People and pets in the outdoors might have some exposure to ticks in Maine. Whether that’s in your backyard or hiking on a mountain trail, it seems they are everywhere. Ticks are small, oval shaped arachnids with eight legs. They are parasites found in wooded areas that bite people and animals to attach to their skin and feed on their blood. There are approximately 850 tick species, with about 90 types found in the U.S. and fifteen found in Maine.
Ticks in Maine will latch onto leaves or branches with a few legs, and stretch out their other legs in the hopes that an animal or human might pass by to cling to. When they do find a source of food, the tick will bite it, releasing a chemical very much like anesthetic. By essentially numbing the area the host cannot feel the tick, which can allow the tick to stay hidden. Many common places where you should look for ticks on humans are; under the arms, on the legs, on the hairline, and behind the knees.
Where To Avoid Ticks in Maine
Maine ticks like to hide in shady, moisture rich places like tall grass and shrubs. Because they are wingless they rely on the short hairs on their legs and the claw at the end to grip tightly to anything they may need. And they may grab hold of something such as an animal to travel around and find a newer source of food. Some common choices for them are deer, squirrels, raccoons, and even your own pets. This is called questing. It carries them around from place to place with new opportunities to feed everywhere they go.
The Dangers of Maine Ticks and What They Carry
Ticks can be very dangerous as they carry many viruses and bacteria. Not to mention the tick borne disease, an illness called Lyme disease, also known as anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Lyme disease is known to be the most common vector-borne (a disease transmitted by biting insects) disease in Maine. Maine Department of Health and Human Services urges those bitten by a tick with a new skin rash or those that feel ill to seek advice from a medical professional immediately.
Five Ways to Protect Your Family Against Ticks
Are you a Mainer concerned with ticks in your home? Here are some protective measures you can do to stay safe.
- After spending time outside, always check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks, as they often hide in fur or hair.
- Pet owners should make sure their pets are on a year’s worth of preventative treatment for fleas and ticks as per your veterinarian.
- Keep your pet from wandering in areas where ticks might be hiding like tall garasses or brush.
- Make sure to wear clothes such as long pants or long sleeved shirts when going out near wooded areas.
- You can also apply a tick repellant before going hiking, camping, or when you plan on spending extended time out of doors.
How to Find Tick Control in Maine
Our extensively trained and readied technicians at Green Shield Pest Solutions are equipped with the best ways to get rid of Maine ticks and know plenty of techniques to prevent ticks from getting inside your home.
Our expertise does not stop there. Our team of trained professionals are also experts at getting rid of fleas, ants, cockroaches, spiders, rodents, and many other creepy crawlies that you don’t want around your loved ones. We understand that your family is the most important thing to you and we make it our mission to keep them safe as well. When you contact our office, we will send an experienced technician to your property, who will thoroughly inspect your house and surrounding area. They will inspect the exterior of the house as well as the interior areas and point out common places the pests might use as entry points. They will then examine the extent of the infiltration and offer ideas of what might be drawing the pest into the area. Our goal is to make it so you don’t have to worry about the fears of Maine ticks.
Ticks are a serious threat to you and your family’s safety. Stopping these insects from getting inside your home is an important step to protecting your loved ones. Green Shield Pest Solutions is equipped to help you with your tick control problems.
We look forward to meeting with you, call our office today for a consultation.