How to Prevent Ticks in New Mexico
When you think of dangerous pests, termites or mosquitoes likely come to mind. However, ticks can pose quite a threat to human health. According to a study, tick populations are on the rise as the global climate continues to get warmer and warmer. These pests may be tiny, but they can transmit some of the most dangerous diseases, including Lyme disease. Unfortunately, these pests are increasingly common in the summertime here in New Mexico. To avoid the dangers of a tick bite, it’s crucial to learn how to prevent them and keep them out of your backyard. The experts at New Mexico Pest Control are here to help—keep reading to learn our top tick prevention tips!
6 Ways to Prevent Ticks
- Maintain your backyard. Ticks love tall grass and unkempt shrubs. Maintain your backyard by regularly mowing the lawn, placing barriers around your property, and trimming back hedges or trees as needed.
- Keep wildlife and rodents out. These pests infamously carry and contribute to the spread of ticks. Wildlife exclusion tactics, such as installing secure fences or screen doors, can help prevent ticks in your yard.
- Learn how to identify ticks and tick bites. Your best defense against ticks is learning how to inspect for them. After being outdoors or after a hike, use a handheld mirror to look for tick bites on exposed parts of your body.
- Check under your pet’s fur for potential ticks as well. If you spot any, it’s smart to know how to remove a tick properly.
- Reduce the clutter in your yard. Not only will this prevent ticks, but also the animals that commonly carry them. Reducing the number of potential hiding spots for ticks can discourage them from sticking around.
- Install barriers. A barrier made out of gravel or wood chips that is at least 3 feet wide can deter ticks. This helps create a natural barrier between wooded or grassy areas and the recreational areas in your backyard.
- Check your clothing and shower. After being outdoors, inspect your clothing for ticks. Toss your clothing in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, or wash them in hot water. A shower after being outdoors also decreases the chance of contracting a disease if you were bitten by a tick.
How to Get Rid of Ticks
Once you have a tick problem, it can be difficult to get rid of. The last thing you want to do is deal with these parasitic pests inside your home. It’s best to enlist the help of a professional who can perform a home inspection to determine if your home has an infestation, and the contributing factors that are attracting the parasitic pests. The best way to prevent future ticks is to implement exclusion efforts to keep ticks and the animals that carry them away. New Mexico Pest Control can help. Contact us today to get started!
