How much do you know about ticks? These pesky pests pose a risk even in the coldest temperatures. Read on to find out if you’re protected!
12 Facts About Ticks
- There are approximately 850 tick species around the world, 90 of which can be found in the U.S.
- Warmer or milder temperatures lead to tick activity stretching further into winter months than before.
- The black-legged tick life cycle includes a crucial phase during colder months that can lead to Lyme disease transmission.
- Ticks do not hibernate but instead go dormant. This means they slow down to conserve energy but are still active in winter months to seek hosts.
- Moose ticks are most commonly found in wintertime and focus on larger livestock as hosts.
- Ticks seek shelter in leaf litter or tall grasses.
- Deer ticks are active in any temperatures above freezing.
- Ticks are ectothermic, which means their bodies can’t generate heat internally.
- If you find a tick on you, use forceps or tweezers to remove it: grab the tick as close to your skin as possible, and do a slow and steady pull to avoid forcing fluids from the tick into your skin.
- The length of time a tick has been attached to you matters. Adult-stage ticks usually feed on a host for five to seven days and can start transmitting disease after the first day of being attached.
- To prevent tick bites, wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot, wear clothing with a tight weave, tuck pants into socks or boots to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs, use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin, or picaridin and avoid tick-infested areas.
- Consider a tick control program for your yard to significantly reduce the tick population around your home.
If you would like to learn more about tick control for your home or business, contact us for a free inspection. Attention Pest Solutions offers residential pest control and commercial pest control for Saratoga County, Albany County, Washington County, Fulton County, Warren County, Schenectady County and Montgomery County.
