There is a good reason why homeowners are always looking for the latest tips and tricks for tick prevention in Maine.

Coming from the same family of insects as spiders, these tiny crawlers are out for blood. Ticks survive by sucking the blood of their host, which can include both you and your pets.

They generally measure less than 5 mm long, but despite their small size, they pose a serious threat to humans and animals alike. Tick bites not only cause a lot of pain and discomfort but are also prone to becoming infected as these insects carry several bacteria and viruses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30,000 cases of tick-borne diseases are reported throughout the U.S. every year.

If you want to protect you and your loved ones from these nefarious bloodsuckers, it’s essential to learn the top tips for preventing tick bites.

However, before that, let’s take a quick look at the tick dangers. This will give you a better idea of why you must expedite preventive measures for reducing the risk of tick bites.

Health Hazards – Why Ticks Are Harmful to Humans and Pets

If you are lucky, a tick bite will only result in an itchy, red patch that subsides on its own. But more often than not, tick bites can complicate matters more than you might have imagined.

Some of the diseases you can get from a tick bite include:

Lyme Disease – a bacterial disease that is transmitted to humans through infected ticks. It can be treated effectively if detected in the early stages
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) – a bacterial disease characterized by fever and headache. If left untreated, it can lead to bleeding due to organ and tissue damage.
Tularemia – an infectious disease that usually attacks the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract
Ehrlichiosis – a flu-like illness whose symptoms range from mild body ache and chronic fever to severe headache, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite

Ticks are the vectors for various other diseases that typically result in relapsing fever and skin rash.

Here’s how to deal with these hard-to-see yet highly annoying creatures.

Tips for Tick Prevention in Maine

Follow these tips for tick prevention so that you never become the target of these potentially life-threatening insect bites.

Mind Your Garden

Ticks can find a home in shrubs and various other species of trees. The underbrush of tall grass makes an excellent breeding space for ticks. So, if you take a stroll in the garden, ticks can easily latch onto your body and make it into your home. This applies to your pets as well.

Therefore, you must keep your lawn well-trimmed at all times. Mow the grass regularly and avoid overgrowth of bushes. Remove the dead leaves, twigs, and branches from the garden floor, and don’t let leaf litter accumulate near your house. Be it your lawn or any other wooded area – when passing through such places, try to stay in the center of the trail.

You can get rid of ticks in your garden or at least prevent them from entering your home by making a few simple landscape changes as well. For example, you can build a thick, 2 to 3-foot-wide barrier that keeps ticks at bay. This is especially recommended for houses located in or near woodlands.

Simply spread gravel or wood chips at the edge of your lawn, and it will prevent the insects from moving past the material and into your home.

Perform Tick Checks

Scanning your body for ticks every time you come in from outside is a simple yet highly effective way to minimize the risk of tick bites. Nymph ticks are roughly the size of a poppy seed and can be detected with the naked eye if you focus closely.

Pay particular attention to the folds of skin and relatively concealed spots such as:

Hairline
Behind the ears
Armpits
Groin
Back of neck
Behind the knees
Around the waistline

Check your gear thoroughly too. If you find a tick, remove it with a pair of tweezers and consult a doctor immediately.

Use Essential Oils

As strange as it might sound, using essential oils can be a great way to keep your family and pets tick-free. The reason why it works is that strong fragrances often repel insects – and luckily, this includes ticks.

You can use scented soaps and shampoo or simply use a diffuser to spread the aroma indoors. For the best results, go for lavender, rose geranium, peppermint, lemongrass, and similar citrusy smells.

Use a Repellant

Repellants are the key to preventing tick bites. Expert pest exterminators in Maine recommend using one with at least 20% concentration of DEET.

DEET is an active ingredient that provides protection against various insects, including ticks, mosquitoes, leeches, and fleas, to name a few. If this is not readily available, then insect repellents containing picaridin or IR3535 are the next best alternative.

Moreover, it would help to regularly treat your clothes and outdoor gear with permethrin. Permethrin is a chemical that kills ticks. Wash and dry the clothes on high heat afterward to get rid of the dead ticks.

You would be surprised to know that permethrin-treated socks are available at leading home stores. They are extremely useful in preventing ticks, and other insects from latching onto your shoes.

Grab a pair especially if you are a garden enthusiast.

Hire a Professional Pest Exterminator

Hiring a pest control service can give you peace of mind knowing that these almost-microscopic bloodsuckers are properly taken care of. A professional tick exterminator has the right tools and will perform thorough checks to successfully fight off these insects.

Ants Plus Pest Control is a trusted name for tick prevention in Maine.

Based in Sabattus, we service most of Maine, including the major cities like Portland, Augusta, and Lewiston, as well as Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Falmouth, and the surrounding areas.

Be it ticks or any other household insects like ants, cockroaches, and wasps, if you are looking for ways to get rid of these tiny invaders, look no further than Ants Plus Pest Control.

Top Tips for Tick Prevention in Maine