Tick Identification & Prevention
A Guide To Ticks In Bradenton
Keeping ticks at bay doesn't just protect you from itchy and annoying tick bites; it protects you from the dangerous and potentially deadly diseases spread by these nasty little creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ticks
What are ticks?
Ticks are external parasites in the arachnid class, meaning they're related to spiders, scorpions, and mites. Ticks sustain themselves by feeding on the blood of animals. Unlike mosquitoes, fleas, and many other external parasites, ticks cannot just hop on and off after a quick bite. Ticks must embed themselves for up to several days to obtain a full meal, making them particularly dangerous because it creates opportunities for bacteria to pass to you.
Are ticks dangerous?
Ticks in Florida are quite dangerous. Several kinds of ticks endemic throughout the state spread severe and deadly infections; one of the most common and dangerous diseases carried by ticks is Lyme disease. This bacterial infection attacks many systems in the body, including the cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. If left untreated, this will lead to permanent damage to the heart, brain, nerves, and joints. It can even be deadly.
Why do I have a tick problem?
There are lots of ways you can wind up with a tick infestation, but one of the most common ways is a wildlife problem. When you have rodents, raccoons, opossums, or other animals commonly infested with ticks sniffing around your property, they can introduce breeding populations of ticks. You and your pets can do the same thing if you spend a lot of time in the wilderness, so it's vital to have extensive tick protection for yourself and your pets and take measures against wildlife infestations.
Where will I find ticks?
Ticks have a couple of different strategies for grabbing a meal. They may drop onto you from above when you pass underneath tree branches, and they can climb onto you from tall grass and bushes. You're more likely to find ticks in the wilderness, such as meadows and deep woods, but if you have a population of breeding ticks on your property, you may find them in your shrubs and lawn grass.
How do I get rid of ticks?
It's never easy to get rid of ticks once you have a breeding population of these sneaky blood-feeders. There are very few products on the market meant to deal with tick infestations – and even fewer that actually work. In fact, there's really nothing you can buy at a store that will eliminate your entire tick infestation.
Tick extermination services are the only way to protect yourself once you have an active infestation of ticks on your property. Professional pest control companies have access to more effective tick control products and techniques to ensure the elimination of an infestation in its entirety. That's why you should call Westfall's Lawn and Pest if you notice ticks on your property. Our lawn and pest experts know where ticks love to hide and how to get rid of them. So don't risk exposure to deadly diseases; pick up the phone or go online to get started today.
How can I prevent ticks in the future?
There may not be a whole lot you can do once you have a tick infestation on your property, but there are several ways you can avoid tick bites and breeding populations of ticks in the first place:
- Wear long clothing and insect repellent when going out into wilderness areas.
- Check yourself and any family members for ticks when returning from wilderness areas. Remove any ticks you find from your body and dispose of them.
- Keep dogs and cats on appropriate flea and tick prophylactic medication.
- Take measures to prevent or eliminate wildlife infestations on your property.
The last item on this list applies to everyone. You may not go out into the wilderness or have pets, but everyone can wind up with a wildlife infestation if they're not careful.
Remember, no matter how ticks got introduced to your property, we can take care of the problem here at Westfall's Lawn and Pest. So please don't wait until it's too late to avoid Lyme disease exposure; click or call now to get the ticks off your property and move on with your life.
