Mosquitoes and fleas are not the only blood-feeding pests found in Maine. These parasitic ‘questers’ are active all year round – even during the harsh Maine winter!
Ticks are dangerous species of arachnids that feed on warm-blooded mammals to survive. These pests are generally considered ‘seasonal’ and only active during the spring and summer months. However, this is far from true.
Ticks are pests that are active year-round. Although severe cold and a lack of available hosts may slow them down, ticks haven’t gone anywhere for the holidays. You can get bitten during the winter season, even now!
Using their questing behaviors and ability to hide, ticks survive the winter months by going dormant or latching onto a host. When the weather improves, the pests will begin to trek further in search of food, making them more easily seen by home and business owners in Maine.
If you are concerned about the possibility of a tick bite during the upcoming Southern Maine winter, the team behind Big Blue Bug Solutions has some tips that could help.
Getting Rid Of Overwintering Ticks In Maine
The best and most efficient way to get rid of ticks around your property is by keeping them out in the first place. Ticks are not particularly picky, but they will refuse to stay around lawns and gardens that don’t offer what they need to survive the winter. This includes:
- Large piles of leaves or tree debris
- Piles of weeds or compost
- Areas of thick vegetation or overgrown shrubs.
Removing potential dormancy sites can go a long way to reducing localized tick populations. However, they may not always be enough. Here’s how to further mitigate tick populations for the upcoming winter season:
- Mow the grass to a manageable height, taking care to trim or weed-eat any grass around fence lines or other perimeters.
- Eliminate any entry points where pests could get inside. This includes gaps around windows, cracks near doors, or crevices left between the walls or foundations of the home. Waterproof sealant is recommended for caulking purposes and other forms of prevention (such as weatherstripping).
- Get rid of any standing water around the lawn, particularly fountains, koi ponds, birdbaths, and potholes. Fill dirt may be necessary to remove sunken patches of the property.
Tick prevention is best performed during the fall and maintained throughout the start of next spring. However, it can be challenging to implement all prevention steps alone. For this reason, it may be helpful to partner with a professional tick control agency such as Big Blue Bug Solutions.
Big Blue Bug Solutions Offers Tick Treatments To Everyone
After 80 years in the tick control business, one thing is clear; it takes a lot more than good intentions to remove a rooted infestation.
We’ve spent more than eight decades refining our yard maintenance and management approach, making it easier than ever to keep an eye on pesky ticks and their overwintering processes. When you book your first appointment with Big Blue Bug Solutions, you can expect:
- Live phone call answers – 365 days a year, 24 hours a day!
- Free service requests for all homeowners in Southern Maine
- General and specialty tick control services
- Breeding site reduction
- Annual abatement sprays and applications
Do-it-yourself (DIY) tick control is reasonable, prevention steps are significant, but Bug Blue Bug Solutions is the best of the best. Defend your home with total peace of mind when by contacting our professionals at the Portland office today. Let’s create a winning tick control program together!