Ticks are hardy parasites that can cause a variety of illnesses, including Lyme disease. Reports of Lyme disease are on the rise and it is considered the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. Upwards of 20,000 people are diagnosed each year.
The disease got its name from the small town of Lyme, Connecticut, where several cases of pediatric arthritis were reported to Yale researchers in 1975. The disease was identified and named Lyme Arthritis there and was changed to Lyme disease after a few years.
The cause of the disease was not discovered until 1982 by Dr. Burgdofer. Now Lyme Disease Spirochete is known as Borrelia Burgdorferi.
Spring, summer, and fall are known to be dangerous times of the year in regard to ticks. These seasons are when ticks are most active but, since ticks are hardy pests, you should still be on the alert for them during the winter months. Indoors, they latch onto a host, either human or pet, while outdoors they may lay dormant, hiding in leaf litter or under thick vegetation.
Some varieties of ticks, especially soft-shelled ticks, will burrow and stay in an underground den all winter long. In the case of black-legged ticks, they can remain active in temperatures as low as 32 degrees, and will likely latch onto a domestic pet or wild animal to survive the cold winter. Once spring arrives, all of these hidden or dormant ticks will become active once again in increased numbers.
How to Protect Yourself from Ticks
Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself from ticks:
- Avoid activities that take place in thick, dense wooded areas.
- Perform a tick check when returning from outdoor activities, especially if you have been exposed to thick woods and tall grasses.
- Check your pets for ticks. Always use a veterinarian-approved tick prevention treatment on all your pets.
- To help cut back on tick activity in your own yard, keep your lawn short and vegetation cut back from areas of the yard you use the most.
How to Prevent Ticks on Your Property
The number one way to prevent ticks year-round is by enlisting the help of Big Blue Bug Solutions. Our mosquito and tick solutions are effective in reducing the population of ticks and mosquitoes on your property. Tick prevention is the best way to protect your family from the illnesses these pests can cause. In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut contact Big Blue Bug Solutions for more information. We are here to help you!