East End Tick Control - Tick & Mosquito Pest Control
Serving Southold, The Hamptons, and Montauk
Summer is weeks away, and as Long Island residents prepare for the busy season and warmer days ahead, it is also time to prepare for tick season. Specifically, it is time to focus on the fact that May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Scientists are predicting a hectic year with an increase in ticks. Doctors believe that COVID-19 could lead to more people being infected with tick-borne illnesses because the urge to go outside being stronger than ever.
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and as professional tick experts, we know how important it is to be informed about this tick-borne disease. This is because WordHampton.com reports that about 20% to 50% of ticks in the East End area of Long Island carry Lyme disease! Fortunately, East End Tick Control® specializes in the removal of ticks from your property because we know that ticks are not only annoying, but they can also be dangerous to you and your family’s health.
Since we have been indoors for so long, it is natural to feel the urge to go back outside and enjoy the warm weather. However, some doctors have voiced their concerns that the influx of people going outdoors could spike an increase in Lyme disease cases. For this reason, we have written an informative yet condensed blog for you to better understand Lyme disease. Read on to learn and share with your friends and family to spread the knowledge!
The name “Lyme disease” came from the location of the first cases of Lyme disease in a small town called Lyme, Connecticut. These cases took place in 1975 when a woman notified Yale researchers about “a cluster of pediatric arthritis cases”, explains DHSS.Delaware.gov. From 1977 to 1979, the Yale researchers changed the name of the disease from Lyme arthritis to Lyme disease once new symptoms were discovered. Finally, in 1982, a doctor by the name of Dr. Willy Burgdorfer uncovered that the cause of Lyme disease was a spirochete. This infectious agent was named after him, and we now know that spirochete to be called Borrelia burgdorferi.
Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia. Specifically, the Lyme disease cases in the United States are caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. MayoClinic.org informs us that these bacteria are transmitted when an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick, bites through the skin. The chance of getting bit by an infected tick increases when you are in densely wooded or grassy areas.
Lyme disease can present itself in multiple ways in different people. As stated by Healthline.com, the most common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, joint pain, and the signature circular bulls-eye rash that can appear at the site of where the tick bite occurred. This rash could appear as “a raised rash, a flat rash, or even blisters”. If you see this bull’s-eye rash anywhere on your body, see your doctor as soon as possible to start treatment or risk experiencing more serious complications, such as heart disorders, meningitis, and even miscarriages.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria, so treatment requires antibiotics. To treat early stages of Lyme disease, the appropriate antibiotics include Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, or Cefuroxime, states CDC.gov. Those who are receiving these antibiotics are instructed to take them anywhere from 10 to 14 days. Treatment of later stages of Lyme disease where it has spread further in the body can require taking antibiotics for longer than 14 days and may even involve intravenous antibiotic treatment.
East End Tick Control® has the expertise and years of experience to eliminate ticks from your property with both traditional and organic products. Eradicating the tick population surrounding your Suffolk County home will greatly reduce the chance of you or your loved ones getting Lyme disease in your own environment. You should be able to freely spend time outside in your own backyard without ticks threatening your health or peace of mind. Contact us today to start enjoying spring to the fullest!
The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining brighter, and after being inside our homes for so long, our desire to go outside is stronger than ever. Although, keep in mind that we are not the only living things that are becoming more active because ticks are also making a grand reappearance this spring. However, there is no need to worry! The experts at East End Tick Control® are here to inform you of an unorthodox way to reduce the number of ticks on your property; by allowing an animal that is a natural predator to ticks to consume any ticks they encounter outside your home.
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Spring is here, and so are pesky, disease-carrying ticks. We should be able to freely enjoy the warm weather without worrying about becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet for these bothersome insects who can transmit life-threatening diseases. Luckily, the East End Tick Control® experts have extensive knowledge of how to keep ticks away from you and your property. Here are three ways to protect yourself from ticks this spring.
A popular activity during the spring season is going on hikes, but this is also when ticks are very active. To protect yourself from ticks while hiking, TomsOfMaine.com recommends wearing clothing that covers your skin as much as possible. These clothing articles include long sleeve shirts, long pants tucked into thick socks, and close-toed shoes. The less exposed skin available, the less of a chance that a tick will land on you. Make sure that you spray yourself with tick repellant as well, for an added layer of protection.
Ticks thrive in damp, dark, and dense grassy and wooded areas. Therefore, a highly effective way to protect your property and your loved ones from ticks are to maintain your lawn’s length by regularly mowing it down. YayaOrganics.com explains that this is a reliable method to ward off ticks because they will not be comfortable staying in short grass due to there being a higher chance of the heat from the sun drying them out. If you have leaf piles, woodpiles, or mulch on your property, make sure that the area around them is clear as well, as they are major breeding grounds for ticks.
