Why Year-Round Tick Prevention is a Must in Durham

Ticks are a growing concern for pet parents around the US and in Durham, NC, especially with our humid climate and extended tick activity season. Today, we’re discussing what you can do to protect both pets and humans from these dangerous parasites. Here’s why year-round tick prevention is a must in Durham. Check out our previous blog to learn about other pests that may pose a danger to Durham pets.

Year-Round Tick Threat in Durham

Several types of ticks are found in North Carolina year-round. They are most active from late spring through early fall. However, due to mild winters, they can survive and pose a threat even outside the main season. Skipping tick prevention in winter can easily lead to infestations, since ticks thrive in sheltered places like garages, porches, and crawl spaces, waiting for a warm host – often humans or our pets – to come by.

For this reason, area veterinarians and experts strongly recommend keeping your pets on tick preventives every single month. These come in the form of collars, topical treatments, or oral medications, creating a protective barrier that helps guard against bites and infestations no matter the season. Your vet should be able to discuss your options and the benefits and risks associated with each type of preventative.

Dangers of Tick Bites

Tick bites pose serious health risks to pets and humans. Ticks spread Lyme disease (to humans and dogs only; cats are not at risk,) Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and other potentially fatal illnesses. Some tick-borne diseases can cause severe symptoms such as fever, rash, respiratory problems, and even death if left untreated. Others affect the body’s ability to process meat and dairy, not only affecting health, but also quality of life. Learn more about Alpha-gal syndrome here.

Where Ticks Hide

Ticks prefer moist, shady environments. Outdoors, they are often found close to the ground in tall grasses, leaf piles, wooded borders, and thick shrubs. Within yards, ticks thrive in brush, stone walls, and under leaves. On pets, ticks conceal themselves in hard-to-spot places: under collars, at the base of the tail, in the groin, between toes, and even inside ears. Inside homes, ticks may burrow along baseboards, in pet bedding, or in curtains near where pets rest.

How to Remove a Tick

If you find a tick on your pet, act quickly:

• Put on gloves and use fine-tipped tweezers
• Part your pet’s hair and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
• Pull upward slowly and steadily; don’t twist or jerk
• Dispose of the tick by dropping it in alcohol or sealing it in a bag; never crush ticks with your fingers
• Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water
• Call your vet to ask if they recommend testing the tick for Lyme Disease

Don’t rely on home “hacks” like using petroleum jelly or heat; these don’t work and can be dangerous. VCA has a great guide as to what works and what doesn’t here.

Yard Maintenance to Prevent Ticks

To reduce tick populations around your home, follow these recommendations:

• Keep your lawn mowed and trim bushes and tree branches to allow more sun
• Remove leaf litter, clear brush, and tidy up stone walls
• Stack wood in dry, sunny locations and seal stone walls
• Create a three-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawn and wooded areas
• Keep play areas, sandboxes, and patios away from tall grass and shade

Why Year-Round Tick Prevention is a Must in Durham

Regular yard maintenance, along with monthly preventives for pets, is your best defense against ticks. By staying vigilant, using vet-recommended preventives, grooming your pets, and maintaining your yard throughout the year, you’ll vastly lower the risk of tick-borne illnesses for your whole family!

Pest Control Recommendation

If you’re in the market for pest control, our team unanimously recommends Kind Pest Control. They care about their customers and the planet. We love that they partner with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every service they provide! You can reach them at info@kindpest.com or 919.981.9798. Tell them your friends at Bull City Pet Care sent you!