TICK CONTROL
There are more than 20 different species of ticks that call Michigan home. These animal, and human, parasites are moved around and can be brought into our yards by hitching a ride on mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds, raccoons or deer. Ticks are active in Michigan from April to November.
Like mosquitoes, adult ticks need a blood meal in order to reproduce. This is where the problem with ticks in our landscapes lies. Ticks can act as vectors for many debilitating or even life-threatening diseases.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Michigan. Other diseases transmitted by ticks in Michigan include:
Ticks are usually found in grassy, brushy or wooded areas. They can also be found around rock walls if there is moisture present. Ticks do not like dry, sunny areas.
Adult blacklegged tick. Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA Ag. Research Service, Bugwood.org
Ticks will sit on grass blades, twigs or leaves while waiting for a host animal, or person, to brush against the plant. If this happens the tick will grab on to the host and crawl to what it considers a good feeding location. On humans, ticks will often be found on the scalp, under arms, or around the waistline where clothing bunches.
Once a tick begins feeding on a host it may remain attached for several hours or days. The longer a tick is attached to a host the greater the chance that the host could be infected with a disease. When the tick has completed its feeding it will be engorged with blood and will fall off its host.
How to protect yourself from tick bites
There are several actions you can take either when you are out enjoying Mother Nature or after you arrive back home to reduce the chance of being bitten by a tick.
• Wear light colored clothing so it will be easier to spot a tick on your clothes. Also, wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt and tuck your pant legs into your shoes or boots.
• Walk in the center of trails to avoid brushing again plants.
• Put tick collars on pets and periodically check them for ticks.
• Check yourself and your pets after being outdoors and bathe or shower as soon as possible so ticks can be washed off or discovered as soon as possible. Use a mirror to check all parts of your body.
• Check children everyday if they have been playing outside.
• If you find a tick on you, your children or your pets remove it immediately. Use narrow-tipped tweezers to grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently until the head of the tick is removed and wash the bite area with soap and water.
• Clothing worn outside should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat to kill any ticks that may be on them.
• Keep pets out of grassy or wooded areas to reduce the chance of having ticks brought into your house.
• Contact your health care provider if you experience signs of illness after being bitten by a tick.
• Walk in the center of trails to avoid brushing again plants.
• Put tick collars on pets and periodically check them for ticks.
• Check yourself and your pets after being outdoors and bathe or shower as soon as possible so ticks can be washed off or discovered as soon as possible. Use a mirror to check all parts of your body.
• Check children everyday if they have been playing outside.
• If you find a tick on you, your children or your pets remove it immediately. Use narrow-tipped tweezers to grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently until the head of the tick is removed and wash the bite area with soap and water.
• Clothing worn outside should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat to kill any ticks that may be on them.
• Keep pets out of grassy or wooded areas to reduce the chance of having ticks brought into your house.
• Contact your health care provider if you experience signs of illness after being bitten by a tick.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tularemia
• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Deer-tick virus
• Ehrlichiosis
• Powassan encephalitis
• Canine babesiosis
• Canine ehrlichiosis
• Tularemia
• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Deer-tick virus
• Ehrlichiosis
• Powassan encephalitis
• Canine babesiosis
• Canine ehrlichiosis
Engorged blacklegged tick after feeding on blood meal. Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA Ag. Research Service, Bugwood.org
Insect repellents to help prevent tick bites
Insect repellents for ticks recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency can be applied directly to exposed skin or on your clothing, depending on the active ingredient.
Landscaping tips to keep ticks out of your yard
As mentioned earlier, ticks do not prefer warm, sunny locations. With this in mind, there are things we can do to discourage ticks from being in our most used landscaped areas.
Using tick tubes to control tick population
Mice are a common host of the blacklegged tick (formally known as the deer tick), which is the type of tick in Michigan that can infect people with Lyme disease. A study in Maryland found that more than 50% of the white-footed mice that were captured were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Another research study in Connecticut discovered infection rates approaching 80%.
Disrupting the Lyme disease triangle has led to the development and use of tick tubes. Tick tubes are biodegradable tubes filled with cotton that has been treated with Permethrin. The mice use the cotton for nesting material, which then puts the ticks in contact with Permethrin which kills the ticks on contact. Breaking the Lyme disease triangle prevents further spread of the disease.
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Tick activity chart based on samples received for identication by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
• DEET. An insect repellent with 20 - 30% DEET can be used directly on your skin.
• Picaridin
• Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
• Permethrin can be used on your clothing, but should not be applied directly to your skin.
