The Types Of Ticks That Can Be Found In Chicago
There are three kinds of ticks you might see in Chicago. American dog ticks are brown with white or gray markings. They often feed on domestic dogs and then enter a home that way. They typically live in grassy areas. Brown dog ticks are reddish brown. They also feed on dogs and then are brought inside.
Deer ticks are also sometimes called “blacklegged ticks.” This is because their bodies are orangish-brown, but their legs are dark brown or black. They’re also typically found in grass or other vegetation. Deer ticks often feed on wildlife, including deer. When they bite humans, they’re usually found attached to the back of the neck.
It’s important that you can identify each type of tick in Chicago because each species can be carriers of different diseases.
The Dangerous Diseases Ticks Are Known To Spread
Ticks are dangerous pests. They don’t just bite mammals to drink their blood; they spread many dangerous diseases too. American dog ticks are known to be carriers of tularemia; Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick paralysis. Brown dog ticks are also carriers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever as well as boutonneuse fever. They can also spread ehrlichiosis and babesia to dogs.
Deer ticks spread many more diseases. They can carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, B. miyamotoi disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and the Powassan virus.
Many tick-borne illnesses can have similar symptoms. If you’ve been bitten by a tick in the last year, watch for fevers, a rash, or difficulty moving. These are common signs of a tick-related illness.
Five Handy Tips To Protect Yourself From Tick Bites
Ticks can be very dangerous. It’s essential that you take precautions to protect yourself from tick bites and take steps to keep ticks away from your Chicago home. Following these five steps can help prevent ticks around your Chicago home.
- Keep grass cut short
- Remove overgrowth around your yard
- Build fencing to keep wildlife off your property
- Put your pets on tick medication
- Take steps toward personal tick prevention
The ticks in Chicago typically live in tall grass and overgrown vegetation. When you keep your lawn trimmed short, and other plants cut back, you take away hiding places for ticks. This also helps you see areas of your yard better, which can help you be aware of any tick infestations.
Wildlife can be carriers of ticks. Ticks bite wildlife, then move from those animals to whatever—or whoever—is close by. If you can keep wildlife out of your yard, you can prevent ticks from coming near your home. It’s also important to keep your pets away from wildlife to prevent ticks from latching onto your pet. Your veterinarian can prescribe a tick medication for your pets to help keep them safe from ticks.
Personal tick prevention is vital, especially when you’re not at home. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants protects your skin from tick bites. You can also apply tick repellent when you go outside. And when you return home, check yourself for ticks.
Try as you might; you won’t always be able to keep ticks away from your property. But with professional pest management, you can protect your home and family from these dangerous pests.
The Best Way To Keep Ticks Away From Your Home And Yard
Aerex Pest Control is your answer to tick problems in Chicago. Our environmentally-friendly tick treatments will keep you safe from bites and diseases. Reach out to Aerex Pest Control today for help with ticks and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Chicago. We’ve got you covered.