Many essential oils are effective in repelling and even killing ticks, and one of those essential oils is cedar oil. FarmersAlmanac.com states that using cedar oil spray is a wonderful way to naturally protect yourself from ticks because cedar oil kills ticks on sight. You can apply cedar oil spray on your clothing or even directly on your skin because it is non-toxic.
Even with these methods, carefully check yourself, your family, and your pets after spending time outdoors. Whether you are doing yardwork, walking in the park, or simply spending time relaxing in your backyard, ticks are always active and you should be constantly vigilant. If you spot a tick, here is our handy guide to help you identify it. Print a copy to carry with you if you’re going to be outdoors for a while so that you can easily identify bugs that you may find on your body or clothing.
If you want a longer-term solution to protecting yourself from ticks, contact East End Tick Control® today! We use various products to rid your eastern Suffolk County property of ticks and keep them from coming back. Once spring and summer are over, our professionals can continue to treat your property for ticks during the off-season so you can be protected all year long. Ensure your family’s safety and give the experts at East End Tick Control® a call. Residents near Southampton can call (631) 287-9700. East Hampton area residents can call (631) 324-9700. Residents near Southold can call (631) 765-9700. You can also email us. We look forward to helping you!
Spring has arrived and after being stuck inside all winter, we cannot wait to get back outside! However, it is important to remember that ticks are active, and the time to start preparing for Lyme Awareness Month is now.
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That itch you’re feeling? It’s not chiggers! Every year thousands of people report itchy red bites from what they think is an encounter with a chigger. In fact, evidence shows there are no chiggers on long island. It’s the larvae of Lone Star Ticks that are causing those itchy red welts on your skin.
Lone Star larvae begin hatching in July and will remain active until the fall months. The newly hatched larval ticks will cluster in hundreds or sometimes even thousands which is why people will often get bitten in many times, usually on the ankles, legs, and waist. The Lone Star tick larva are microscopic, hard to see and while they don’t transmit tick-borne diseases, but can give you the meat allergy Alpha-Gal.
With warmer winters over the past several years, ticks have become a year-round problem on the east end. To help curb the reproduction of ticks on your property, owner Brian Kelly suggests continuing preventative spraying until the end of November then having the tick preventative granules applied throughout your property during the winter months.
East End Tick & Mosquito®’s granular winter tick control treatment Tick Shield provides the ultimate year-round tick protection. The Tick Shield granular winter program is unique in that granules are placed in the leaflitter and shrub beds throughout your property monthly December through March protecting you and your family by killing any ticks that emerge on those warm winter days looking for a blood meal.
Ticks remain active whenever the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. East End Tick & Mosquito Control® offers year-round tick bite prevention to battle the ticks that are being brought to your property by deer, birds, rabbits, squirrels, mice, and more.
If you’re in need of tick control for your property, look no further than the trusted experience of East End Tick & Mosquito Control®. Call the office nearest to you and schedule your free estimate! Our Southampton office can be reached at (631) 287-9700, our East Hampton office can be reached at (631) 324-9700, and our Southold office can be reached at (631) 765-9700, or you can fill out the form on this page.
Most people believe that colder temperatures kill ticks but we’re here to let you know that myth is FALSE. During the fall season (October and November), ticks are active and looking to feed as they know winter is on the horizon and they’ll need to survive until spring.
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The summer of COVID-19 has brought guests from all over the world to our gorgeous home known as the Hamptons. While it’s nice to have somewhere to escape to, it’s important to remember ticks have also made their way onto your lawn and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Ticks are being found just about everywhere, including the dune grasses at our local beaches, the grass at the park, local wooded trails, the grass along the side of the road, and of course your own backyard.
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The summer of COVID-19 will bring smaller than usual gatherings with family and friends including BBQs and outdoor celebrations. Unfortunately, the summer of COVID-19 will also bring irritating mosquitos, bugs, and ticks that will bug you and your guests.
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While it’s always important to protect yourself from ticks, we can’t forget about our furry friends! Ticks are VERY small, therefore they can be easy to miss and are sometimes latched on for days before we come across them. Both cats and dogs can be infected with Lyme disease and cats are especially vulnerable to tularemia, haemo-bartonellosis, and babesiosis. Dogs, similar to people, can contract Rocky Mountain spotted fever, hepatozoonosis, which is contracted by eating an infected tick.
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