• Make sure to read and follow manufacturer instructions when using any insect repellents. Store insect repellents for ticks away from children and pets.
• Picaridin
• Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
• Permethrin can be used on your clothing, but should not be applied directly to your skin.
• Make sure to read and follow manufacturer instructions when using any insect repellents. Store insect repellents for ticks away from children and pets.
• Keep grass areas mowed. If you do have natural, prairie-type grassy area in your landscape keep a wide path mowed through it so you can walk through without brushing against plant leaves or twigs.
• Cut back dense vegetation that is growing over mowed areas.
• Remove debris piles (wood, leaves, rocks) that could harbor ticks.
• Keep firewood stacked away from your main landscape area.
• Seal small openings on your garage, home or sheds that could attract mice.
• Keep bird feeders away from your house whenever possible.
• A three-foot wide barrier of woodchips or stone between your lawn and a wooded, brushy or prairie area will discourage ticks from venturing into your yard.
• Place swing sets and gardens away from woodland edges. Fence gardens to keep out deer and rabbits.
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to allow sunlight in your yard.
• Set up a tick spray program to eliminate ticks that are in your yard and discourage additional ticks from moving in.
• Cut back dense vegetation that is growing over mowed areas.
• Remove debris piles (wood, leaves, rocks) that could harbor ticks.
• Keep firewood stacked away from your main landscape area.
• Seal small openings on your garage, home or sheds that could attract mice.
• Keep bird feeders away from your house whenever possible.
• A three-foot wide barrier of woodchips or stone between your lawn and a wooded, brushy or prairie area will discourage ticks from venturing into your yard.
• Place swing sets and gardens away from woodland edges. Fence gardens to keep out deer and rabbits.
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to allow sunlight in your yard.
• Set up a tick spray program to eliminate ticks that are in your yard and discourage additional ticks from moving in.
● Leonard
Owen Tree Service provides tree, lawn, and landscape services to the following cities and towns:
Genesee County, Michigan:
● Burton
● Davison
● Flushing
● Goodrich
● Linden
● Otisville
● Clio
● Fenton
● Gaines
● Grand Blanc
● Montrose
● Otter Lake
● Flint
● Genesee
● Lennon
● Mt Morris
● Swartz Creek
Lapeer County, Michigan:
● Almont
● Brown City
● Columbiaville
● Imlay City
● Metamora
● Peck
● Attica
● Clifford
● Dryden
● Lapeer
● North Branch
● Sandusky
● Hadley
● Mayville
● Otter Lake
● Silverwood
Macomb County, Michigan:
● Armada
● Clinton Twp
● Grosse Pointe
● Macomb
● New Haven
● St Clair Shores
● Centerline
● Detroit
● Grosse Pointe Farms
● Ray
● Sterling Heights
● Chesterfield
● Eastpointe
● Grosse Pointe Shores
● Memphis
● Romeo
● Utica
● Clinton
● Fraser
● Grosse Pointe Woods
● Mt Clemens
● Roseville
● Warren
● Harrison Twp
● New Baltimore
● Shelby Twp
● Washington
Oakland County, Michigan:
● Auburn Hills
● Bloomfield Village
● Ferndale
● Orion
● South Lyon
● Berkley
● Clarkston
● Franklin
● Madison Heights
● Ortonville
● Southfield
● Beverly Hills
● Clawson
● Hazel Park
● Milford
● Oxford
● Troy
● Bingham Farms
● Commerce Twp
● Highland
● Novi
● Pleasant Ridge
● Walled Lake
● Birmingham
● Davisburg
● Holly
● Oak Park
● Pontiac
● Waterford
● Bloomfield
● Detroit
● Huntington Woods
● Oakland
● Rochester
● West Bloomfield
● Bloomfield Hills
● Farmington
● Lake Orion
● Oakland Twp
● Rochester Hills
● White Lake
● Farmington Hills
● Lathrup Village
● Orchard Lake
● Royal Oak
● Wixom
St. Clair County, Michigan:
● Algonac
● Casco
● East China
● Harbor Beach
● Lexington
● Peck
● Allenton
● Clay
● Emmett
● Harsens Island
● Marine City
● Port Huron
● Berlin
● Clyde
● Fair Haven
● Jeddo
● Marysville
● Richmond
● Brockway
● Columbus
● Fort Gratiot
● Kimball
● Memphis
● Sandusky
● Capac
● Cottrellville
● Goodells
● Lakeport
● North Street
● St Clair
