What should I do if I find a tick in winter?

Finding a tick in the winter months might come as an unwelcome surprise!

Ticks are most active in warm seasons, but it’s important to be aware that ticks can still be active during milder winter days. If you find a tick on yourself, a family member, or your pet during the winter, it’s imperative to take prompt action to remove it to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease transmission.

a tick in the winter can be dangerous — A tick in the winter is unexpected, but possible.

Here’s what you should do if you find a tick in the winter:

1. Keep Your Composure

If you are not completely focused and calm when you find the tick, it might lead to erroneous removal…which leads us to the next step!

2. Remove the Tick:

Get a firm grasp on the tick as close to the skin as possible using fine tipped tweezers. Do not twist or pull too quickly to avoid leaving mouthparts beneath your skin. Gently, but firmly pull upward with steady pressure. Take your time to ensure proper removal.

3. Dispose of the Tick:

In Massachusetts, you can have your tick tested. Once removed, place the tick in a sealed plastic freezer bag. Sending your tick for testing is highly recommended if you believe it has been attached long enough to pass disease pathogens. Otherwise you can place the tick in a sealed plastic bag with a bit of rubbing alcohol and throw it away.

4. Clean the Area:

Once the tick is removed thoroughly clean the bite site with warm, soapy water. You can follow up with disinfectant, such as rubbing alcohol.

5. Monitor for Symptoms:

Keep an eye on the bite site for any signs of infection or allergic reaction, such as redness, swelling, or rash. Tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in a rash plus myriad other symptoms. These can include fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. If you develop any unusual symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.

6. Prevent Future Encounters:

If you live in an area, where ticks are prevalent, you can minimize your risk for tick encounters with professional tick control. This may include wearing long sleeves and pants, using insect repellents or wear permethrin-treated clothing. Professional Reading tick control is available in and should be employed at least from springtime through fall.

Stay informed, stay vigilant, and stay safe.

Which types of ticks live in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is no stranger to ticks, or tick-borne illnesses.

But what types of ticks can be found in Massachusetts? Are there many species of ticks living here? What are the most common Massachusetts ticks?

What types of ticks live in Massachusetts?

Types of Ticks Specific to Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to several types of ticks, each with its own potential health implications for humans and animals. These arachnids feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. In Massachusetts, the most common tick species include the black legged tick, the American dog tick, and the lone star tick.

deer tick Massachusetts — Black legged ticks are most common in Massachusetts

Black-Legged Ticks

The black-legged tick is of particular concern due to its ability to transmit Lyme disease. Lyme disease can result in a range of symptoms, including fever, fatigue, and joint pain. The black-legged tick is prevalent in wooded and grassy areas, making outdoor activities a potential risk for exposure.

Dog Ticks

The American dog tick is another common species in Massachusetts. It is known to transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. These ticks are often found in areas with tall grasses and shrubs, and they may latch onto dogs, hence their name, but can also bite humans.

Lone Star Ticks

The lone star tick, identified by a white spot on the female’s back, has been expanding its range in recent years. While historically more prevalent in the southeastern United States, lone star ticks have been reported in increasing numbers in Massachusetts. They can transmit diseases such as ehrlichiosis and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI).

Can other ticks be found in Massachusetts?

Of course, it is possible! In addition to these three primary species, other types of ticks may be present in Massachusetts. Ticks are most active during warmer months, but can be found year-round in milder climates. Preventive measures such as wearing long sleeves and pants and using insect repellent when spending time outdoors can help reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses.

Tick Awareness and Tick Control

It’s important for residents Massachusetts to stay informed about the types of ticks in the region and take appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of tick bites and associated diseases. This means protecting yourself away from home and hiring a trustworthy tick control professional for your home.

Where are ticks most likely to live?

Where Ticks Might Be Hiding on Your Property

Ticks are small parasites that can transmit diseases to humans and pets. These pests are commonly found in outdoor spaces, especially in wooded or grassy areas. If you live in an area, where ticks are prevalent, it’s important to be aware of potential tick habitats to minimize the risk of bites. So, where are ticks most likely to live around your home?

