Adult wood ticks linger on tall grass, waiting to grab prospective hosts as they pass by.
The wood tick, referred to commonly as the American dog tick, is a chestnut brown arthropod slightly larger than a sesame seed. The male wood tick is darker than the female but approximately the same size. As larvae, wood ticks have six legs, developing a fourth set as they become adults. The wood tick carries the bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be contracted by a tick bite. There are several options if you want to control the tick population naturally in woods on your property.
Instructions
1. Clear the woods surrounding your property of dead vegetation. Trim grasses to low, lawn-like lengths. Wood ticks prefer tall grasses. If clearing the entire wooded area is impossible or not preferred, clear and mow pathways. Remove dead leaves and brush from the area as well.
2. Spray citronella oil, eucalyptus oil or IR3535. Although these biopesticides are not as effective at killing wood ticks as chemical pesticides, they do offer some protection.
3. Adopt Guinea fowl and allow them to roam the property and woods. Guinea fowl forage for their food, consuming ticks, mosquitoes, slugs, seeds and grass. They are frequently kept to rid an area of wood ticks. Guinea fowl owners report that the birds provide a security function as well, as they tend to sound off whenever something unusual occurs in their vicinity.
4. Remain vigilant for ticks when you spend time in the woods. After such visits, check your clothing and hairline before entering your home. Remove outerwear and place it in the clothes dryer for one hour. Examine yourself again for ticks by checking your groin area, inner thighs, waist, armpits, shoulders and hair.
5. Check your pets after they have been in the woods. Don't forget to look in their ears and behind their legs.
Tags: wood ticks, Guinea fowl, wood tick, your property