How To Keep Dangerous Ticks Away From Your Suffolk County Yard

What does a tick look like? Do ticks jump? Ticks are often mistaken for fleas in Suffolk County, and many people have questions about these mysterious pests.

Here's what local residents should know about identifying common ticks, what dangerous diseases they can spread, how to prevent ticks in your yard, and how professional pest control in Suffolk County can help.

Characteristics Of Common Ticks

Some of the different types of ticks you'll find in Suffolk County yard include: 

• Deer ticks: Deer ticks in Suffolk County are also called black-legged ticks, and are the most notorious carriers for Lyme disease. These are also the smallest ticks in the area, with adults only growing to be the size of a sesame seed. 

• Lone star ticks: Lone star ticks may be the most recognizable type of ticks with a large white spot on their backs. These ticks prefer shady areas and can transmit diseases like tularemia. 

• American dog ticks: Also called wood ticks, American dog ticks spend a lot of time in forested or grassy areas and can carry diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. 

Some other crucial facts to understand about ticks include: 

• Ticks are not insects but arachnids, like spiders and scorpions.

• Unlike fleas, ticks can't jump, so they crawl across tall grass or low-hanging tree branches to get to hosts.

• Ticks are parasites that use hooks to attach their mouthparts to a host's skin and start sucking their blood.

• Ticks infected with diseases like Lyme disease or tularemia typically need at least 24 to 48 hours of feeding before they can transmit the disease to the host.

• If not removed from the host, ticks are capable of feeding on their host for several days before detaching.

They may get confused with fleas, but ticks come with their own set of behaviors as well as significant risks. 

Some of the different types of ticks you'll find in Suffolk County yard include: 

• Deer ticks: Deer ticks in Suffolk County are also called black-legged ticks, and are the most notorious carriers for Lyme disease. These are also the smallest ticks in the area, with adults only growing to be the size of a sesame seed. 

• Lone star ticks: Lone star ticks may be the most recognizable type of ticks with a large white spot on their backs. These ticks prefer shady areas and can transmit diseases like tularemia. 

• American dog ticks: Also called wood ticks, American dog ticks spend a lot of time in forested or grassy areas and can carry diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. 

Some other crucial facts to understand about ticks include: 

• Ticks are not insects but arachnids, like spiders and scorpions.

• Unlike fleas, ticks can't jump, so they crawl across tall grass or low-hanging tree branches to get to hosts.

• Ticks are parasites that use hooks to attach their mouthparts to a host's skin and start sucking their blood.

• Ticks infected with diseases like Lyme disease or tularemia typically need at least 24 to 48 hours of feeding before they can transmit the disease to the host.

• If not removed from the host, ticks are capable of feeding on their host for several days before detaching.

They may get confused with fleas, but ticks come with their own set of behaviors as well as significant risks. 

The Dangerous Diseases Ticks Are Known To Spread

We've touched on a few of the tick-borne diseases above, but here's a more comprehensive list of the dangerous diseases that ticks can spread to you or your pets:

• Lyme disease
• Tularemia
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
• Anaplasmosis
• Ehrlichiosis
• Powassan virus disease
• Babesiosis

Do all ticks carry Lyme disease? Not all ticks transmit Lyme disease. The most common type of tick that carries Lyme disease is the black-legged tick or deer tick. Not all ticks are infected with a disease. However, for those that are, the longer they stay attached to a host, the greater the chances of transmitting disease. 

Five Simple & Effective Tick Prevention Tips For Around Your Yard

Ticks are sneaky and you may not realize just how big of a problem they are in your Suffolk County yard, but here are a couple of easy ways to prevent them:

1. Keep up with regular lawn maintenance, like mowing your lawn, trimming tree branches.
2. Make sure you keep compost piles and trash cans sealed tightly to prevent wildlife, which may be infested with ticks and bring them into your yard.
3. Try to limit the amount of yard debris in your yard, and if possible, keep any debris or equipment in dry, sunny areas.
4. Make sure your pets are up-to-date on all their current tick-borne disease vaccinations, like Lyme disease and work with your veterinarian to keep them on a tick preventative.
5. If you have pets that you're taking on walks, try to avoid tall grass or extremely shady areas where ticks may hang out.

Along with these five tips, working with a residential pest management professional can also help you find new ways to protect your Suffolk County yard from ticks.

Professional Pest Control Is The Best Tick Control

While there are some easy ways you can protect your yard from ticks on your own, the best form of tick control for lawns in Suffolk County comes from working with A&M Quality Pest Control. Ticks can pose a significant danger to you, your pets, and anyone else you live with, but our effective treatments can significantly reduce tick populations around your yard.

Don't keep risking a tick-borne disease if you feel like you're constantly littered with tick bites or finding them on your pets after a quick walk through your property. Contact us today at A&M Quality Pest Control to learn more about the next steps for tick control in Suffolk County or request a quote for our services.