Finding a tick trying to work its way into your skin is one of the more unsettling pest problems you can experience in Winston-Salem NC. Beyond being creepy, though, ticks can be dangerous, too. Some ticks are capable of passing on the bacterium that causes Lyme disease to humans and animals. In order to protect your family and your pets from this serious condition, it’s important to learn all of the best ways to avoid ticks. To learn more about Lyme disease and tick bite prevention, read on for advice from the expert tick control technicians at McNeely Pest Control!
What to Know About Lyme Disease
Deer ticks, otherwise known as blacklegged ticks, are the tick species that harbor and infect hosts with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that induces Lyme disease in humans. Most commonly, people contract Lyme disease when a deer tick nymph bites them. This is because of their tiny, 2 mm size; they are much less likely to be discovered in the biting process than adult ticks. To help their cause, ticks inject an anesthetic into the bite mark during the process to prevent detection.
The initial symptoms of Lyme disease are tiredness, headache, fever, rashes, joint pain, and muscle pain. However, if you leave the condition untreated, these symptoms can possibly progress into nerve damage and arthritis. If you think you’re experiencing any of the initial symptoms in relation to a recent tick bite, contact a local medical professional for an assessment.
Preventing Tick Bites on Yourself and Your Pets
To keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe from Lyme disease, you have to know all of the best ways to keep out of ticks’ paths. These arachnids are commonly found in humid, shaded, densely vegetated areas, where they wait for small animals to pass by. Remember the following so you can avoid ticks in Winston-Salem NC:
- When going on a walk or a hike, stay on the trail and keep your pets from wandering off
- Wear long socks and pants while outside to protect your legs from ticks
- Check yourself and your pets thoroughly for ticks before coming back inside
- If you do find a tick on yourself or your pet, don’t try to pull it out with your fingers. Use tweezers to pinch the tick close to your skin and pull away gently.
Tick Control in Winston-Salem NC
Finding ticks on your body or on your pets shouldn’t be a common occurrence. If you’re seeing them too often, you could have a problem on your property. In this case, reach out to your local tick exterminators. The tick extermination team at McNeely Pest Control can inspect your property to find any tick hotspots, draft an extermination plan, and set up a barrier treatment that discourages tick activity and keeps them away for months. For a free quote, contact us today!
