Ticks can quickly turn your time outdoors into a headache, even in your own backyard. These pests, which feed on blood, are able to spread serious diseases to humans and pets, so it’s important to keep them off your property. Keep in mind that experts are warning that SC ticks are expected to be hungrier this year due to weather conditions. Find out more about ticks and how to determine if you need Hilton Head tick control service at your home.
How to Identify Ticks in SC
SC is home to four tick species, including the American dog tick, the brown dog tick, the blacklegged or deer tick and the Lone Star tick. Ticks in general can be brown, black, reddish-brown or gray in color. These pests have a flat, oval shape before feeding and a more rounded appearance after they’ve fed.
If you notice any small, dark spots on your skin or clothing after you’ve been outside, these could be ticks. You’re more likely to encounter them in areas with high grass or weeds and in wooded areas. When they feed on humans, they tend to crawl up the legs.
Tick Season in SC
Ticks are typically around from spring through fall. Since SC has had mild winter temperatures and a warmer spring so far, this will lead to ticks with bigger appetites than usual. While the number of ticks isn’t likely to increase, the ones that are around have a higher chance of looking for blood meals. This means that you and your family have an increased risk of encountering these pests this summer.
What to Do About Ticks
If you have a tick on your skin, the best way to remove it is with a pair of tweezers. Gently remove the tick from your skin with the tweezers rather than trying to pull it off. Doing so could crush the tick while it’s still feeding, making it harder to remove its head from your skin. After removing the tick, disinfect your skin to lower your risk of infection.
Tick-Borne Diseases
Ticks can spread Lyme disease and other diseases onto humans and pets when they feed. These diseases can lead to serious complications when they’re left untreated, so it’s important to know what signs and symptoms to watch for and when to get medical care.
If you’ve been bitten by a tick, you should see your doctor if you develop a rash, headache, fever, chills, fatigue, achy muscles or swollen lymph nodes afterwards. This could be a sign that you have been infected with one of these diseases. Early detection and treatment helps prevent your risk of having chronic joint pain, heart problems and other complications.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
You can keep yourself and your family safe from ticks when you’re outdoors with a few simple steps. Wearing tick repellent is one of the most effective ways to keep ticks at bay. Remember to also use a tick preventative product on your dogs if you bring them along with you on hikes or if they spend a lot of time in your yard during summer. It’s also a good idea to wear light-colored clothes when you’re in an area that could have ticks. These clothes make it much easier to spot ticks and remove them.
Hilton Head Tick Control Service
Having your yard treated is an important part of our Hilton Head tick control service. This helps eliminate any ticks that are present while also reducing the risk of ending up with a tick infestation in your yard.
Make sure that your yard is tick-free, so you and your family can enjoy your time outdoors this summer. Contact Island Pest Control for Hilton Head tick control service. Our trained and experienced technicians provide dependable pest control services to more than 6,000 residential customers in SC.
