Sun-kissed cheeks, swimming, sunbathing, gardening, outdoor grilling, and naked feet embracing the sand — these are some of the best parts of summer that you probably experience and observe. However, the spring and summer months are also the booming months for tick populations in Nebraska. We all want to enjoy outdoor activities during the summer, but we also want to be safe from these pests and take precautions to keep ourselves and our pets safe from Lyme disease. If you want to learn more about tick control in Omaha, NE, and prevent them from harming your pets or invading your home, this guide is for you.
Guide to Tick Control in Omaha, NE
What Are Ticks?
Ticks are arachnids closely related to spiders and mites. Their sizes range from about 2 to 6 millimeters long and can grow up to 10 millimeters long after feeding. While there are hundreds of species of ticks, the most common ones that pose a threat to humans and animals belong to the Ixodidae family, commonly known as hard ticks. These parasites go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Ticks require a blood meal at each stage to progress to the next, making mammals, birds, reptiles, and sometimes amphibians their preferred hosts.
Types of Ticks Found in Nebraska
In Nebraska, several species of ticks can be found, each with its own habitat preferences and potential for transmitting diseases. Some of the common tick species found in Nebraska include:
- American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis): This species is widespread across the United States, including Nebraska. American dog ticks are often found in grassy or wooded areas and can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
- Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis): Also known as the deer tick, the blacklegged tick is responsible for transmitting Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. While less common in Nebraska compared to regions farther east, black-legged ticks can still be found in wooded and grassy areas, particularly in the eastern part of the state.
- Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum): Although more prevalent in the southeastern United States, lone star ticks can also be found in parts of Nebraska. These ticks are known for their distinctive white spot on the female’s back and can transmit diseases such as ehrlichiosis and tularemia.
- Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus): Commonly found in warmer climates, brown dog ticks can also infest homes and kennels, posing a risk to dogs. While they are less likely to transmit diseases to humans compared to other tick species, they can still cause discomfort and skin irritation.
When and Where Are Ticks Prevelant?
Ticks are prevalent in the summer season because they prefer warm and moist areas of the body. After finding a spot on your body, they will bite into your skin and draw blood. After biting you, ticks will remain attached to your body and might migrate to other parts of your body such as the armpits, groin, or hair.
Ticks thrive in a variety of environments, from dense forests to urban parks and even suburban backyards. They particularly favor areas with dense vegetation, tall grasses, leaf litter, trees, and bushes where they can easily latch onto passing hosts.
In the summer, people spend more time outdoors. Hence, you need to be careful since you can unknowingly pick up a tick. Moreover, these things may attach themselves to your pet. And from your pet, ticks can migrate to you when you touch or play with them.
Professional Tick Control in Omaha, NE: Step-by-Step Guide
When it comes to combating tick infestations, tick control treatments can make all the difference. Pest control professionals are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and techniques necessary to effectively manage local tick populations, reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases, and keep your family and pets safe. Here’s how tick control in Omaha, NE can help:
Thorough Inspection
Pest control professionals begin by conducting a thorough inspection of the property to identify areas where ticks are likely to harbor. This includes examining outdoor areas such as yards, gardens, and wooded areas, as well as indoor spaces like basements and crawl spaces. By pinpointing tick habitats and breeding grounds, professionals can develop targeted treatment strategies.
Customized Tick Treatment Plans
Based on the findings of the inspection, pest control professionals develop customized treatment plans tailored to the specific needs of the property. These plans may include a combination of chemical and non-chemical control methods designed to eliminate ticks at all life stages. From spraying insecticides in outdoor areas to applying tick control products indoors, professionals employ a variety of tactics to kill ticks and achieve optimal results.
Environmental Considerations
Pest control professionals prioritize environmentally responsible practices to minimize the impact on non-target organisms and ecosystems. They select products that are approved for tick control and apply them in a manner that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing exposure to people, pets, and wildlife. Additionally, professionals may recommend habitat modifications and landscaping techniques to create less favorable conditions for ticks.
Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance
Tick control is not a one-time endeavor but rather an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring and maintenance. Pest control professionals provide follow-up inspections to assess the effectiveness of treatments and make any necessary adjustments. They may also recommend preventive measures that property owners can implement to reduce the likelihood of tick re-infestation.
About Ticks & Tick Bites
Tick bites can be more or less dangerous to different people. If you are allergic to tick bites, you may feel a burning sensation, pain, swelling, rashes, or blisters near the bite site. In severe cases, difficulty in breathing might also be experienced. Ticks can also transmit diseases. Backlegged ticks can cause Lyme disease which can cause severe symptoms such as the following if left untreated:
- Erythema migrans – This is a rash the appear on other areas of the body
- Joint pain – Pain and swelling that primarily affects the knees and can move from one joint to another.
- Neurological problems – People with Lyme disease might develop meningitis, Bell’s palsy, weakness of limbs, and weakened muscle movements days, months, or even years after getting infected.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
To avoid the harmful effects of tick bites, several safety measures can be taken to prevent them.
Before going outdoors:
- As much as possible, avoid areas where you expect ticks to be, such as grassy areas, bushes, and wooded areas. You should also avoid interacting with animals that are not your pet.
- Look out for ticks even in your yard. Clean your yard regularly and use a bug spray that is effective against ticks. Do not let your dog play in the grass or play with other pets you do not know.
- Wear long-sleeved tops and pants if you will walk in the woods or grassy areas
- Wearing light clothes will make it easier for you to spot ticks.
- Treat your clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin after being outside.
After going outdoors:
- Check your clothes for ticks and disinfect them before putting them in the laundry. Some ticks may stick on clothing and be carried into your house. You should wash your clothes with hot water and dry them on high heat for several minutes since ticks are vulnerable to high-heat drying.
- If you walk your pet outside, examine your pet’s coat and clothes if they have any.
- Comb your hair with a fine-tooth comb to drag ticks out if any are attached to your hair
- Go to the shower right after doing all the steps above. This reduces your risk of getting tick bites and Lyme disease as showering may wash off ticks.
- If you think you went to a possibly tick-infested area, do a full body check on tick-prone body parts. These include the underarms, ears, belly button, knee pit, neck, nape, between the legs, and other areas.
How to Remove a Tick from the Skin
If you find a tick attached to your skin, be sure to remove it immediately but properly. The earlier you find it, the better. This is because it will take some time for infections to reach your bloodstream. A tick must be in your body for 36 hours before a disease can be transmitted. Thus, removing ticks as soon as possible will prevent you from acquiring any tick-borne diseases.
To remove a tick from your skin:
- Wear gloves and use tweezers or forceps to pull the tick away from your skin gently.
- Avoid squeezing or bending the tick because this can leave the parts of the tick in your skin.
- If you suspect that you are bitten, place the tick in a container and put it in a freezer. The doctor can examine the tick in case you develop new symptoms.
- Lastly, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Spray rubbing alcohol afterward. You should also do this when you spot a visible tick bite on your skin.
When to Contact a Doctor
Not every tick bite is a reason to seek urgent care. Here are the signs and symptoms that require you to contact your doctor:
- You are not able to remove the tick altogether. As said earlier, the longer the tick stays attached, the risk of getting tick-borne diseases increases.
- You think the tick has been attached for more than 36 hours.
- A small, seemingly harmless red bump may be seen in the tick bite area. However, if it gets larger, go to your doctor immediately.
- You start showing flu-like signs and the symptoms mentioned above.
- You think it is a deer tick (a ubiquitous tick in the Northeast U.S), especially if it is in its tiny nymphal stage
Tick Control for Pets
Pets are also susceptible to tick bites and the diseases they transmit. Various tick control products are available for pets, including topical treatments, natural repellants, flea and tick medicine, and tick collars. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate tick control regimen for your pet based on their age, health status, and lifestyle. Regularly inspecting pets for ticks and promptly removing any found can also help prevent disease transmission.
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