Most people check their pets for ticks when they come inside during the hot summer months. During the winter this is no longer part of the family routine in most cases. Pro-Staff, your West Des Moines pest control company, wants you to know how prevalent tick control needs to be during the winter months as well.
Remember that some ticks are active in winter
Many areas in the United States are home to a species of ticks known as winter ticks. While these ticks are commonly found on wildlife, such as deer and elk, they will hop on your pet if you are walking in the woods.
Winter ticks live a year and require only one host rather than feeding on a host, changing from larva to nymph, and transferring to a new host. A single host means this tick is a double-edged sword: while it may not spread diseases as readily as other species of ticks, the longer feeding cycle can literally kill the host if the ticks feed in large populations. If you have not had winter ticks on your pets before, be aware that climate change might help winter ticks breed more abundantly and have a protracted life cycle.
Other varieties of ticks are not immune to winter weather in most cases. Ticks often remain dormant during winter months, but survive unless temperatures drop below -2° for an extended period of time. The dreaded black-legged (deer) tick known to carry Lyme disease is quite active in below-freezing temperatures, and within the last 20 years the number of cases of Lyme disease has increased 300%.
Look out for brown dog ticks
Brown dog ticks are one of the few species of ticks known to reproduce inside homes. They generally ride in on the family dog with the female feeding, then dropping off your pet to lay up to 5000 eggs near a wall/floor intersection. By the time you notice the fleas, it is because you have thousands of them crawling up your walls.
Ticks overwinter abundantly in seasoned wood. If you have a home fireplace, you may be inadvertently inviting fleas into your home. The warmer inside temperature can quickly revive them and cause them to seek out a host.
Keep ticks outside
Check your pets and yourselves after being outside, especially if you walk through tall grasses, brush, or forested areas. Wear socks tucked over your pant legs, and remove all clothing and shower when you come inside.
For pets, check near intersections – where arms and legs meet the body – as well as under collars and at the base of either ear. Bathe pets with quality tick shampoo if you see any evidence of ticks, and wash all infected bedding on high heat in your washing machine. Vacuum your home thoroughly if you see any ticks inside, paying careful attention to baseboard areas.
Above all else, leave tick control to the experts. Don’t cut corners on your safety and the safety of your pets. Call West Des Moines pest control, Pro-Staff, at 515 279-PEST (7378) to ensure your home is tick-free.