Tall grass and brush:
Ticks love to hide in tall grass and brush, as they wait for a host to pass by. If you have areas of your property with overgrown grass or brush, especially in shaded or moist areas, ticks are most likely to live there. These areas are high-risk zones for tick bites. To reduce the risk, keep your grass mowed short and trim back any overgrown brush or vegetation.
Wooded areas:
Ticks thrive in wooded areas, as they can easily climb onto low-hanging branches and latch onto passing hosts. If you have wooded areas on your property, be cautious when walking through them, especially during peak tick season. Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. You can additionally wear clothing that has been treated with repellent.
Leaf litter and debris:
Ticks can also hide in leaf litter and debris on your property. Fallen leaves, piles of wood, and other debris can provide an ideal environment for ticks to lie in wait for a host. Regularly clean up leaf litter, keep woodpiles elevated, and remove debris that may accumulate on your property.
Perimeter of your yard:
Ticks can also be found along the perimeter of your yard, especially if you live near wooded or grassy areas. They can crawl onto grass or shrubs near the edge of your property, waiting for an unsuspecting host. Keep the grass trimmed short along the edge of your property and create a barrier with gravel or cedar chips to help reduce the risk of ticks moving into your yard.
Gardens and flower beds:
Ticks can also hide in gardens and flower beds, especially in areas with dense vegetation. They can crawl up plants and wait for a host to brush against them. When working in your garden or flower beds, wear protective clothing and check for ticks on your body and clothing afterward.
Outdoor play areas:
If you have outdoor play areas for children or pets, be vigilant about checking these areas for ticks. Ticks can hide in the mulch, grass, or shrubs in these areas and pose a risk to your loved ones. Keep play areas clean and well-maintained, and regularly check for ticks on any equipment or toys. You can also have professional tick treatment applied to these areas for additional protection.
Animal resting areas:
Ticks can also be found in areas where animals rest or sleep, such as dog houses, kennels, or outdoor pens. They can easily crawl onto animals and hitch a ride into your home. Keep these areas clean, dry, and well-maintained. And regularly check your pets for ticks.

Gardner Tick Control is Essential

In conclusion, ticks can be found in various areas on your property outside, and it’s important to be aware of their hiding spots to reduce the risk of tick bites. Enlist professional tick control to reduce the number of ticks around your home. Regular yard maintenance can help minimize your tick bite risk. Wearing protective clothing and using tick repellent when spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas, is also essential.

What attracts ticks to humans?

Understanding the Science of Tick Attraction: What Makes Ticks Target Humans?

As we venture into nature, enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or simply spending time in our backyard, we may unknowingly encounter one of nature’s stealthiest pests – ticks. These blood-sucking arachnids are notorious for transmitting diseases, making it crucial to understand what attracts ticks to humans. Let’s delve into the science behind tick attraction to humans and uncover the factors that make us an irresistible target.

Body Heat and Odor Attract Ticks to Humans

Ticks are sensory creatures that use their keen sense of smell to locate hosts. They are attracted to the heat and odor that our bodies emit. Ticks are equipped with tiny organs called “Haller’s organs” that can detect heat and moisture in the air. When we exhale, we release carbon dioxide, which ticks can detect from a distance. Additionally, our skin produces various chemicals that can be attractive to ticks, such as lactic acid, ammonia, and fatty acids. These combined factors create a trail that ticks can follow to locate their next blood meal.

Movement and Vibrations Attract Ticks to Humans

Ticks are highly sensitive to movement and vibrations, which can signal the presence of a potential host. When we walk, run, or engage in other physical activities, we create vibrations that ticks can detect. Ticks are also known to be attracted to the edges of trails or paths where hosts are likely to pass by. Therefore, areas with increased human activity are more likely to have ticks.

Clothing and Color Attract Ticks to Humans

Ticks are known to crawl up on tall grasses, shrubs, or trees, and wait for a host to pass by. They are sensitive to visual cues and are known to be attracted to certain colors, such as white and light colors. Wearing light-colored clothing can make it easier for ticks to spot and latch onto us. Ticks can easily climb onto clothing that brushes against vegetation as we walk by. Taking precautions, such as wearing long sleeves and pants, and tucking in our clothes can help reduce the risk of ticks crawling onto our skin.

Blood Type Might Attract Ticks to Humans

Ticks might also be attracted to certain blood types. While research on this topic is still ongoing, some studies suggest that ticks may have a preference for certain blood types, such as type O. Blood type may affect the odor and chemicals we release through our skin, which could influence tick attraction. However, more research is needed to fully understand this factor.

Employ Professional Hingham Tick Control at Home – Protect Yourself Away From Home

Ticks are complex creatures that rely on their sensory organs to locate their hosts. A combination of factors such as body heat, odor, movement, clothing, personal hygiene, sweat, and possibly blood type can make humans attractive targets for ticks. Understanding these factors can help us take precautions and reduce the risk of tick bites. If spending time in tick-infested areas, it’s essential to use tick repellents, wear appropriate clothing, conduct thorough tick checks on ourselves and our pets, and promptly remove any ticks that may have attached to our skin. Consulting with a healthcare professional for further guidance on tick bite prevention and tick-borne diseases is also advisable.

