What are ticks?
Ticks are actually arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Ticks cannot jump or fly so they crawl onto their victims from areas of hiding in high vegetation, grasses and along the edges of wooded paths. The three most common species that invade properties and cause problems for homeowners and their pets are blacklegged ticks, American dog ticks, and the lone star tick.
More commonly known as deer ticks, adults are small and grow to be about 1/8th of an inch in length. They are brownish-orange and have unique darker colored legs. Blacklegged ticks are commonly found in and around the perimeter of wooded areas.
American Dog Ticks
Adult American dog ticks are tannish-brown and have white or yellow markings on them. They grow to about 3/16th of an inch in length. Domestic dogs are their favorite host, but will feed on other species as well.
Lone Star Ticks
Reddish-brown and about 1/6th-1/4 of an inch in length, adult lone star ticks have an oval flattened body. They get their name from the single silver spot located on the female’s back. These ticks are often found hiding in shady wooded areas.
Why do I have them?
Ticks are generally introduced by wild animals. They crawl onto you or your pets to feed and then enter your home by hitching a ride. Properties that have high grass, dense vegetation and are in close proximity to wooded areas have high numbers of ticks living on them.
Are they dangerous?
Yes, ticks are dangerous. They carry and transmit a variety of dangerous diseases. Deer ticks are carriers of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is what causes the dangerous and possibly debilitating Lyme disease. Other diseases that they can spread include tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis.
Can I do it myself?
Due to the complexity of treatment and the time required, ticks are generally not a pest many people have success in eradicating. Beware when purchasing pesticides and other products online as many are not effective. Pesticides can be harmful to people and pets if they are misused or mixed improperly.
How soon can you get here?
Schendel is 100% committed to helping you ASAP. In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day.
Is the treatment safe?
Schendel uses the least amount of material as possible while still resolving the problem. We utilize natural products, baits and mechanical means as a form of treatment as much as possible. When conventional materials are required, we follow very stringent guidelines for the use of the product so that it poses no threat to people, pets or plants. All products are found to be effective and registered by the EPA and our service technicians will inform you of any specific safety measures that need to be taken.
How much does it cost?
We have standard pricing for all of our pest services, based on average size homes under 3500 square feet and where the infestation does not require more than the standard number of services. We will always make you aware of any price changes before we start your service. Sign up for your FREE quote today and see how much you can save with Schendel.
What is the Guarantee?
Schendel offers customers an exclusive PestZero Guarantee. We will target the source and eliminate your pest problem. If pests return, Schendel returns for free. Guaranteed.
How can I prevent this in the future?
Because they are hitchhikers, ticks can be difficult to prevent. Click here for tick prevention tips from our blog.