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Everything you wanted to know about ticks

By
Home Builder with The Flooring Girl

Yes, that title is definitely an over statement.  But, that's how my brain feels now after writing an epic article for one of my clients about How to reduce and prevent ticks in your backyard.

 

Yes, I know it's a bit early for "tick season".  But, the idea is to write several articles for my client who owns a lawn care business in Fairfield County CT in preparation for the spring season.  I'll be writing several other articles and allow them to "season" so his website will do well during the warmer season.

 

So, I've learned a ton about ticks - what types are most common in our area, their life cycle and different ways to reduce their presence.  Oh, and also I included info on how to safely remove ticks if you, your kids or pets get one.  (Unfortunately, we had a lot of experience with this with our golden retriever when we were growing up.  And, yes, my brother truly became an expert at this.  Too bad they didn't have frontline back then).

 

Oh, and I was truly surprised that deer are NOT the main source of deer ticks (nor any type of ticks).  To find out what is, read the full article here.

Comments(9)

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Debbie... fortunately, ticks are not a big deal in my area... but I do know how insidious they are. My mother got Lyne Disease in 1990 when in Connecticut to visit a friend.

Dec 31, 2017 05:51 AM
Debbie Gartner

Yes, it is very big here in NY/CT and seems to have gotten worse.  Lyme's disease is awful (from what I've heard).  My brother actually had it...but we didn't realize so he must have had a very mild case.

Dec 31, 2017 09:09 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I walked under a Dogwood tree once during a home inspection, felt something, and combed 2 ticks out of my hair!

Dec 31, 2017 06:30 AM
Debbie Gartner

Yuck, but glad you caught them.  they aren't usually that high, so maybe a bird or squirrel carried them there.

Dec 31, 2017 09:10 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Even in MN the deer still have active ticks and our pets could pick them up out of the snow

Dec 31, 2017 06:33 AM
Debbie Gartner

Off of the snow?  That's crazy.  More likely though at the edges of the lawn and bushes.

Dec 31, 2017 09:11 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Debbie - It looks like your are picking up more people who want to increase their presence.  Here is to a wonderful 2018!

Dec 31, 2017 06:37 AM
Debbie Gartner

Grant Schneider This is a client from beginning of the year, and now that it is his slower season we are doing Phase 2.

Dec 31, 2017 09:11 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I used to find ticks after walking in the woods in Minnesota but I haven't encountered them in Califoria or Hawaii. Although I bet they are present.

One particularly weird episode when I was a little kid, our dog had a tick. We had just come back from the grocery store and I was given the package of margarine to squeeze (because you couldn't sell margarine that looked like butter in Minnesota). I confused the package with what was on our dog because it looked like a piece of inflated plastic had attached itself to our dog's body. Ick!!!!

Dec 31, 2017 10:19 AM
Debbie Gartner

OMG crazy.


Oh dog used to get tons of them as she would go in the woods and roll around.


I live in more urban area now, so I don't rarely see them now, but I did notice a couple over the years that I know came from y customers' pets.  Thankfully, they never attached themselves on me (at least as far as I know).

Jan 03, 2018 08:08 AM
Chris B Johnson REALTOR®
Allison James Elite - Moorpark, CA
5 Star Rated REALTOR® Quality, Not Quantity

Dec 31, 2017 01:25 PM
Jerry Lucas
ABC Legal Docs LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Notary Training, Consulting. Colorado Springs, CO

"Beware of ticks and tocks around your clocks."

Hickory Dickory

Jan 01, 2018 05:02 PM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

Ticks are pretty bad in Missouri. I understand the last few mild winters contributed to the bad 2017 tick year here. With our cold artic blasts this year, hopefully that will help the tick forecast!

Jan 03, 2018 05:11 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Faye - I always wonder about that...trying to find the good side of these cold blasts...maybe fewer mosquitos, too.

Jan 03, 2018 08:09 AM