Most people think of ticks as a summertime problem, and it is true that most tick bites and tick infestations occur during times of warm weather. However, ticks don’t completely disappear when the seasons change, and winter tick issues are very possible as well.

Here is some information about the lingering dangers of ticks during the winter and how you can prevent and treat winter tick issues that arise in your home.

Do Ticks Live in the Winter?

Although some insects die off during the cold months of a New Jersey winter, ticks are one of the few resilient species that hangs on and continues to thrive all year long. Ticks survive frigid temperatures in a few different ways, such as temporarily going dormant or attaching themselves to a host.

When snow falls, it provides insulation to dormant ticks lying in brushy areas and leaf debris in a yard. Meanwhile, adult deer ticks stay active all winter long and often latch onto pets in the yard.

Where Do Ticks Go in Winter in a Home?

Since ticks love wooded areas, they often take up residence on firewood stored outside. When you bring wood inside to burn in the fireplace, ticks can hitch a ride and come into your house as well.

Otherwise, ticks commonly enter a home by latching onto a person or pet, either on the skin or on a piece of clothing. You may also find ticks in the winter in damp environments around your home, such as piles of wet clothes or in laundry hampers.

Prevention Tips for Ticks Around in the Winter

Tick-borne illnesses in humans and pets are year-around concerns, especially if you enjoy hiking in the woods and spending time outside regardless of what the weather is. Stick to established trails instead of venturing through untamed brush, and keep your dog on a leash so he/she doesn’t venture off of the trail and into tick territory. Check yourself and your dog after winter hiking trips, including all layers of clothes where they might be hiding.

Inspect firewood before bringing it indoors to use. Also for your winter firewood, keep it away from the house, away from dog play areas, and out of brushy areas.

Getting Rid of Ticks in Your Home This Winter

Not only can tick bites cause symptoms and disease, but ticks can also lay thousands of eggs at a time and create a serious infestation problem. Our NJ tick control exterminators can eliminate ticks from your home and property to help your household stay disease-free. We can also do a thorough evaluation of your home to identify tick entry points and problem areas in the yard where ticks can survive in the winter.

At the first sign of a tick problem, please call us at 866-971-2847 and we will be happy to come out for a free home inspection.

Many people are aware that ticks can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, hemorrhagic fever, and other transmittable diseases. Yet homeowners are still often don’t know where to look for ticks in their homes and yards and how to prevent them in these places.

Here are some details about where ticks live and how to keep your family and pets tick-free.

Where Do Ticks Live in Your Yard?

Ticks love areas of a yard that are full of moisture, but you don’t have to go hiking in a remote part of the backcountry to get a tick. In fact, most people actually get ticks right around their very own houses.

Ticks often take up residence in border areas of your yard where you’ve been collecting tree branches or don’t mow as often. Ticks are also common in dog runs, around driveways, around play structures, and surrounding tree houses.

Where Do Ticks Hide in House Areas?

Ticks frequently move from these yard areas to the damp interiors of homes, especially in basements, attics, and wall spaces. Cracks and crevices are favorites areas to hide among ticks, and certain types ticks can lay thousands of eggs very quickly to create serious problems for homeowners. Tick eggs may be found around windows, near baseboards, and around curtains and rugs.

How and Where Ticks Attach to Your Body

Ticks are parasites and require blood to survive. They attach to the body of a person or a family pet and burrow their heads into the skin to suck out blood.

Ticks can attach to any part of the body, but they are very common under the arms, in the groin area, behind the knees, inside ears, and inside the belly button. These are all naturally warm areas where ticks thrive.

How to Prevent a Tick Infestation

The first step to preventing ticks around the house is to reduce clutter and keep your lawn trimmed and neat. Keep weeds and brush away from your home and keep the environment as dry as possible. Create a barrier with gravel or wood chips that spans about three feet between recreational areas of your yard and wooded areas.

Also, check your pets regularly for ticks, and make sure everyone in the family showers and puts their clothes into the laundry with hot water after going for a wooded hike.

Precise Termite & Pest Control Your New Jersey Tick Issues

At Precise Termite & Pest Control, we’ve seen a lot of ticks over the past 25 years, and we know exactly how to handle them in yards and homes in New Jersey. If you are experiencing an issue with ticks, please call us at 866-971-2847 for a free inspection, and one of our experienced tick control experts will be happy to schedule with you.