How to Kill Ticks and Prevent Them from Coming Back

Spending time outdoors, especially in wooded areas, comes with certain risks like exposure to ticks. These tiny blood sucking parasites can transmit serious diseases which pose a threat to both humans and pets. However, with the right knowledge of precautions to take to prevent tick exposure, it's possible to enjoy outdoor activities without worrying about tick infestations. To ensure a tick-free yard, it's important to act as soon as they are found. Pest control specialists recommend immediate treatment to eliminate these pests to safeguard your family, pets, and peace of mind.

Easy Ways to Kill Ticks

To effectively eliminate ticks, a combination of strategies is essential for both immediate eradication and long-term control.

Use Pesticide Sprays

When faced with a significant tick infestation, chemical control like permethrin sprays can be an effective solution. It's important to be careful when applying these pesticides as they generally are not safe for prolonged contact or exposure. Always adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines, wear protective gear, and ensure the safety of pets and children as well as local native plants and animals. If you’re unsure of how to use certain pesticides it might be beneficial to hire a licensed pest control professional and ensure they provide a detailed safety plan before application. Remember, certain pesticides including those that contain permethrin can be harmful to animals like cats and fish. They can also create runoff that can damage the environment if incorrectly used or mixed. 

Harness the Power of Nematodes

Nematodes are beneficial microscopic worms that offer a natural solution to various yard pests including ticks. These organisms are predators that target tick larvae and prevent them from developing which helps curb tick infestations. They are available for sale at various retailers and online. Nematodes are a safe option with zero risk for humans, pets, and pollinators which makes them an ideal eco-friendly pest control measure. When dealing with specific tick types like the deer tick, opting for nematode varieties like Steinernema carpocapsae or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is recommended. After application, maintaining a moist environment for about a week ensures these worms effectively take hold in an area.

Create an Uninhabitable Barrier

Ticks thrive in dense, shaded environments which make areas with thick vegetation prime habitats for ticks to thrive. To stop these pests, establish a hostile barrier around your yard using materials like stones, wood chips, or gravel. A 3-foot-wide barrier that exposes the ground to direct sunlight creates a dry and hot environment that ticks are unable to survive in. Not only does this physical barrier prevent tick migration, but it also acts as a visual reminder for individuals to exercise caution when crossing. Mulch would also work for this purpose, but it’s better to opt for broad, dry wood chips or bark and avoid damp, shredded types that provide the cool, moist conditions that ticks favor.

Maintain Your Lawn

Maintaining your lawn is another crucial step in reducing tick activity. Tick season generally starts in spring, and they will make their way into tall grass and weeds so they can reach a passing host to latch on to. Regular mowing prevents these pests from finding refuge in tall grass. Black-legged ticks are known transmitters of Lyme disease and they thrive in cooler environments provided by the shade of tall grass blades. It's recommended to allow your grass to grow to about 4 to 4½ inches before trimming it down to approximately 3 inches. This approach promotes healthy grass growth, while cutting grass too short can lead to rapid, unhealthy growth. If grass grows beyond 5 or 6 inches, using a bagging attachment during mowing is recommended to trap any ticks that might be in the grass clippings. 

Raise the Heat

Exposing ticks to dry heat is an effective method to eliminate them from clothing. After spending time in tick-prone areas, be sure to wash and dry your clothes on high heat. Research indicates that all stages of the tick life cycle are killed when exposed to water temperatures of ≥130 °F during washing. A more efficient method is to place clothing directly in a dryer with dry towels and dry on high heat for a minimum of 6 minutes. Dry heat has shown to be more effective at killing ticks than high water temperatures. This approach ensures the effective removal of ticks from potentially infested clothing.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder that is composed of ground-up diatoms. This powder serves as an effective natural pest control solution for ticks because it acts as a desiccant that dries the ticks out causing them to die. The powder has microscopic sharp edges that cut through the ticks' exoskeletons, which results in their bodies losing fluids. When sprinkled around your yard or on the grass, it acts as an effective, non-toxic approach to reducing tick populations in outdoor spaces.

Use Borax

Boric acid is a common household item that is found in products available in supermarkets. It is effective against tick larvae that might be residing in carpets, rugs, or pet bedding. The tick larvae consume the borax which results in their demise. It's essential to note that boric acid targets only actively feeding larvae and is not effective against adult ticks as they exclusively feed on blood. When considering this pest control solution, it's crucial to choose the right product for the specific pest stage and type.

Bleach 

Bleach is a potent agent known to effectively kill ticks and other insects. By placing a tick in a small container filled with bleach, the chemicals swiftly neutralize the pest. While bleach can be a quick solution, it's essential to handle it with caution because bleach is a caustic chemical that can cause damage if ingested or breathed in. 

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another effective chemical solution for eliminating ticks. It has proven lethal against ticks and is a known antiseptic used for disinfecting wounds. This is a great combination because the rubbing alcohol can be used to drown a tick that has latched on while disinfecting the bite at the same time. After safely removing a tick, you can place it in a container filled with rubbing alcohol and seal it with a lid for examination. 

What are Ticks & Why Are They Dangerous?

Ticks are tiny arachnids closely related to spiders and mites. Unlike many of their relatives, ticks are parasitic and depend on warm-blooded hosts for nourishment and reproduction. They latch onto a variety of animals including humans, dogs, birds, and deer. They are typically found in wooded areas rich in trees, grasses, and shrubs, and are commonly found in leaf piles, overgrown grass, and on tree branches. These environments facilitate their ability to latch onto passing hosts. While activities like hiking or camping increase the risk of tick exposure, everyday tasks such as gardening, lawn mowing, or playing outdoors can also make one susceptible to ticks.

