Ticks really suck. Both literally and figuratively. Living in Massachusetts, you likely know that Lyme disease is rampant here. But there’s another, much worse tick-transmitted disease on the rise, Powassan virus.

While it is rare, it’s often fatal, and CDC reports that between 2007-2016, there were 16 cases of Powassan in Massachusetts. In fact, the CDC recently in May 2018 that diseases from both ticks and mosquitoes have more than tripled since 2004, and that rate is steadily increasing. In this report, the CDC also quite frankly states that about 80% of vector control organizations lack critical prevention and control capabilities.

Fortunately, reputable tick control companies pick up the slack where the government falls behind, and with a barrier treatment, you’re protected from both mosquitoes and ticks in your yard by nearly 90% for up to 21 days at a time — guaranteed. But if it’s specific protection from ticks that you’re looking for, professional Woburn tick control goes above and beyond the standard barrier treatment to make sure ticks in every stage of life are eliminated. By enlisting the help of furry friends.

How Woburn MA tick control works

Just like a professional mosquito barrier treatment, tick control specialists treat the perimeter of your yard first with a traditional barrier spray, working from the perimeter of your yard inward, being sure to cover all surface areas, including pieces where ticks like to hang out, like tall grass, leaf piles, wood piles, and generally anywhere they’d be likely to hitch a ride on any unsuspecting host walking by. A barrier treatment alone will eliminate nearly 90% of adult ticks on contact and continue to eliminate them for up to three weeks, but then your tick control technician will go a step further to make sure ticks in their younger life stages are eliminated, too.

Enter tick tubes for year-round tick control

These are small, biodegradable tubes that are stuffed with cotton treated with permethrin, a mild insecticide. Contrary to their name, “deer ticks,” the ones primarily responsible for Lyme disease, don’t feed off deer most of the time. In their larval and nymph stages, most deer ticks actually get their blood meal from small mammals in your yard, specifically mice, squirrels, and rabbits. These critters love to take the cotton back to their nests to make them nice and cozy, and when they do so, the permethrin rubs off on their fur. Not to worry — it’s harmless to them, but to ticks it’s fatal. When a young tick tries to take a bite out of one of these small animals, they get exposed to the chemical and die off.

By implementing tick tubes, you’re both halting the life cycle of the tick population in your yard and giving the critters some insulation for their homes. And for you — it gives you the peace of mind knowing that the chances of you getting infected with a tick-borne disease in your yard are reduced drastically. This professional method of Woburn tick control is nearly 90% effective for up to 21 days, making it the best on the market.

Prefer something a little “greener” for your Woburn tick control?

Reputable tick control products are EPA-registered, but I understand that there are some people who won’t settle for anything less than 100% natural. That’s why tick control companies have developed an all-natural barrier treatment solution that is based on essential oils and mixed in-house. It is applied to your yard the same way as a traditional barrier treatment — with a special mist-blower backpack.

Like the traditional formula, an all-natural solution eliminates bugs on contact, but after it’s dry (about 30 minutes) it acts like a repellent, essentially confusing and “chasing” the bugs away. It’s a slightly less potent treatment than traditional formulas, but homeowners who elect this method report around 80% reduction of yard pests. Because of its botanical makeup, the all-natural formula breaks down a little faster than the traditional, therefore I recommend re-application every two weeks instead of three.

With tick-borne illnesses on the rise in Central Massachusetts, I recommend professional at-home tick control for all families.  Whether you choose the traditional tick barrier spray, or an all-natural solution, professional tick control is a must for the health of your family.