Hey - spring is almost here! After a long, dark Canadian winter, it's nice to finally #StayOutside and spend some time enjoying the comforts of our backyards. When the weather is so nice, the company so great, and the views so cozy, what is there to worry about, really?
Oh yes.... the ticks.
The beginning of spring in many parts of Canada means the ticks are ready to come out and prey (while we come out and play). Ticks remain active as long as the weather is above freezing, and now that winter is almost over, ticks are gearing up and ready to once again become a nuisance (and danger) in our lives.
Spring Is Tick Season In Canada
As we've mentioned before, ticks are active all year round, but are most common in spring and fall. Ticks will begin biting as soon as temperatures are consistently above 7 degrees, which is coming down the pipe right now in Canada.
Once better weather hits, so do the ticks. Right now, ticks across the country are gearing up for the first blood meal, which is required for them to stay alive and keep their clock ticking.
How To Prepare Your Spring Property For Ticks
Thankfully, there a number of preventative measures you can take to help minimize the risks of ticks around your home come spring. They're easy-to-follow, easy-to-implement, and most importantly, can be very effective! Here's how to prep your property;
- Keep tall grasses mowed
- Keep vegetation trimmed
- Get rid of any leaf litter or weeds at the edge of your lawn
- Remove brush and leaves around stone walls or wood piles
- Remove clutter and debris from winter from your property
- Move wood piles away from the house
- Keep your pets and kids out of the woods to avoid bringing ticks back to your home
- Move kids swings or sandboxes away from the woodland edge
- Wash clothes in hot water if you've just come back from a tick-ridden area
- Use a professional tick control service to eliminate the risk of ticks
How To Avoid Tick Bites This Spring
The last thing you want is to get bitten by ticks - ticks are notorious for spreading Lyme Disease, which can lead to long term health issues. Here's what you can do to avoid getting a dreaded tick bite;
- Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or permetherin. Added bonus: you'll repel mosquitoes, too!
- Wear closed-toe shoes and long-sleeved clothing
- Tuck your pants into your socks. You'll look a bit ridiculous, but it works!
- Wear light coloured clothing to help you spot potential ticks easier
- Wash yourself as soon as you get home to get rid of any loose ticks
- Do a full body check on yourself, your kids, or your pets if you've come back from a tick prone area
Talk to the team at Mosquito.buzz about preventing ticks long term. You can also follow us on Facebook for weekly tick and mosquito bite prevention tips.