Risks of Ticks

Ticks are often hard to detect due to their minuscule size and flat, oval bodies. Ticks pose a serious health hazard as they are second only to mosquitoes in transmitting blood borne diseases to humans. The danger lies not in the bite itself but in the potential transmission of various bacteria, viruses, and other parasites. Not every tick is infected with diseases, but those that are carry serious pathogens that can cause serious problems. The severity of any tick-borne illness can vary widely among individuals. Early detection and prompt treatment are crucial in managing symptoms and recovery.



Some common diseases transmitted by ticks include:

• Anaplasmosis: Generally caused by the Blacklegged tick. It presents flu-like symptoms and is treatable with antibiotics.
• Babesiosis: This disease can be severe and is transmitted by the Blacklegged tick. The most susceptible are the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. It's caused by the Babesia parasite and is prevalent in the Northeast and upper Midwest during summer.
• Colorado Tick Fever: A milder illness with flu-like symptoms. It's transmitted by the Rocky Mountain wood tick that are primarily found at elevations between 4,000 to 10,000 feet.
• Ehrlichiosis: Caused by the Lone Star tick. Its symptoms are flu like and sometimes include a rash. Antibiotics are the typical treatment.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF): A severe disease transmitted by ticks like the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Early treatment with antibiotics is necessary.
• Alpha Gal Syndrome: Attributed to bites from the lone star tick. When these ticks bite, they can transfer a carbohydrate called alpha gal into the person's bloodstream. The human immune system perceives this carbohydrate as a foreign threat which leads to the production of antibodies against alpha-gal. Consequently, when individuals with this immune response consume red meat, which naturally contains alpha gal, their immune system reacts with an allergic reaction.
• Lyme Disease: Perhaps the most notorious tick-borne illness. It's transmitted by the Blacklegged tick and symptoms can range from a distinctive bull's eye rash to neurological issues. Prompt antibiotic treatment is crucial otherwise long-lasting impacts will remain.

When are Ticks Most Active?

Ticks can be active throughout the year depending on the region’s temperature and humidity. In most areas there will be a surge in activity that occurs between April and September when conditions are optimal. Immature ticks, known as "nymphs," are the culprits behind roughly 98% of all tick bites. They are most active between May and July. It's essential to be particularly vigilant during these months to reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses.

How to Remove and Kill a Tick

Ticks are notorious for transmitting diseases, so it's essential to remove a tick immediately and when discovered on the body. If you spot a tick, follow these guidelines to ensure its complete removal:

• Use Tweezers: Sterilize a pair of fine tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Ticks will bury their heads inside the skin so it is important to grasp the tick as close as possible to ensure that the head is removed otherwise the head may remain buried which can lead to infection. Gently but firmly pull upward without twisting or jerking to ensure a complete extraction.
• Stay Gentle: Be sure to avoid squeezing the tick's body because it's vital not to crush or damage the tick during removal. This can also release harmful bacteria or parasites from the tick into your body.
• Clean the Bite Site: After the tick is removed, clean the site of the bite with warm water and soap. Further disinfect with rubbing alcohol and cover with a bandage to prevent infection.
• Dispose of the Tick: Trap the tick in a sealed bag with some rubbing alcohol inside to kill it and hold onto it for a few days before discarding. If you notice a rash or experience flu-like symptoms after removal, bring the tick to a doctor to have it tested for disease. 

How to Prevent Ticks

Ticks are notorious for transmitting diseases so it’s important to take preventive measures to avoid their bites. Here are some effective strategies to minimize the risk of tick encounters and bites:

• Dress Smartly: Wear tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and a hat. Tucking your pants into your socks or boots can offer added protection. Light-colored clothing is preferable as it makes spotting ticks easier.
• Stick to the Path: Ticks are prevalent in wooded, grassy, and bushy areas. Staying on well-traveled paths can reduce the chance of coming into contact with them.
• Maintain Your Yard: Regularly mow your lawn and keep it short and well maintained. Remove leaf litter and trim shrubs and trees back.
• Minimize other potential hosts: Ticks also bite animals so try to eliminate anything that would attract birds, rodents, and wildlife. Be sure to dispose of empty birds’ nests and take preventative measures against rodents.
• Use Repellents: Apply DEET insect repellent on exposed skin and follow the product's instructions. Treat clothing with tick repellents.
• Clean After Outings: After spending time outdoors wash and dry your clothing. Ticks might survive a wash but are unlikely to survive an hour in a dryer on high heat.
• Inspect Yourself: Check your body thoroughly after being outdoors, paying special attention to hidden areas like the crotch and armpits.
• Avoid Known Tick Habitats: Stay out of tick infested areas especially during tick season.
• Pet Areas: Clean pet bedding and vacuum areas where pets are regularly. Treat kennels, dog houses, and other pet structures to control ticks.
• Pets: Treat your pets for ticks using common tick medications. The added benefit of this is that these treatments often also treat fleas and other blood sucking pests.
• Insecticides: Apply residual insecticide sprays and dust to potential tick hiding spots.
• Avoid Sitting Directly on Ground: Avoid sitting on the ground, logs, or areas with long grass in tick-infested areas.

By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of tick bites and the potential diseases they carry.

Contact EcoGuard if You Are Dealing with a Tick Problem

If you're dealing with tick infestations or are concerned about the potential risks they pose, don't hesitate to take action. EcoGuard Pest Management possesses the expertise and tools to address tick-related challenges effectively. Our team is committed to ensuring your safety and peace of mind. Remember, ticks aren't just a nuisance; they can be carriers of serious diseases. Don't leave your health or the well-being of your loved ones to chance. Reach out to EcoGuard Pest Management today and schedule an inspection of your property.

How to Kill Ticks FAQs