Are you a tick magnet?

Many Central Mass residents wonder what makes them a total tick magnet. Are you one?

Central MA tick control Those, who love the outdoors, might often encounter dreaded ticks. Perhaps you have found ticks on yourself, your kids, or your pets this year. There is no doubt that tick populations are on the rise in Central Massachusetts. Not only are there more ticks, but over the last few years we have seen ticks that were not previously found here. Science says that global warming is a big reason that ticks are migrating farther and living longer. Are you doing things that make you an utter tick magnet? Do you find them often after a hike or backyard barbecue? Have you found them on your children or pets? Here are three things that can make you and your family tick magnets.

Hiking in shorts can make you a tick magnet.

Even in hot weather months, I highly recommend wearing long pants and long sleeves when you venture out into nature. Arm yourself with a layer of protection against ticks by covering your skin. This is not to say that you won’t encounter a tick, but it will be less likely to attach to your skin if you are wearing clothes to protect you. You should also use tick repellent when hiking, camping, or spending time outdoors in Central Mass.

Not protecting your dog with flea and tick repellent can make him a tick magnet.

There are a number of avenues by which you can protect your four-legged family members from ticks. Whether you choose to put them on a doctor prescribed regimen or apply topical repellent, you should always be sure to keep them protected year-round. Dogs are susceptible to tick-borne illnesses too, such as Anaplasmosis. Plus, the fact that they are covered in fur makes is more difficult to spot a tick until it has already taken a blood meal, at which time it could have infected your dog with a harmful disease.

dogs can be tick magnets too — Dogs can be tick magnets too

Not protecting your yard with Central Mass tick control can make your yard a tick magnet.

kids can be tick magnets — Don’t let your kids be tick magnets

The best thing you can do for your home and family to keep them safe from ticks, is hire a reputable tick control company, who offers barrier tick spray. This level of protection is the best available for you yard. It includes spraying EPA-registered insecticide around the perimeter of your lawn, working in towards your home to cover all areas. Effective Central Mass tick control will knock down ticks on contact and continue working for a few weeks between sprays. If you love spending time outside your Central Mass home, tick protection for your yard is a must. What’s more, you can protect your home all year long with tick tubes in the fall and winter. Tick tubes will break the tick life cycle to help reduce the number of ticks that will emerge in the spring.

Dave Macchia, tick control enthusiast — Dave Macchia, Central Mass tick control enthusiast

Do ticks carry COVID-19?

Amidst a global pandemic, and relating to ticks’ ability to spread diseases, many are asking, “Do ticks carry COVID-19?”

As a matter of fact, a lot of people are wondering if mosquitoes carry COVID-19, as well. The good news is, NO, ticks and mosquitoes are not known vectors of COVID-19. There is no evidence to support the spread of the coronavirus through ticks or mosquitoes, even though they do spread other types of viruses, such as bourbon, Babesiosis, dengue, Malaria, and West Nile. According to the CDC, COVID-19 is predominantly spread by human-to-human contact. There are slighter chances of infection resulting from contaminated surfaces, animal-to-human, and human-to-animal contact.

do ticks carry covid 19

Central Mass ticks do not carry COVID-19, but they are responsible for spreading dangerous and potentially deadly diseases.

So, ticks are off the hook for spreading coronavirus, but they are still dangerous little blood-suckers. You probably hear more about Lyme disease than other tick-borne illnesses. Even though Lyme disease can become a lifelong battle, Central Mass ticks can spread even worse diseases. The Powassan virus is not only dangerous, it is potentially deadly, with a 10% death rate for all infections!

ticks carry bourbon virus

Tick-borne diseases are not just passed to humans.

Not only can tick-borne illnesses infect humans, livestock, wildlife, and pets are also susceptible to tick-inflicted maladies. Dogs can get Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, and Hepatozoonosis. What’s more, our beloved family pets are apt to contract tick paralysis, a temporary, but horrifying result of neurotoxins in some tick bites. Wildlife and livestock have been notably killed by armies of the Asian longhorned tick, which bleed them to the point of no return.

Central Mass tick control will protect your home and family, including your beloved animals.

Even in the throes of a worldwide pandemic, we must remember that more time spent at home will result in more time spent outside our homes as the weather continues to warm up. Central Mass residents must reach out to their local tick control experts for essential barrier tick sprays from springtime through fall. EPA-registered tick sprays will alleviate your tick problem for up to three weeks’ time with a time-released formula. To keep ticks under control all year long, they must employ the use of tick tubes. It’s been a tough start to spring this year. Here’s to safer, happier times as we move through springtime and into summer!

Central Mass Ticks: American Dog Tick vs. Deer Tick

Central Mass ticks have one thing in common. They want to feed on your blood.

What do ticks look like? The main goal of all female ticks is to get their next blood meal, grow to adulthood, and reproduce. It’s their driving force. Both the American dog tick and deer tick are common in Central Mass. We know how they are the same. How do they differ?

Central Mass tick: deer tick

Also known as the black-legged tick, this Central Mass tick is the main spreader of Lyme disease. Most Lyme cases result from the bite of a female nymph deer tick. It takes 36 to 48 hours for a deer tick to transmit Lyme disease. Nymph ticks are so small that they are often missed until they become engorged with blood. The biggest threat for a bite from a deer tick in Central Mass is springtime, summer, and fall. Though, ticks live in winter in Central Mass. According to the CDC, adult deer ticks could be out questing for their blood meal in temperatures above freezing. Deer ticks in Central Mass might also transmit Anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, and Babesiosis.

Central Mass ticks: deer tick

Central Mass tick: American dog tick

Another nasty tick common to Central Mass is the American dog tick, also known as the wood tick. This tick is not only common in our area, but is prevalent east of the Rocky Mountains. According to the CDC, the dog tick has limited populations on the Pacific coast. Adult females are the most likely to deliver a bite to their host, and they are responsible for some serious tick-borne illnesses. The American dog tick is the most common vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Tularemia. Dog tick bites tend to be mostly in the spring and summer.

Central Mass ticks: American dog tick

Now is the time for Central Mass tick control.

tick control Massachusetts Warm weather has arrived. We are spending more time outdoors. Central Mass ticks are on the prowl. They are hanging on low-lying vegetation in your backyards and your favorite outdoor areas, like playgrounds, hiking trails, and even the beach. You can help prevent tick-borne illnesses, like the ones above, by hiring a reputable Central Mass tick control company to spray all the areas around your home. Barrier tick sprays are available to keep your family safe at home, and should be professionally applied to your yard about ever three weeks throughout “tick season,” springtime, all the way through autumn. Don’t wait until you find a tick on yourself, a family member, or the family pet. An ounce of prevention is worth all the cure in the world! And let’s not forget, some tick diseases, like Lyme disease, cannot be cured.

Category: Central Mass ticks