Blog | SafeHaven Pest Control

Controlling Ticks & Preventing Tick-Borne Illnesses

Written by SafeHaven Pest Control LLC | September 20, 2018

Ticks are among the nastiest pests we Texans encounter. Ticks infesting your landscape, biting pets, and latching on to you and your family members can be more than just a nuisance. Ticks can spread diseases, leave itchy and painful welts, and cause allergic reactions. Be proactive about tick control on your land to protect yourself from these bloodsucking pests with help from the pros at SafeHaven Pest Control.

About Ticks

Ticks are small and usually brown, with eight legs and round bodies. Ticks are arachnids, related to the spider. Like spiders, ticks feed on bloodmeal. They don’t weave webs or feed on insects, however; they track warm-blooded mammals (including humans) and eat while attached to a living host.

Ticks may be small, but they can cause big problems for homeowners.  Ticks thrive in wooded and grassy environments, where they have plenty of places to hide. They lie in wait for a host then grab onto anything they can, such as clothing or a pet’s fur. They burrow their heads beneath the skin, feeding on the blood of the host.  Ticks usually stay attached to hosts for days, often without being noticed. Their bodies can swell to twice their normal size with bloodmeal while still attached.

Ticks and Diseases

The creeps aren’t the only thing ticks give people – they can also impart deadly tick-borne viruses when they bite. Humans can contract Lyme disease, Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, Heartland virus, and many other diseases from a single tick bite. Symptoms of tick-related illnesses include fever, stiff muscles, joint pain, headache, nausea, weakness, and rashes. Many of these illnesses can take weeks or even months to overcome and some even result in death.  Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to tick-borne illnesses.

Prevent Ticks in Your Yard and Home

Ticks start out in the yard, then come into your home by attaching to clothes and pets. If people know your property has a tick problem, they may be less inclined to pay you a visit. Ticks can multiply quickly and become a serious problem without proactive pest control. Luckily, you can prevent and eliminate tick infestations in Texas with help from SafeHaven Pest Control. We can inspect your property, identify a tick problem, and control populations with proven techniques, technologies, and products. We can help you master residential or commercial tick control.