TICK CONTROL
Avoiding Ticks Tick Control
Avoiding Ticks
- Stay on wide paths and roads when possible. Avoid tall grass, weeds, shrubs.
- layer your clothing. Tuck pant legs into socks, shirttail into pants.
- Wear light-colored clothing so crawling ticks will be easier to see.
- Wear commercial insect repellant when outdoors.
- When selecting a camping site, drag a piece of white flannel cloth or clothing over the grass and shrubs, then examine it for ticks. Try to select a tick free area.
- Examine your clothing and body at least twice each day.
Inspect pets frequently for ticks. Remove attached ticks from pets using the same procedures described for people. Contol ticks on pets using one of the new tick collars available from your veterinarian. Products formulated for both fleas and ticks are much less effective. Several safe, effective pesticides can control ticks in pet living areas. Contact your veterinarian or Cooperative Extension Service agent for advice on tick-killing products.
Weeds and grass around homes and in public-use areas should be kept mowed to discourage rodent hosts of ticks from becoming established. Reduce exposure to ticks by removing leaf litter layer around picnic tables, in campsites, and along hiking trails.
Severe tick infestations can b4e controlled effectively with pesticides. Uniform application is critical to achieve control. If a liquid formulation is used, the ground cover in tick-infested areas should be wetted thoroughly to the soil surface. Apply granular pesticides just before rainfall or water the granules thoroughly to assure the pesticide is released. Keep children and pets away from treated areas until the pesticide dries. back to the list
Mark Blevins, Horticulture Agent
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