What is This Tick with a White Dot?

Imagine taking advantage of beautiful autumn weather, out in nature…and you find a tick.

This tick is not the “typical” type you find in Massachusetts. Deer ticks are plentiful here, but this is not a deer tick. What is this tick with a white dot? The tick you have found is a Lone Star tick. The good news is, it does not carry Lyme disease bacteria.

A tick with a white dot is a Lone Star tick

Is this tick with a white dot dangerous?

While Lyme disease is only passed by the deer tick, also commonly called black-legged tick, the Lone Star tick can also make you sick. This tiny blood sucker is responsible for ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness, also known as STARI. Tularemia can run rampant through rabbits and rodents, killing them in large numbers. For humans, tularemia can cause swollen lymph nodes, eye inflammation, mouth sores, sore throat, and even pneumonia. Ehrlichiosis can present in humans with symptoms that mimic flu. These symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, and stomach upset. STARI has similar symptoms, but can also include an elliptical shaped skin rash at the bite site within a week or so after the bite occurs.

There are two other points of interest about encounters with a tick with a white dot.

As with a bite from any insect or parasite, a skin infection can occur. It is important that you wash your tick bite with warm water and soap as quickly as possible. You can follow up with a bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Generally, a skin infection is not the immediate fear after a tick bite.

A bite from a Lone Star tick can cause a lifelong allergy to red meat, called Alpha-Gal syndrome.
Lone Star tick saliva is known to cause redness and irritation at the bite. This does not necessarily indicate infection, and typically goes away in a short time.

Protect your health and home with Grafton tick control.

As with most tick-borne illnesses, the best course of action is tick bite prevention. Out in nature, we must wear long pants and sleeves, and perform tick checks when we return home. At home, professional Grafton tick control companies can help keep ticks away.

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

Why We Need to Know About the Asian Long-Horned Tick

The Asian long-horned tick has reportedly made its way to Northern Missouri, as recently reported on Successful Farming’s website.

The Asian long-horned tick has the potential to wreak havoc on animals and humans. These ticks are not as famous as other ticks that transmit disease, such as the deer tick, but their potential to spread disease makes them a worthy adversary. Livestock owners are taking heed, as these nasty ticks pose a threat to herds, known as bovine theileriosis. Here are more reasons you should know about these ticks.

Asian long-horned ticks pose a threat to animals and humans.

Asian Long-Horned Ticks Can Spread Serious Diseases

The Asian long-horned ticks can spread a number of diseases, including Parvovirus B19. The B19 virus is a serious concern because it can lead to flu-like symptoms that can result in death in rare cases.

They Have a Rapid Reproduction Cycle

Asian long-horned ticks have a rapid reproduction cycle and large populations are expected to grow throughout the United States. Once a host is infected with a tick, it takes about three to four weeks for the tick to go from egg to adult. The ticks have a one-week feeding period, where they can live on their host for up to five days without feeding. After feeding, the ticks have a three- to four-week developmental period, after which they’ll drop off their host and mate, resulting in eggs that hatch into larvae. This means that ticks can quickly overpopulate areas and spread to other animals and hosts.

They Are Host-dependent on Several Species

Asian long-horned ticks are host-dependent, which means they only live on specific hosts and cannot survive without them. Asian long-horned ticks are found on a number of animals and can thrive in a variety of environments. These ticks can be found on a variety of livestock, including pigs, goats, and cattle, but they also feed on humans and companion animals, like dogs and cats. This can lead to an increase in tick-borne disease, especially in areas where the ticks are new to the ecosystem and have not been able to build up resistance to disease.

They Are Small and Easy to Miss

Asian long-horned ticks are small and have a dark color, which makes them easy to miss. Therefore, it is important to regularly examine your pets and yourself for signs of ticks. When you check your skin for ticks, start at your shoes and work your way up your legs and torso. This will make it easier to inspect your skin and will help you spot the ticks sooner. When you’re checking your pets, start at their feet and make your way up their legs, torso, and head.

The Tick Has Been Found in New Areas of the United States

Aside from the newest finding in Missouri, the Asian long-horned tick has been found in new areas of the United States, such as Florida, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. While the tick is not currently established in these areas, it has the potential to spread and become a major problem if it is not controlled. The tick has seen an increase in the rate at which it is spreading, with populations expanding in range and increasing in density in areas where the tick is already found. This means that the Asian long-horned tick is a threat to the United States and that researchers need to take the tick seriously.

