What should be done if ticks are found on a property? - briefly
Inspect the area, carefully remove any attached ticks with fine‑tipped tweezers, treat the lawn and surrounding vegetation with a suitable acaricide, and arrange a professional pest‑management inspection to confirm eradication and prevent re‑infestation.
What should be done if ticks are found on a property? - in detail
When ticks are detected on a land parcel, immediate and systematic actions are required to protect humans, pets, and livestock.
First, confirm the presence of ticks by conducting a thorough visual inspection of high‑risk areas such as tall grasses, brush, and leaf litter. Use a white cloth or tick‑removal tool to collect specimens for identification, which determines the appropriate control measures.
Next, reduce the habitat that supports tick development:
- Mow lawns and fields to a height of no more than 3 inches.
- Clear tall vegetation and trim back overgrown shrubs.
- Remove leaf piles, wood debris, and brush where ticks hide.
- Maintain a strip of sunlight or gravel between wooded zones and open lawns.
Implement targeted control methods:
- Apply acaricides approved for residential use to the perimeter of the property and to high‑risk zones, following label directions precisely.
- Treat livestock and companion animals with veterinarian‑recommended tick preventatives (topical, oral, or collar formulations).
- Install physical barriers, such as fencing, to restrict wildlife that may carry ticks from entering cultivated areas.
Establish a monitoring routine:
- Conduct weekly tick drags or flag checks during peak activity months.
- Record locations, species, and counts to assess the effectiveness of interventions.
- Adjust treatment schedules based on surveillance data.
Educate occupants and visitors:
- Instruct on proper clothing (long sleeves, pants, closed shoes) and the use of repellents containing DEET or picaridin.
- Provide guidance on prompt tick removal using fine‑tipped tweezers, grasping the tick close to the skin, and pulling steadily upward.
- Advise on post‑removal inspection for signs of rash or fever, encouraging medical consultation if symptoms appear.
Finally, document all actions, including chemical applications, habitat modifications, and educational efforts, to maintain compliance with local health regulations and to facilitate future property assessments.