When you go outside, whether to relax, do a job, exercise, or play, you don’t want to have to worry about coming into contact with something that could cause you serious harm, especially when that thing is so small that you might not even realize it’s there. Unfortunately, living in Omaha means that you could have just such an encounter. Ticks are alive and well in Omaha, and they present a true threat to the people who live here.
Because they often move from place to place on wildlife, every Omaha property is at risk of ending up with ticks. Once there, these pests can reproduce and become a problem for the people who spend time in and around your home. Tick control in Omaha will protect your family from ticks and the problems they cause, but first, it’s good to know a little bit about ticks, why they’re a problem, and what you can do to prevent them.
Common Types Of Ticks: Identification And Characteristics
There are several common types of ticks in Omaha. American dog ticks and lone star ticks are the most common tick species in the Omaha area, but blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) are also present here.
American dog ticks are brown with white-gray markings. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies that become engorged after they feed. They prefer to feed on dogs, which is how they got their name. However, because they need a different host for each stage of development, if you have a dog that brings a tick home with it, you and your family members are at risk of becoming the next host.
Lone star ticks are similar in size and shape to American dog ticks but slightly more reddish-brown in color. The females have a distinct white spot on their back, which is how they got their name. Unlike American dog ticks, lone star ticks prefer human hosts.
Blacklegged ticks are darker brown in color with a similar shape to American dog ticks and lone star ticks. They are slightly smaller than the other two species of ticks. Their preferred hosts are white-tailed deer, but much like dog ticks, they will also bite people if the opportunity arises.
Tick-Borne Diseases: The Silent Threat Of Tick Bites
Ticks in Omaha are best known for their bites, and for good reason. It doesn’t matter whether you get a small tick bite or a big one; you could become infected with a disease if the tick that bit you was carrying one. The problem with tick bites is that, even though ticks have to stay connected to their hosts for extended periods of time, people often don’t even realize they’ve been bitten.
Different tick species spread different diseases. American dog ticks are known to spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Lone star ticks spread STARI, ehrlichiosis, heartland virus, and tularemia. It has also recently been discovered that they can cause a red meat allergy in some people. Blacklegged ticks are most well-known for spreading Lyme disease.
Tick Prevention: Remedy Factors That Attract Ticks To Your Property
Natural tick prevention is possible if you are willing to put in the work to make your property less attractive to ticks and the wildlife that brings them onto your property. You can do this in the following ways.
- Keep grass mowed and trees, bushes, shrubs, and other plants trimmed.
- Remove debris from your lawn and the surrounding areas.
- Create a barrier of crushed rock, gravel, or similar material between your lawn and the tree line.
- Remove food and water sources, such as bird seed, pet food, water dishes, and fallen fruit from around your yard.
- Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their tick treatments.
- Store garbage bins a safe distance from your house with tightly-fitting lids on them.
Following these tips can make your yard less likely to end up with a tick problem. However, they won’t prevent all wildlife from walking across your yard, so it’s still possible to end up with ticks on your property.
Professional Tick Control Services: Stress-Free And Effective
For full tick protection, you want tick control services in Omaha that will get rid of ticks on your property so you don’t have to worry about spending time outside. Quality Pest Control provides the tick control services you need to protect your family from ticks and tick-borne illnesses.
At Quality Pest Control, we will customize a tick lawn treatment that meets your needs and the particular situation of your property. Let us help you keep harmful ticks away from your family. Contact us today to find out more.
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