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The Deer Tick Switch

According to the Ohio State Extension Office, there is no longer such a thing as a Deer tick. What was once called a Deer tick is in fact the nymphal stage if the Black-legged tick's development, and the "most responsible for disease transmission to humans." Say hello to your new enemy, the Black-legged tick:


Lyme Disease Symptoms

Borrelia burgdorferi infection is usually first noticed when a bull's-eye or ring-shaped rash around the point of infection (the bite) develops. After the initial infection, a fever, chills, muscle pain and joint pain may accompany the rash. Facial paralysis, stiff neck, weakness and fatigue, irregular heart beat, unexplained rashes, fever, and arthritis are the symptoms and complications associated with an untreated Lyme Disease infection.

Lyme Disease is simply treated with antibiotics, though in cases where the disease has been allowed to progress, antibiotics may not always work.

How to Remove a Tick

Don't burn the tick, don't cover it in salt, don't crush it against your skin, and don't twist when you pull it out: these are all the wrong way to remove a tick. Simply pull the tick slowly away from the skin and apply an antiseptic once the tick is removed. It's that simple.

 

How to Get Rid of Ticks

Natural Tick Control

Citronella Oil is the active ingredient found in the ever popular bug repellent Skin-so-Soft. It's also used in candles and a multitude of "natural" tick and flea control products. People are all over the place on the topic of whether or not citronella candles work, and a majority of the responses seem to be in the affirmative, but only if there isn't a strong breeze. Of course, if you're wearing the oil itself, then you don't have to worry about breezes. I'd say give citronella a try to get rid of ticks if other repellents like DEET and permethrins irritate your skin.

Rose Geranium is yet another oil that is purported to be a natural tick repellent. I haven't had the chance to use this, but my research confirms that there is a modest contingent that swear by this oil as a substitute for a tick bath. However, they warn that you should not use this oil with cats. Don't ask me why. Feline physiology is not a topic I'm quite familiar with. Simply apply a few drops to your dog's collar, and voila--I guess.

Palmerosa is yet another oil like Rose Geranium that can be applied to your dog's collar to help prevent tick infestations. Similarly, if combined with a moisturizing lotion like cocoa butter or aloe, it can be applied to your skin as well. Consider Palmerosa and Rose Geranium if you're looking for a natural remedy for ticks.

Getting rid of ticks and managing tick populations is relatively easy compared to some of their six-legged cousins. What people seem to be interested in the most when talking about ticks is Lyme Disease, an infection by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that can cause a serious case of arthritis to develop, and may even damage your nervous system. As a specialist in Rheumatology, my father has done quite a bit of research regarding Lyme Disease. It's a terrible disease to contract, and it's not the only disease you can get from ticks. In the United States there are over 5 different diseases that can be transmitted from a tick bite, including: anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Associated Rash Illness, and Monocytic Ehrlichoisis. Of all the diseases that can be transmitted from ticks to humans, Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever seem to be the most prevalent and most feared; both require immediate medical attention if symptoms are noticed.

So, how to we prevent infectious disease transmitted by ticks? We get rid of ticks, or at least attempt to control tick populations in and around our homes, because getting rid of ticks completely is a somewhat quixotic endeavor. Below are some suggestions for keeping ticks out of your yard, out of your home, and off of you.

Tick Control & Tick Bite Prevention

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The first thing you can do before wandering outdoors to get rid of ticks is to tuck in your socks and put on some light clothing. Tucking your socks into your pants will ensure that ticks have a harder time finding a meal. Though it is possible for a tick to bite you on the leg, for whatever reason they prefer the head and the neck. Light clothing will help you see any ticks crawling up your pants or shirt sleeves. If you're going to be out in the woods or doing work in the yard, these precautions can help you avoid tick bites.

The most pragmatic approach to getting rid of ticks and keeping them off of you is to use an insect repellent with DEET. I know it smells and tastes awful--it makes my tongue numb--but DEET really is the best thing for keeping ticks away. Make sure to get all of your body, including your legs and arms, even if they're covered like I told you to do, but most of all make sure you get DEET on the small of your back, the back of your neck, and on your head. You don't have to wipe it all over your face, but spraying a little in your hair won't hurt.
Mowing your lawn will help get rid of ticks. Now that you're all bundled up and covered with DEET, why not go mow your lawn while you're at it. Keeping a lawn trimmed, while removing weeds, brush, and tall grasses will help keep tick populations at bay in your yard. Ticks are not big fans of short grass and dirt, they require tall grasses to climb on top of, waiting for an unsuspecting animal (like yourself) to walk by so that they can get a good bloodmeal and make more ticks. A trim lawn and sparse surroundings will guarantee lower tick populations in your yard.
Keeping Rover out of the woods will help get rid of ticks and keep ticks out of your home. Dogs and cats have consistently been shown to be the primary carriers of ticks into homes and onto humans. That is, in fact, why the most common tick in America is called the American Dog Tick. If you have a dog that is allowed outdoors, it is a good idea to check for ticks each time the dog returns indoors. It is also a good idea to treat dogs for ticks either with a chemicals like Ficam, Dursban, and Sevin, or with a tick and flea collar recommended by your veterinarian. Something-Guard makes a good tick collar. But baths are more effective.
Keeping your children out of the woods will help get rid of ticks as well. Of course, we all know that in the summer this is next to impossible, so if your kids are playing outdoors, make sure to check them for ticks at least twice a day. Thoroughly examine the small of their back (upper back), the back of their necks, behind their ears, and their hair. If they'll listen, tell them to avoid playing in tall grasses; this is where you'll find the most ticks in any given environment.
Suggestions or Questions? Check our Pest Control Forum.

Tick Spray & Tick Treatment

For humans, the most effective tick repellent products are those that use DEET. Off and Cutter are perhaps the most popular brands of insect repellents that claim DEET as the active ingredient. However, DEET doesn't last long on the skin once it's applied, and it has to be reapplied sometimes several times a day. For people who are going to be spending a lot of time in the woods no matter what, permethrin repellent products are probably the way to go.

Permethrins are an insecticide derived from (whatever) flowers, and are marketed under the names Permanone and Duranon. Apply permethrins the same way you would apply DEET, but try to avoid applying it to the face or ingesting it. The alternative to both DEET and permethrins is of course citronella oil. The very popular brand Skin-so-Soft carries an entire line of insect and tick repellents that use citronella oil as their active ingredient. Personally, I prefer DEET's effectiveness when I'm hiking through the Boundary Waters or just tromping around in the woods behind my house. Note that a concentration of 30% DEET in tick repellent products is recommended for adults, while for small children 10% or less is recommended.

Both Frontline and Advantage are considered effective forms of flea & tick control for dogs and cats.

 
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Disclaimer: Jonathan Hatch & Natasha Laumei cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site.