For some, the switch from summer to fall is a welcome change; for others, it’s an unpleasant reminder that another cold Massachusetts winter is on its way. Regardless of how you feel about autumn, it is upon us and it isn’t going away anytime soon. Each change in the seasons brings different joys and challenges. As the summer gives way to fall, several changes begin to occur. The weather starts to become chilly, the days grow shorter, and the leaves on the trees turn from green to varying shades of red, orange, and yellow. However, the arrival of fall also means the arrival of new pest pressures!
Many people consider ticks to be just a summer problem. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Ticks are still very much a problem in autumn and the problems they cause during this time of year are nothing to take lightly.
Ticks carry and transmit a multitude of serious diseases. Some of the lesser-known tick-borne illnesses in Massachusetts include babesiosis, Powassan virus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These diseases can cause intense symptoms and in some cases even death.
Alternatively, the most well-known tick-borne illness is our area is Lyme disease. The symptoms of Lyme disease often imitate flu-like symptoms such as a fever, muscle aches, headaches, or a bullseye-like rash, but if left untreated can cause chronic problems such as joint pain, partial paralysis, and neurological problems.
Lyme is not just a threat to us and our family members, however. This disease can also be transmitted to our beloved pets and can cause serious health problems for them.
When considering the health and safety of your family and pets this fall, you’ll want to take the still-thriving tick population into consideration.
First, take a look at your home and your yard to determine if they are attracting ticks to your property. Some of the ways that your home may be aiding the growth of tick population are:
- You have pets. Anytime your pet wanders around outside, it could easily pick up a tick or two.
- You don’t trim your grass or remove leaves and woodpiles from your lawn. These are all spots where ticks love to hide.
- You have a bird bath or bird feeders. Birds can pick up ticks and drop them off on your property.
- You have wildlife that roams through your yard. Deer, raccoons, chipmunks, and any warm-blooded wildlife animals can carry ticks and deposit them on your lawn as they pass through.
- You have wildlife animals living in your home. If small rodents have found their way inside, they can then introduce the ticks they are carrying into your home.
While it’s impossible to completely eradicate ticks as they are constantly being carried from place to place, there are still preventative measures you can take to reduce their presence in and around your home.
Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their tick treatments. Consider creating a fenced-in area to keep your pets from wandering into the woods.
- Keep your grass trimmed and your lawn raked up and free of debris.
- Place birdbaths and feeders along the wood line instead of near your home.
- Keep your yard free of plants and trees that wildlife enjoy feeding on.
- Protect your home against furry invaders by checking the exterior walls and the foundation of your home for cracks, holes, and gaps and filling in any that you find.
Finally, consider calling the professionals at American Pest Solutions. Not only do we offer a mosquito and tick guard service specifically for those two pests, but we also offer more comprehensive year-round services that not only protect you from ticks but also from the pests that carry ticks!
Don’t let a thriving tick population get you down this season. Call us for a free estimate!