Weymouth Tick Control for Tick and Tick-Borne Illness Protection

For protection against any and all ticks here in Massachusetts, I urge you to call on the experts. Reputable Weymouth tick control providers will offer solutions for protecting your home and family not simply in the warm weather months, but all year long!

The Truth Behind Fall Tick Bites

Even if you don’t live in a heavily wooded area, the coming of cooler, drier fall weather means that the fall tick season has begun.

But even if you’re vigilant about checking yourself and your family after time spent outside, you might still get bitten by a tick. So, what do you need to know about ticks and tick bites? As any camper who spent time in the woods knows, ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease to people and animals. In fact, from 2004 to 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the incidence of reported tick-borne diseases tripled in the U.S. In this blog post, I’ll explore some of the reasons why this is happening — and what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting one of these diseases.

fall tick bites — Tick bites can happen, even in the fall.

What’s causing the rise in tick-borne diseases?

Researchers have been unable to pinpoint a single reason for the spike in tick-borne illnesses. Instead, it seems that a confluence of factors has contributed to the tick population’s growth and spread. One factor that may have contributed to the uptick in tick-borne diseases, like Lyme disease, is an increase in the number of people living in wooded areas. As suburbs encroach on formerly wooded areas, more people are likely to come into contact with ticks.

Why are tick bites so prevalent today?

One reason tick bites are so prevalent right now is that people are checking themselves less often. In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers found that the number of participants who self-checked for ticks decreased from 72% to just 46% between 1985 and 2017. That’s despite the fact that ticks are growing in number, are about twice as large as they were 30 years ago and are now carrying more diseases than ever. Finally, warmer temperatures have allowed ticks to survive and thrive in areas in which they had previously died off.

What can you do to protect yourself from tick bites?

It’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your family from tick bites. And you should be extra vigilant during the fall tick season. Start by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts whenever you’re outdoors. Ticks are often found in wooded areas, at the edges of trails and in tall grass. Once you’re outside, check your whole body for ticks. And be sure to check your child’s entire body, too. Perform a full-body tick check using a hands-on approach: Kids should check themselves for ticks by using the back of their hands to feel for ticks along their heads, ears and backs, and then carefully examining their bodies using a mirror. Remember to focus on the parts of the body where ticks commonly latch on to people — namely, the back of the thighs, behind the knees, the armpits and hairline.

Why should you continue tick control through fall and winter?

While ticks are more prevalent in the spring and summer, they’re still around in the fall — and winter, too. In fact, CDC research has found that ticks are active in every month of the year in every region of the U.S. Even though ticks are less active in winter, they’re still around and may bite as they wait for warmer weather. Plus, they’re also less likely to be discovered and removed, increasing the risk of infection. That’s why it’s important to continue to be vigilant about tick control through fall and winter. Apply tick repellents to clothing, especially pants and shoes. Perform daily tick checks — especially on children, who are less likely to notice a tick bite than an adult would. And regularly use a tick removal tool to safely remove any ticks you find.

Shrewsbury tick control is for all seasons.

You need year-round tick protection and there are companies, who can provide it. Reputable Shrewsbury tick control professionals can deploy tick control tubes this time of year, and actually decrease the number of ticks around your home next spring. Protection for now – and protection for later, all in one treatment!

No Tick is a Treat, Be Safe This Halloween

Don’t allow ticks safe passage this Halloween.

You know how kids are. It’s always all about the candy. Especially at this time of year, with it getting darker increasingly earlier, these little ghosties and goblins may not be paying special attention to where they are walking on their quest for edible treats. So if you have ticks hiding out in the perimeter of your home, don’t give them a free ride courtesy of the kiddies. Stop them in their tracks with fall tick control.

Tick Activity Is Picking Up, Hopkinton Tick Control is a Must

Earlier this year, WBUR News reported that experts fear climate change could extend peak seasons for tick activity. Central Massachusetts generally experiences two peaks for tick activity, according to the Department of Public Health: from late March or early April through August, and then from October to November. And with October just days away, we need to remain vigilant.

Even worse, those peaks could get longer in the future as temperatures increase due to climate change. Ticks are the ultimate freeloaders, actively looking for food unless they are buried under snow or temperatures drop below freezing. Warmer days and less snow would mean that activity starts earlier in the spring, and extends deeper into the fall and winter.

