scale on their body behind their head. The males are dark brown with only a faint outline around their scutum.

You will find these ticks along roads and trails, and like their name suggests, their primary host is dogs. But, we humans can be a host too if your furry friend comes inside with a tick hitching a ride. Ticks aren’t the pickiest eaters around. 

You don’t have to worry about identifying these in the winter though because they overwinter in the soil and are most active from around mid-April to early September. 

Lone Star Tick 

While these aren’t the most common ticks in our area, there are still reports of them crawling around. 

The female lone star tick is more round and has a single, white spot in the center of its body, if you are looking for a tell-late tick identification mark, this is it. The male has a chestnut brown color with no distinguishing markings. 

They are also known to transmit some serious illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and tick Paralysis. But, unlike the Deer Tick, they do not transmit Lyme disease. But, with all of those others, this definitely isn’t a tick you want around. 

They are going to be active from April to September, and most diseases are going to be transmitted through the spring and summertime when they are in the nymph period of their life cycle. 

How To Keep Ticks Away

Obviously, you don’t want any of these ticks around your home. No one wants a tick bite, especially from a tick that can transmit any of these serious diseases. So, how do you keep them away?

The easiest way to start is going to be to clean up your yard to make it less tick-friendly. This means cleaning up any debris that could shade them or keep them nice and moist for them. They don’t like dry areas, remember?

So, keep your grass trimmed short, clean up leaf piles, woodpiles, trim up hedges and anything else you can think of that would make a great tick habitat. 

Another great tip is to make a barrier between your yard and wooded areas of small gravel or wood chips to keep the ticks from making their way in.

But, the best way to ensure that ticks aren’t making a home in your yard is to have your yard treated by your local pest control expert. Your yard can be treated monthly so that you never have to worry about those tiny pests setting foot in your yard. 

Call us for Help

It’s hard to believe that such a tiny pest can be so dangerous. But they can definitely spread some serious diseases to you and your family, even your pets. 

We know that your top priority is keeping everyone in your home safe, and your safety is always our top priority as well. So, if you find yourself with a tick issue, give us a call and Kapture can take care of it quickly for you. 

And, if you find yourself with any pest-related questions, we are always here to help. We always offer free phone consultations.