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

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.

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

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.