Management Handbook provides valuable advice for preventing blacklegged ticks in the yard . Similar steps may also help reduce other types of ticks in and around the yard . Regularly remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around homes , and place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to keep ticks away from recreational areas , and keep play areas and playground equipment away from away from shrubs , bushes , and other vegetation .
• Consider using a chemical control agent . Effective tick control chemicals are available for use by the homeowner , or they can be applied by a professional pest control expert , and even limited applications can greatly reduce the number of ticks . A single springtime application of acaricide can reduce the population of ticks that cause Lyme disease by 68 – 100 %.
• Discourage deer . Removing plants that attract deer and constructing physical barriers may help discourage deer from entering your yard and bringing backlegged ticks with them .
PREVENT TICKS ON ANIMALS
Use tick control products to prevent family pets from bringing ticks into the home . Tick collars , sprays , shampoos , oral medications , or “ top spot ” medications should be used regularly to protect your animals and your family from ticks . Consult your veterinarian and be sure to use these products according to the package instructions . For more information on animals and health , see Preventing Ticks on Your Pet 6 .
For more information , visit https :// www . cdc . gov / features / stopticks /
1 https :// www . epa . gov / insect-repellents 2 https :// www . epa . gov / insect-repellents / find-insect-repellent-right-you 3 https :// www . cdc . gov / niosh / topics / tick-borne / 4 https :// www . cdc . gov / ticks / removing _ a _ tick . html 5 http :// www . ct . gov / caes / lib / caes / documents / special _ features / tickhandbook . pdf 6 https :// www . cdc . gov / ticks / avoid / on _ pets . html
12 HimPower July 2018