There is a lot of hype surrounding ticks and how dangerous they are, and unfortunately, much of the hype is true. Though tiny, a tick bite can do major damage. Ticks are very dangerous and spread serious diseases; they are parasitic pests that feed on the blood of a wide range of different hosts including people and our pets. Understanding just how dangerous they can be is important, and taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk of your family and pets coming into contact with them should be high on your priorities list.
Before we talk about how to prevent tick problems we first need to understand what the most common species in South Carolina are. South Carolina’s most common ticks include:
- Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) - These ticks are extremely small in size and can be easily identified by their orangish-brown color and contrasting darker black-colored legs. Deer Ticks are responsible for carrying and transmitting the very serious Lyme disease.
- Lone Star Tick - These ticks are brown in color; the females have a distinctive white spot in the middle of their back. Lone star ticks spread tularemia and ehrlichiosis to humans; they can infect dogs with canine ehrlichiosis.
- American Dog Tick - These ticks are brown in color and have white or yellowish-gray markings on their body. These ticks spread a wide range of diseases to people including tularemia, Colorado tick fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Brown Dog Tick - Before feeding these ticks are a brownish-red color, after feeding they turn a bluish-gray color. Unlike other tick species, brown dog ticks can reproduce inside homes. They can spread canine ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis, and they spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever to people.
To help prevent these dangerous pests from putting your family and pets at risk, the professionals at Aiken Pest Control suggest the following tick-prevention tips:
- Protect your pets from ticks by partnering with their veterinarian to place them on a continuous tick preventative.
- After your pets have spent time outside, inspect them for ticks before bringing them back inside.
- Keep your lawn trimmed short and trim back overgrown vegetation away from the edges of your property.
- Remove bird and other wildlife feeders from your property; wild animals are infested with ticks and will introduce them onto your property.
- When spending time outside, especially in wooded areas make sure to wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes. Inspect yourself for ticks before entering your home.
Reduce the risk of being exposed to dangerous South Carolina ticks on your property by partnering with the local tick control experts at Aiken Pest Control. We have the modern services, dedication and professional experience needed to solve any sized tick problem. Give us a call to learn more about our tick control services!