Hey New Jersey, Are You Ready For The Ticks?

Spring is just days away which means warmer weather, blooming landscapes, and green lawns.  It also means that ticks and mosquitoes will be back soon.  Actually, ticks are already showing up. In fact, in February many New Jersey residents reported finding these biting pests on them and their pets after spending time outside on warmer days. In order to prepare for the worst of the tick season, the team here at Arrow have put together some helpful information.

Common ticks in New Jersey

While there are many different types of ticks found throughout the world, the most common species of ticks known to be in New Jersey are:

• Black-Legged Ticks or Deer Ticks
• Lone Star Ticks
• American Dog Ticks
• Brown Dog Ticks

Diseases ticks in New Jersey carry

Lyme disease is perhaps the most notable of tick-borne diseases and is transmitted by the blacklegged tick.  This particular tick also transmits anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and the Powassan virus.

The Lone Star tick in New Jersey has the ability to transmit ehrlichiosis and the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

What to do if you find a tick on you, a family member, or pet

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick where the mouth is attached, as close to the skin as possible. Next pull in a slow, steady upward motion away from the skin. Do not try to wiggle it loose. Place tick in a plastic bag or jar (we’ll explain why further down). Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol and apply antibacterial cream.

Keep an eye on the tick bite site for at least 30 days. If you notice a bull’s eye rash or experience flu-like symptoms including headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and fevers/chills, you should contact your doctor. Be sure to include where and when you were bit. 

Identifying the tick

Here in New Jersey, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers a free tick identification program. Simply drop off your tick to one of the sites listed below, and an entomologist will identify the tick species. Typically results are sent by email within a few business days after the tick has been delivered.

How Arrow’s Bite Back! Program keeps ticks away

To combat the explosion of ticks in New Jersey over the last few years, Arrow Pest Control developed the Bite Back! Program, a seasonal mosquito and tick reduction program.  Highly effective against both biting pests, this treatment program runs from April through October, when these pests are most active in Essex, Middlesex, and Union counties as well as throughout our New Jersey pest control service area.

Here’s what you can expect:

• April: Arrow will apply a granular treatment to your property that specifically targets ticks.
• May – September: Every month, we will apply treatment to areas where these pests breed and rest, including lawns, overgrown areas, and fence lines as well as other areas of concern.
• October: An Arrow pest control professional will return to perform a final granular treatment to your property targeting ticks.   

How effective are the mosquito and tick treatments?

There is no mosquito and tick control service available anywhere that can guarantee complete elimination of mosquitoes and ticks, after all mosquitoes fly in and ticks catch rides from mice, deer, and other wildlife that pass by. But while we cannot promise 100% extermination, the team at Arrow will drastically reduce the population of ticks and mosquitoes on your property with one convenient service!

Don’t let nuisance and potentially disease transmitting pests keep you inside this year, contact Arrow today and start enjoying your yard!