If you’re thinking it’s only a matter of days before ticks will start to disappear, you’re not alone. In fact, many residents in Plainfield, Chatham, and Montclair as well as throughout New Jersey assume that ticks are not a significant problem or health threat in the fall. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Some ticks in New Jersey are not just a spring and summer pest problem.
The most common types of ticks in the Garden State are the American dog tick, brown dog tick, Lone Star tick, and the blacklegged tick AKA deer tick. While dog ticks and the Lone Star tick will become inactive as the weather grows colder, the same cannot be said of deer ticks. In fact, these biting pests are ramping up and will continue to be a problem while the ground temperatures remain above 45°F and air temperature remains above freezing. What’s more, in the fall and winter months nymphs will develop into adult deer ticks and begin a feeding cycle. Tick eggs will also be hatching during this time and seek out small animal hosts to feed on.
On average, the first frost in New Jersey occurs early October. While the frost may kill mosquitoes and take out what’s left in your garden, it will not kill deer ticks. Like George Washington’s escape from New York in 1776, ticks will retreat when the first freeze occurs but they certainly will not give up the battle.
Ticks will take refuge in leaf litter when the temperatures are too cold. There they’ll wait until its warm enough to come back out. That’s why it is so important to keep wooded and brushy areas free of leaves, mulch, and other organic debris.
Any time deer ticks are active, the threat of Lyme disease is present. The fall months are no exception. According to the experts at the CDC, deer ticks must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. With that information in mind, we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to check your whole body – arms, legs, groin, armpits, scalp, etc.- for these disease spreading pests after spending any amount of time outside.
According to Michigan State University, more than 95% of Lyme disease cases in the U.S. are caused by deer ticks in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and North Central states. What’s more, in these areas, 20 - 30% of blacklegged tick nymphs and 50 - 60% of adult females are infected.
Removing ticks on your body as soon as you discover them and ideally less than 36 hours from when they attached will help you reduce your risk of acquiring illness from ticks. Other tick bite prevention tips include:
Here’s the CDC recommendations for removing a tick:
At Arrow Pest Control, we protect people and pets from ticks and the illnesses they spread with our seasonal tick control services. Designed to eliminate ticks (and mosquitoes!), our Bite Back! Program consists of monthly treatments starting in April and ending in October.
In April and October, one of our experienced pest control technicians will apply a granular tick treatment to your lawn to kill adult ticks as well as any other life stages lurking about. Months May through September, we’ll stop by to spray your property for ticks and mosquitoes. Our concentration will be on areas where these pests breed, rest, and wait for hosts.
While no pest control company can completely eliminate mosquito and tick populations, Arrow’s tick and mosquito treatments significantly reduce their numbers and allow you to enjoy your outdoor living space. Contact us today to learn more or to sign up for service!