Where do ticks come from and where do they live?
Ticks are one of the more dangerous pests that can get into your home. They carry a plethora of diseases that can make you sick. The problem is that they’re so tiny that they can crawl and attach themselves to you without you knowing. It takes a short 24-hour period for them to bite you, steal some of your blood, and leave you with a disease that can incapacitate you.
Every season offers an abundance of awe and beauty in the Garden State, especially in the warm months. You enjoy spending time with your family and friends in the great outdoors. Mother Nature and her woodland critters are at their peak in spring, summer, and fall.
Unfortunately, not all critters are pleasant, and some can be a health threat, like ticks. These minuscule vampires bite animals or humans and suck drops of blood for nourishment. Not only do they steal blood, but they can also transfer potentially lethal diseases.
Most people pay careful attention and look for ticks during these months. You check yourself, your children, and your pets diligently each time you go outside. However, you may let your guard down during the winter because the ticks die, right?
Do Ticks Die in the Winter?
Since many pests die off during the winter, you might assume that ticks do too. On the contrary, most tick species don’t die when Jack Frost appears. Instead, many will go into a dormant state of hibernation to return in full force in the spring.
However, countless more ticks will latch onto a warm host instead of hibernating. They’ll hide in thick brush to ward off the coast and can creep onto you or your pets without you knowing. Some tick species dig burrows into the ground and wait for a tasty host to come their way.
New Jersey winters can be frigid and harsh, but many tick species continue to survive. After all, experts have found tick fossils dating back to at least 100 million years ago. Their kind isn’t going to go extinct anytime soon and aren’t threatened by winter weather.
You may see some tick species active even during 45-degree temperatures. Brown dogs and Lone Star ticks usually stay dormant during colder months. However, the notorious Blackleg tick is often winter-hardy and poses a severe threat as a carrier of Lyme disease.
Ticks can lay their eggs on a host, and the hatched larva can live and feed on them the whole winter. Your home can become a cold weather haven for these pests as you unknowingly supply them with endless bloody cocktails. Your best defense is to know your enemy, regardless of the season.
Ticks in the Garden State
At least eight different tick species call the Garden State their home. The more you learn to identify them, the better you can discover one on you or your pet. These are the ticks that you and your family need to know.
1. American Dog Tick
Just as its name implies, this species’ host of choice is dogs. However, they won’t pass by any other warm body that tempts their tastebuds. Dog ticks are just as abundant in cities as in the New Jersey countryside.
•Identification
These parasites have flat, oval bodies and are usually a dark reddish-brown with cream and tan markings. Male dog ticks have speckled bodies, while the blood-thirsty females have a cream-colored shield pattern on top.
•Health Risks
This species can carry Lyme disease to animals and humans and cause lethal respiratory failure if they aren’t removed. If a tick has bitten you or your pet, it’s always wise to get tested for this life-threatening disease.
2. Groundhog Ticks
Smaller species, such as the Groundhog tick, often attach to smaller mammals like groundhogs and squirrels. Still, they can be a threat to you and your pets. They are a little harder to see than their leaching cousins and often stay months in hiding.
•Identification
Both genders are reddish-brown, but the female colors are lighter. Females also have a light tan shield marking close to their heads.
•Health Risks
Groundhog ticks usually aren’t carriers of Lyme disease but can transmit the Powassan virus. It’s a rare virus that can cause life-threatening encephalitis or brain infection. Being safe is much better than being sorry in the long run.
3. Asian Longhorn Tick
Here’s a non-native species first noticed in the United States in 2017. While its first invasion was sheep farms, it spread throughout the country, including the Garden State. They may prefer farm animals but can still attach to humans.
•Identification
Male and female longhorn ticks are reddish-brown, and the male bodies have a yellow edge. You’ll also notice that female markings are darker brown than males.
•Health Risks
Farmers and ranchers are wary of the risks Asian Longhorn ticks pose to their livestock. Animals bitten by this species can get infected, sick, weak, and even die. They can carry diseases to people, too, and can’t be ignored.
4. Winter or Moose Tick
Many people falsely assume that ticks aren’t a present threat during the cold winter months. Winter ticks are a species that seemingly thrive during the winter because they attach to warm, furry hosts, like moose. They may steal blood from you, your family, and your pets if they can’t find a cow, horse, or moose.
•Identification
You’re not likely to find moose wandering the Jersey shore, but moose ticks are content residents. The dark brown males have a crosshatch pattern over their backs, while the females are light reddish brown. The lady winter ticks also have a creamy white shield pattern behind their head.
•Health Risks
It’s unusual for a moose tick to bite humans, but it can happen. They typically don’t harbor diseases but can cause skin irritation and anemia. Most risks are associated with wild and domestic animals.
5. Lone Star Tick
This notorious tick species represents serious health risks in New Jersey and most of the United States. Lone star ticks are aggressive biters and aren’t picky about what blood to steal. They greedily bite and feed from their unwilling hosts during each life stage.
