The last thing you want to do is find a tick on you. Ticks burrow into your skin to suck your blood. In doing so, they transmit numerous diseases quite easily. Spotting a tick can be difficult. There are more than 850 species of ticks throughout the world, with 90 of them making their home in the United States. Only an expert can identify a specific species, but it’s safe to say that none of them are good news for people.
Typically, tick larvae are about the size of a sand grain. Nymphs are around the size of a sesame seed, while unfed adults are the size of an apple seed. They get bigger as they feed. Ticks don’t have wings and their bodies are flat and oval-shaped, at least until they feast on your blood, then they become swollen and more round. Both nymphs and adults have eight legs while the larvae have only six. Ticks vary in color from brown, black, reddish-brown, grayish-white, or even yellowish. The important thing to note is that ticks can bite in all stages of life.
Can Ticks Transmit Disease?
Not all ticks carry diseases and viruses and pass them on to humans and animals, but many of them do. For example, ticks are vectors for Lyme disease and can both carry and transmit it. Ticks can also carry many other bacteria and diseases that they then transfer to animals and people. Since the average person can’t know which ticks transmit each disease and virus, it’s best to exercise caution when dealing with any tick. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), tick bites can transmit a variety of diseases, including:
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Bourbon virus
- Heartland virus
- Lyme disease
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Tularemia
How Do I Reduce the Tick Population in My Fort Worth Yard?
Ticks will often latch on to you in places you may not be able to see readily. Since you rarely feel their presence or know they have latched onto you, they can feed freely without being discovered. For this reason, it’s best to take some precautions to reduce the population of ticks in your Fort Worth yard to avoid them altogether. Here are some things you can do to cut down on the risk of getting tick bites:
- Keep your yard free of leaves and other debris
- Trim bushes and remove weeds from your yard
- Mow your lawn frequently
- Create a barrier of gravel, rock, or even wood chips between wooded areas and your yard
- Be cautious when playing in wooded areas
- Always check your body if you have been in wooded areas or areas with weeds and tall grass
Of course, ticks often hitch rides on animals, so pest control for those pests that carry ticks can also help reduce the chance of tick bites in humans. Cattle and horses should be kept away from the home and fenced in to help reduce the chance of a tick bite. Dogs and cats should be checked often to ensure they aren’t carrying ticks into the home. Keeping a pest-free home and being vigilant of pets and livestock can reduce the threat of tick bites immensely.
Stay Safe With Help From All-Safe Pest & Termite
All-Safe Pest & Termite in Fort Worth can help you tickproof your home and property. Our professionals have the answers you’re looking for and the services you need to keep your family safe from ticks. We offer great customer service and effective pest elimination and prevention. Call us today and let us help protect you from ticks on your Fort Worth property.