Focusing on Ticks
Ticks activity is now year round!
Gerbert & Sons have been closely monitoring the increased threat of ticks in our area and the diseases they may transmit. A recent article by Vincent Gabrielle in the CT Insider explained the rise of activity in our local tick population. He interviewed Goudarz Molaei, chief scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, who reported that “in an average winter, the lab gets about 50 ticks. This year, from Jan. 1 to the present, they’ve received about 1,000 ticks so far. In an average 12-month year the lab tends to receive between 5,000 to 6,000 ticks for testing.” Previously, ticks were a seasonal concern, but due to recent warmer winters with temperatures rarely below freezing, they have become active year round. Mr. Molaie added “the rate of ticks carrying diseases hadn’t changed very much, however, just the volume of winter ticks. Of the 1,000 ticks submitted so far this year about 30 percent had Lyme disease and about 10 percent had babesiosis. He said he wasn’t expecting that more ticks would be sharing illness, but rather that the year-round warm temperatures would increase tick activity and tick populations. This elevated activity would make it more likely that someone could be bitten by an infected tick.” In addition to Lyme disease, the blacklegged or deer tick can carry babesiosis, which may cause a blood infection, leading to flu-like symptoms or more serious complications in compromised people. The lone star tick can introduce alpha-gal syndrome, which may cause a person to develop an allergy to red meat.
Strategies for tick control
Our team provides a 4-stage organic spray program for your property that target’s ticks throughout their life cycle and, above all, is safe for the environment, humans and pets. In addition to this spray, we have found tick tubes to be an effective way to reduce tick populations. Mice use the specially treated material in these tubes for their nests, which is transferred to their fur and kills a biting tick. Other preventive steps include organic deer deterrents to keep them from carrying ticks into your yard and creating a 3 foot mulch border between your lawn and wooded areas. Consider using a repellent that contains DEET and always thoroughly inspect your body, clothing and pets after being in an area where ticks may be present. Carefully remove any ticks immediately and save for identification and testing.
Call Gerbert & Sons today at (203) 324-3817 to organically protect your family and pets from the increased presence of ticks in our area.
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