They’re back. Those joys and banes of spring and summer—more daylight, warmer weather, time outdoors and ticks.
Yes. Those pesky little things called bugs. But not all insects are harmful; in many ways, they are beneficial to our environment, food supply and especially to wildlife that feed on them like songbirds, opossums and wild turkeys. Which is why we need to pay more attention to how and when we eliminate the insects like ticks that can cause us harm.
Sprays, even those certified as “organic,” are a poor choice in this regard.
Garrett Price, turf management specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension, recommends staying away from chemicals, especially sprays. The reason is two-fold.
First, they are inefficient for tick management. “Even if you kill every tick, sprays only provide short-term residual activity,” he said. “Ticks are in the environment. The effects only last one to two weeks.”
And second, even the organic sprays often are broad-spectrum toxins that kill other beneficial insects like pollinators, including bees and butterflies. He recommends landscape management instead.
“Mice and deer are the primary vectors for ticks. A good way to keep ticks off your property is to keep mice and deer away.” He stressed that while there is no perfect solution, homeowners can use integrated pest management that will help reduce chemical use as much as possible. Do this by managing habitat.
Since high grass attracts mice and ticks, mow frequently. Prune shrubs and trees to increase sunlight and airflow. Create a 3-foot-wide mulch or stone barrier along points of intersection between grassy and wooded areas.
You can also lower risk when entertaining by microtreating the area with essential oils—instead of spraying—right before an event.
In spring and fall, timing is crucial to lower tick infiltration because it’s the time when they’re most active. Tick control tubes like those sold by Thermacell, or other products containing Damminex, work by attracting mice that carry insecticide-treated fibers back to their nest, thus killing the ticks via their hosts. These products are especially useful for killing deer ticks.
Natural predators like guinea hens, opossums, some songbirds and wild turkeys also help lower tick populations. And, for those whose outdoor activities warrant it, there is clothing available treated to repel ticks that lasts through multiple washings. Clothing may be sent for treatment to companies like Insect Shield or purchased pre-treated with repellent.
Price also encourages practicing self-awareness. Check skin and clothing as well as pets after outdoor activities. Use a tick mitt to remove them. Also, know what to do in the event you or a family member has a tick bite.
“It takes 25 to 48 hours for a tick to transfer disease. Stay on top of personal protection. Consult Stony Brook Medicine’s Hampton Bays Tick Clinic for year-round tick prevention and support. They offer assistance for adults and children including screening tests, tick removal, diagnosis and treatments, convenient lab services and blood drawing, counseling and tick identification.”
You can also get free tick-removal kits and tick-borne disease reference books.
southampton.stonybrookmedicine.edu
TICK HELP LINE—How to Stay Safe This Summer (631) 726-8425
Pediatric Tick Services (631) 444-5437
Adult appointments (631) 725-2112
Labs and blood testing services (631) 726-8200
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