Did you know tick-borne diseases have more than tripled in the last 12 years? Each year, there are more Lyme cases than the year before! Eek! Because of that, we need to be more careful than ever.
Of course, that means you should use a repellent spray or repellent-treated clothing when you’re out in the woods. But you should do your best to minimize the population around your home, too.
That’s where you spend the most time outdoors, so make sure you do all you can to keep the nasty buggers away!
As long as it isn’t freezing, they can be out and about. Some are more active in the morning, others at dusk. But if you’re around, chances are they are, too. They’re always looking for their next host, no matter the time of day.
They’re most active in the spring and at the beginning of fall. Immature ticks emerge in late spring and early summer. At this stage, they’re only the size of a poppy seed, which makes them easy to miss. Plus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say most humans are infected through bites at this stage.
Also, get this. Contrary to what you may have heard, frost actually doesn’t kill ticks, but it does make them less active.
They love hanging on high grass and shrubs more than anything! In our lawns and gardens, they gravitate towards the edges of stone walls or shady, moist spots on the ground, like shrubs or bushes.
They usually don’t live in trees. Though, it is possible that they could hitch a ride up a tall tree on a bird. Mostly though, they lay low and will almost never be higher than chest level.
“Remember: no natural, vegetated area can be considered free of ticks,” said Auxilio Tovar district manager of Davey Tree's Chicago office. "Instead, the goal is to give these pests fewer places to hide."
Tovar shares a few ways to do that!