A Tick-Free Spring
Let’s call ticks what they are – blood sucking insects that spread disease. Starting in March, ticks are the most active, especially in the Chicago area. This increasing activity of these pests lasts through the middle of May and returns again from August to November. Ticks are not something to mess with because adult ticks and nymphs can spread Lyme disease. They do hide out during winter, but they come in force when it starts to warm up, which is now. The risk of tick bites is higher in areas with grassy or wooded environments, and not all ticks carry the disease, but why take the risk? These pests hide in lawns and leaf piles, and don’t forget your favorite hiking area!
How to Safely Remove Ticks
The best way to safely remove a tick is to use tweezers. The finer the tip, the better. The tweezers should be as close to the skin as possible and tight around the tick’s head, or you may end up squeezing the entire body, and you want to avoid doing this. Then, begin pulling at a steady pace. This part is challenging for many, but think about pulling off a piece of lint from a shirt, not the blood-filled pest! Pull the tick up and put and keep it straight. It is ok to apply pressure on either side of the tick to keep the skin taunt, which reduces discomfort.
After removing the tick, put it in a Ziploc and wash the skin, similar to how you would treat a scrape or cut. Soap or alcohol are good solutions. It is likely that a pimple-like bump will form at the tick insertion site, but it will usually resolve on its own and is normal to expect. Keep an eye out for rashes that may indicate Lyme disease infections, and if you notice one, see your doctor as soon as possible.
The Do Nots Of Tick Removal
Ticks will latch onto pets, people, and other wildlife, which is why treating them now is a proactive way to prevent them from attaching in the first place. Once a tick is latched on, it is difficult to remove it, and there is already the chance of being exposed to disease. You should never do some things when you find a tick attached.
· Using products to make the tick back out of the skin.
Vaseline has often been considered a DIY solution for detaching a tick. Although this may work for some ticks, it won’t work for all, and neither will essential oils or dish soap.
· Leave the tick to detach on its own.
When you find a tick attached, the goal is to get it off quickly so it does not have the opportunity to spit germs back into the skin. Waiting for the tick to remove itself is not
recommended because you cannot know how long it will stay attached or if it is spreading disease!
· Burn the tick to get it off the skin.
Using something hot to force a tick to detach is a bad idea because the irritated tick can spit germs back into your skin, and you can burn your skin in the process!
· Throw the tick away once it is off.
Oh, how tempting this is once you get that blood-sucking pest off your head or pet’s body! However, there is no way to know how long it has been sucking, if it is carrying disease, and what kind of tick it is. As hard as it may be, put the tick in a Ziploc and put it in the freezer to kill it. There is a website called Tick Spotters, and if you send them a photo, they can help identify the removed tick.
Surviving Tick Season
Ticks have been around since the Cretaceous period, so they aren’t going anywhere unless you prevent them from coming onto your property. The surest way to keep ticks away is to treat your area for ticks, and the best residential pest control and tick extermination companies have the products that work immediately and keep them away through both active seasons! Don’t put your family and pets at risk. If you have a lawn or live near a grassy or wooded area, you will benefit from a preventive tick control treatment this month.
Our eco-friendly treatments are guaranteed so you and your family can enjoy the spring to the fullest!
Proactive and Preventative Tick Control
If you spend the warmer months outdoors in the Chicago area or enjoy hiking and camping in woody areas, wear a hat and check for ticks when you finish for the day. Removing a tick early on is better than finding it days later when it is fat and full of blood!
If you want to find the best eco-friendly, low-toxicity, and guaranteed tick prevention, contact Bigfoot today for a free consultation and affordable pest control treatment plans! You only need to make one call when it is guaranteed, and that is to Bigfoot Pest Control at 847-891-8852!