•Identification
Lone stars are indigenous to North America but aren’t named after Texas. Their eponymous name comes from the white star pattern on the female’s back. Also, egg-filled females often appear more prominent than other females and males.
•Health Risks
The Lone Star tick is probably one of the most dreaded species because it’s a primary carrier of diseases. If you’re bitten by one, you can have an allergic reaction and break out into a rash around the bite. The rash usually has the tale-tale shape of a bull’s eye.
If this vicious bloodsucker has bitten you, consider getting medical attention. You can be infected with the alpha-gal syndrome that causes an allergy to eat red meat. Those who develop alpha-gal are at risk for dangerous allergic reactions like anaphylactic shock.
Another serious threat is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which can cause lethal organ and vascular inflammation. Lone Stars also carry Heartland disease with flu-like symptoms and even death in severe cases. If there’s any good news, this species usually doesn’t carry Lyme Disease.
6. Rabbit Ticks
When Peter Cottontail comes hopping down your trail, he may bring more surprises than eggs and candy. Rabbit ticks are a parasitic species that almost exclusively attach to rabbits or occasionally other small mammals. They only stay around during warm months and rarely bite humans.
•Identifications
Both male and female rabbit ticks are dark reddish brown, but the females are usually darker and larger.
•Health Risks
Just because it’s improbable for a rabbit tick to bite you doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Rabbit ticks often carry diseases that are deadly for rabbits. They can also be transferred to humans, so these ticks aren’t harmless.
7. Brown Dog Tick
If you have a pet puppy, chances are you’ve encountered this pesky parasite. Brown Dog ticks prefer to attach to canines and can live all seasons indoors. They’re a health hazard to your pets and potentially to you and your family.
•Identification
These familiar ticks have an elongated oval body, and both genders are dark brown. Since the females feed on blood more than the males, they are often slightly bigger. You’ll also see the lighter tan-colored shield markings behind their head.
•Health Risks
It’s always wise to check your dogs’ and cats’ fur after they’ve been outside, especially in warmer months. Brown dog ticks carry several diseases that could jeopardize your pets’ life like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Although these ticks don’t usually bite people, you’re still at risk.
8. Eastern Blackleg Tick/Deer Tick
Of all the pesky bloodsuckers found in the Garden State, this species often poses the greatest threat. Eastern blackleg ticks are voracious eaters and linger in low vegetation to attach themselves to any warm body. They are also known as deer ticks for their penchant for biting deer.
•Identification
Adult males are usually dark brown or black with a gray ring across their abdomen. Females have solid black legs and a reddish-orange shield marking on their backs.
•Health Risks
Eastern blackleg ticks feed on blood during each of their life stages. They are especially dangerous as nymphs because they are no bigger than the head of a pin. They are one of the most prolific carriers of the potentially deadly Lyme disease.
How to Avoid Tick Bites During Winter
There’s never a time to let down your guard against tick bites. You never know when one of these bitsy vampires is going to bite. These are a few suggestions to keep you and your pets safe from their potentially hazardous bites.
1. Use a Tick Repellant
The same tick repellant you use against ticks during the warm months still works for cold weather. Choose a spray or lotion with at least 20 percent DEET for your skin and clothes. If you prefer a more natural route, try using a geranium essential oil, but not on your pets.
2. Keep Your Pets Safe
Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention that’s best for your pet all year. Most recommend a monthly medication that repels ticks and fleas. Check your pets thoroughly for ticks each time they go outside.
3. Treat Your Outdoor Equipment
Ticks can latch onto chairs, camping gear, or any equipment you use outdoors to wait for a host. Permethrin products are effective for treating any of these, but never use them on your skin. These products can last up to 70 washings if you use them to treat your coat and other outdoor winter clothes.
4. Create Tick-Proof Barriers
The two most common ways ticks access your skin are up your sleeves, shirt tails, and pantlegs. Keep these bloodsuckers at bay and tuck your shirt into your pants and your pantlegs into your boots. Tuck your sleeves into your gloves and tighten your coat sleeves.
5. Avoid Common Tick Hideaways
These little parasites survive by hiding in dense brush and woodpiles. Avoid these areas as much as possible. If you must cut brush or carry in wood for your stove, do a careful tick check afterwards. Try to keep your pets from wandering in weeds and other dense brush for their safety.
6. Make Tick Checking a Habit
Check yourself, the kids, and your pets during winter the same way you do in warmer months. Check the scalp and around your body for any crawling or attached ticks. High heat on your dryer will also kill any lingering ticks on your clothes.
Final Thoughts
When the thermometer drops, don’t drop your guard against disease-carrying ticks. If you’ve noticed a tick problem in your New Jersey home or yard, call our professional and experienced exterminators. We know how to keep you and your pets safe from these parasites any time of year.
Contact Us To Become Pest Free Today!
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
