Tick season in Boise is almost upon us, which is why you need to brush up on your tick awareness. Proper tick control is essential to stopping the spread of disease, both for your family members and your pets. Ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, and the most common types of ticks in the Boise area include the Brown Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, and less commonly, the Western Blacklegged Tick.

Warning Signs of Tick-Borne Diseases

When ticks bite, they can deliver dangerous diseases, including:

• Lyme disease
• Tularemia
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tick paralysis
• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Ehrlichiosis

Of course, not every tick carries these diseases, so just because you get bitten by one doesn’t necessarily mean you will contract one of the above diseases. However, do you really want to take that chance? Professional tick treatment in Boise is the best course of action to prevent diseases, as well as nasty skin reactions to bites. Tick bites are often itchy, leaving a red welt on the skin.

Tick Prevention

The best way to avoid a tick bite is to keep them out of your yard as best you can. Keep your grass mowed and bushes trimmed, which are common hiding places for ticks. Don’t put out bird feeders near your home because the food attracts wildlife that may be carrying ticks on their fur or skin.

Because ticks are most prevalent in wooded areas and tall grasses where large animals (i.e., deer) live, it’s important to take the proper precautions when venturing outside. Especially if you go hiking, wear long sleeves and pants, and do a tick check when you return. Tuck your pant legs into your socks, spray a tick repellant containing DEET, and buy clothing and camping gear that has been treated with permethrin.

A thorough tick check should be conducted before getting into the shower. If possible, ask someone to check your back for signs of ticks or bites. If you do find one, don’t panic. Simply remove it using a slow, steady pull; this will prevent the mouthparts from staying embedded in the skin.

Wash your hands as well as the site of the bite with soap and water. If the tick you just removed is engorged, put it in a sealed baggie and get it tested. If not engorged, it may have become recently attached and may not have done damage yet. Flush it down the toilet or wrap it in a tissue before tossing it. Think you were bitten by a tick? Head to the doctor as soon as you can.

Contact Eco Pest Control

If ticks are invading your yard or you’ve been spotting them on your pets more and more, our pest control technicians in Boise ID can come out and inspect the situation and provide a course of treatment. Contact us at 208-600-8734 today.