How to Keep Ticks Out of Your House | Wisconsin Homeowners Tip

You come inside after spending time outdoors and notice a tiny tick crawling on your shirt. While it may seem like a small problem, finding a tick before it attaches is the best-case scenario.

Ticks are active much of the year in Wisconsin and can carry diseases that may pose risks to people and pets. The good news? A few simple habits can dramatically reduce the chances of ticks making their way into your home.

Ticks don’t typically infest homes the way ants or rodents do. Instead, they hitch rides on people, pets, clothes, shoes, backpacks, outdoor gear.

Ticks like to hang out in the following common areas:

• Wooded trails
• Tall grass
• Overgrown landscaping
• Areas with leaves
• Parks and recreational areas
• Properties next to wooded lots

When you come in from the outdoors, be sure to do a thorough tick check before going inside.

Check the following:

• Clothing
• Shoes and socks
• Pets
• Backpacks and outdoor gear
• Bare skin

Should you find a tick, remove it quickly and check for others. For extra safety, wash your clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat. This may help kill any ticks you missed.

Make A Property That’s Less Tick-Friendly

If you are regularly finding ticks inside and around your house, the problem might be more than what you’re bringing indoors.

Ticks prefer cool and moist environments and will often seek out places that provide shade and cover. By making your property less attractive to ticks, you can greatly reduce tick activity.

There are a few proven prevention strategies:

• Maintain Your Lawn: Regular mowing will help reduce the tall grass where ticks commonly wait for hosts to pass by.
• Remove Leaf Litter: Brush piles and leaf litter, as well as yard debris, are common hiding places for ticks.
• Cut Back Overgrown Plants: Cut back excess landscaping and prune bushes to create less moisture and more sunlight.
• Create Barriers: Lay down gravel or mulch borders around wooded areas and your yard. This might help keep ticks out of your yard.
• Protect Pets: Use veterinarian recommended tick prevention products and check pets after outdoor activities.

Schedule Professional Tick Pest Control

Once tick populations have established themselves in and around your property, professional tick pest control treatments can target the areas where ticks live and breed.

A local pest control professional will be able to point out conditions that can lead to tick activity, and will be able to implement customized solutions designed for Wisconsin properties.

Protect Your Family Before Tick Season Goes Bad

If you find a tick on your clothing, you probably have ticks around your property. Taking action now can help reduce the chance of tick bites and tick-borne diseases for your family, guests and pets.

Whether you see ticks regularly or just want some extra peace of mind, a professional tick pest control service can help make your outdoor space safer.

Contact Us

Don’t wait until a tick bite is a bigger concern. Call us today to schedule your inspection and learn how we can help keep ticks out of your house and off your property.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tick

How do ticks get into your house?

Ticks often hitch a ride into homes on clothing, shoes, pets and outdoor equipment after a day spent in wooded or grassy areas.

Can ticks survive indoors?

Ticks want to be outside, but if they don’t find you or your pet quickly, they can live long enough indoors to latch on.

Does washing clothes kill ticks?

Wash clothes in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any ticks that might be hiding there.

Where do ticks like to hang out?

Tall grass, leaf litter, overgrown vegetation, moist conditions, close to wooded areas.

What should I do if I regularly find ticks on myself, family members or pets or on my property?

Having a professional pest control company come in to do tick control can cut down on the numbers and help prevent future problems.