Also read: Can you bring home a tick on your Christmas tree?

“If you extend peak tick season, you could end up with more cases of disease,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown said, even if the tick population remains the same. “We’ve actually already seen that happen a little bit with our mosquito population … which certainly creates more opportunity for more disease transmission.”

In Massachusetts, ticks are known to be carriers of several diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and tularemia. Different tick species spread different diseases.

There are no population-wide mitigation efforts effective for ticks the way there are for mosquitos, according to Brown, so prevention comes down to individual action.

The Department of Public Health recommends using tick repellent when outside, checking your body for ticks after spending time outdoors, and staying within established paths while hiking.

Stay safe at home and away from home with personal tick protection measures, and professional Hopkinton tick control.

What is the tick peak season in Massachusetts?

This is a common question among Massachusetts residents.

Is there a tick peak season. Well, yes. There is not only a tick peak season, but two periods of peak tick activity in Massachusetts each year. Wait, what? You read that correctly. Ticks are not simply active in the summer.

Tick peak season, take one.

Who doesn’t love the emergence of springtime? We are coming out of our winter slump, taking in warm sunshine, fresh air, and burst of flora and fauna. Ticks also love the spring! With spring’s arrival, ticks too come out of their lairs. Most notably, are the tiniest ticks – nymphs. Nigh undetectable, nymph ticks come on strong around April. They are plentiful and they are famished. Since they are so hungry, they feed on blood sources close to them, such as mice. The problem is, these same mice are common carriers of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Next on their menu could be you, or your child, or even your pet. Since an estimated 90% of white-footed mice in our area are carriers of Lyme bacteria, your odds of contracting Lyme infection from a nymph tick bite in the springtime is very high. Once ticks emerge in the springtime, they are quite active through the end of August in Massachusetts. Our first tick peak season is April through August.

tick peak season one - April through August — Our first tick peak season is April through August.

Tick peak season, take two.

You might think that ticks scurry away or even die after spring and summer. Such is not the case, however. Our warming climate is now supporting longer tick peak seasons and the spread of new tick species in Massachusetts. When we talk about who is hungry for blood in tick peak season two, it’s adult females. These voracious ticks are looking for a final blood meal to fertilize their tick eggs before they enter dormancy. Even though nymph ticks are the biggest spreaders of Lyme disease, you can still be infected by an adult tick after summer. It’s possible to get Lyme infection any time of year, in fact. Our second tick peak season takes place in October and November in Massachusetts.

tick peak season two - October through November — Tick peak season two is October through November in Massachusetts.

Tick control knows no season.

To combat ticks all year long, you must seek a reputable tick control company. These experts will provide you with tailored methods of protection around your home. In the first peak season, they will deploy barrier control protection. In October, they will deploy tick control tubes to fortify your year-round protection.

What does a tick bite look like?

Maybe you have encountered ticks, but have not been bitten.

What does a tick bite look like? Do all tick bites result in disease? Most people, who receive a tick bite will note a small amount of redness after the tick is removed. If that redness spreads, becomes hot to the touch, or begins to take on a bulls-eye appearance, seek immediate medical attention. You could have a skin infection, Lyme disease, or something much worse.

How do ticks bite?

Like mosquitoes, ticks bite by sinking their mouthparts into your skin. While a mosquito bites quickly to get her blood meal, a tick will latch on until it becomes engorged and falls off. Black-legged ticks must maintain attachment for 24 to 48 hours in order to pass Lyme infection. The same tick must only be attached for 15 minutes in order to transmit the potentially deadly Powassan virus. Actually, the tick doesn’t even have to make a full attachment. So, if you find a tick attached to your skin, it does not have to become engorged to make you sick.

Should I receive treatment for my tick bite?

Depending on the medical diagnosis you receive, your tick bite could be treated. If you are experiencing only a minor skin infection from your tick bite, you might be treated with an antibiotic cream or an oral medication. If you have a bulls-eye rash that indicates Lyme infection, your doctor will treat you with doxycycline.

If the redness you are seeing develops into symptoms that indicate Powassan infection, your doctor will not have a direct treatment for your condition. At the time of this writing, Powassan is medically addressed by treating symptoms. These include vomiting, fever, and headache, but can also become sever. Symptoms, such as tremors, seizures, high fever, and paralysis could indicate that you are suffering encephalitis, which is treated in the hospital.

What is better than never finding out, “What does a tick bite look like?”

Not being bitten in the first place. Be sure that you are protected with tick repellent clothing when hiking or camping. At home, entrust your tick protection to a professional tick control company.