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