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East End Tick Control®

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Winter Tick: Dermacentor Albipictus

February 2, 2023 by Brian Kelly

Moose in a snowy forestWinter typically isn’t prime time for ticks. Nearly all tick species are most active during the warmer months – April through September. Some even die off or become dormant when the weather cools. But there is one tick species that flourishes in cold weather… decimating wild animal populations and wreaking havoc on northern ecosystems.

What Is A Moose Tick?

The Dermacentor albipictus, also known as a moose tick or winter tick, is a parasitic arachnid. It is a one-host tick, feeding on a single host throughout its larval, nymphal, and adult life stages – only dropping off to lay eggs and die.

The moose or winter tick feeds primarily on ungulates like moose, deer, elk, or caribou. Sometimes they feed on horses, cattle, coyotes, beavers, or black bears if they cannot find another host. Although they rarely find their way onto humans, they have been found on pet dogs. So, care needs to be taken if you take your pets to an area where these ticks are present.

Why Are They Called Winter Ticks?

The dermacentor albipictus is known as a winter tick because it thrives in cold temperatures. Most tick species become less active during the cold months, but winter ticks are most active in autumn and winter – causing devastating consequences for their primary host species.

Even though they don’t transmit diseases, thousands of these ticks will attach to a single host for up to six months causing massive blood loss and extreme weakening. Moose are especially vulnerable to winter tick depredations. Moose will rub off their own fur trying to remove the ticks, subsequently freezing to death because they are no longer protected by their thick winter coats. In some areas of New England, these ticks wiped out nearly 90 percent of all moose calves during the winter of 2021-22.

Where Are Winter Ticks Found?

Found throughout Canada, Northern New England, Minnesota, and in certain areas of the Rockies; the dermacentor albipictus’s range is quite broad. Winter ticks aren’t a Long Island problem currently but – like many pests – their range is constantly changing.

They haven’t been officially documented by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. But scientists are concerned that winter ticks may expand their range into the Adirondacks, Taconic Highlands, and other areas of New York State where moose are present.

East End Tick Control® Can Provide Year-round Tick Prevention

While moose ticks aren’t a problem for residents of East End Long Island at this point, black-legged (deer) ticks are still active in the colder months. If you see signs of any kind of ticks on your property, East End Tick Control® is your removal and exclusion expert. If you’re in Southampton, call (631) 287-9700; in East Hampton, call (631) 324-9700; or in Southold, call (631) 765-9700. You can also message us online for more information or to request a free estimate.

Filed Under: Outdoor Pests, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

Can Ticks Survive Winter?

January 5, 2023 by Brian Kelly

ticks winter survivalIcy roads, high heating bills, frozen pipes, shoveling snow. These are all concerns we deal with during a Long Island winter. But ticks? Do we need to worry about ticks in the heart of winter? The answer may come as an unpleasant surprise for you.
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Filed Under: Tick Prevention Tips, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

Now Is the Time To Get Winter Tick Shield Protection

November 17, 2022 by Brian Kelly

tick shieldWhen temperatures dip, you may think pest-related threats have ended for the winter. This is true for some pests but not so for ticks. April through October is considered tick season in the northeast United States, but these disease-carrying pests can thrive well into autumn and winter. Ticks are active when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, emerging from mulch beds and from under wood piles. Our Tick Shield granular treatment will kill new ticks as they hatch, providing year-round protection.
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Filed Under: Prevention, Tick Control, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

What Happens to Mosquitoes in the Winter?

December 23, 2021 by Brian Kelly

mosquitos in winterThere have been snow flurries, and people have hung up lights and ornaments for the winter holidays. It is December, and winter has officially begun. So why did you get bit by a mosquito in your own home? Mosquitoes typically shut down as the weather gets colder, but they have become more active despite the cold temperatures due to many factors. Let’s look at some and how they can be avoided or eliminated.
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Filed Under: Mosquitoes, Winter

Are Ticks Still a Concern in Winter?

December 9, 2021 by Brian Kelly

ticks in winterAutumn and winter are times for fall festivals and other outdoor events. From skiing, ice fishing, and other winter sports, it is a time of many outdoor entertainment options. Along with spending time outdoors comes the risk of exposure to ticks. But how bad is that risk?
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Filed Under: Tick Control, Tick Diseases, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

Can I Have Mosquitos Inside in November?

November 24, 2021 by Brian Kelly

mosquitos on screenThe time has changed. The leaves are falling. So it should be time for mosquitos to be a distant spring and summer memory, but on Long Island, that’s not always the case. The sneaky flying pests might be hiding in your house for one last hurrah of the year.

Having mosquitos in the house in November used to be unheard of. The little blood-suckers preferred to be active from about May to October on the island, but climate change is at work, extending the mosquito season.

The shift in the seasons has meant New York has been inundated with flying pests, and it takes more than just some colder temperatures to kill them off. You’re less likely to run into mosquitos on the lawn or the tennis court, but they may have found a new place to linger: inside your home.

Why Are Mosquitos in Your Home?

Much like many other insects in the fall, mosquitoes seek a place where they can stay warm for a few more days or weeks. They may come in the front door when you come in, or they may have found holes in your screens.

Many of us like the fresh air of fall and turn off the air conditioning in favor of open windows. If there is damage to your screens, it can provide an opportunity for all manner of insects to find their way inside.

One of the best things you can do to prevent mosquitos inside in November is to check your screens. Pay particular attention to the screens near where pets like to hang out, as a stray claw can easily rip a screen open.

After that, it’s time to do a thorough plumbing check of the house. Just like when they are outside, mosquitoes are looking for warm damp places to lay their eggs. Making sure there is no standing water in bathtub drains or under sinks can not only prevent mosquitoes this fall it can help reduce their reappearance in the spring.

The laundry room and the garage may also be hidden sources of a mosquito problem. Be sure to search them for mosquitos as well. The warmth and humidity of both spaces make them ideal for mosquitos to breed.

Why Is It Important to Get Rid of Mosquitoes?

In addition to that irritating buzzing when they are about to land on you for lunch and the annoying itches, mosquitoes carry diseases that can be dangerous to you and your family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend not only taking immediate action to kill mosquitos that have moved inside but also checking your home for any places where they might be lurking and breeding.

East End Tick Control Eliminates Mosquitoes

To get rid of mosquitoes currently plaguing your Long Island home, contact us. We can help you get rid of the flying pests now and prevent them in the future with family and pet safe options. For those living near Southampton, please call (631) 287-9700. If you are closer to East Hampton, please call (631) 324-9700. And if you reside near Southold, please call (631) 765-9700. You can always email us as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

Filed Under: Indoor Pests, Mosquitoes, Winter

Planning Your Winter Tick Prevention

November 11, 2021 by Brian Kelly

winter tick prepNow that the official start of winter is only a few short weeks away and the temperatures have been steadily growing cooler, many of us tend to forget that ticks still pose a genuine threat when we go outside. On any day that the temperature is more than 40 degrees, ticks will be active and looking for their next meal. So how do you protect yourself when you don’t know what the temperature is going to be? Fortunately, we have the ideal off-season protection solution – Tick Shield Granular Treatment.
 

Tick Shield Provides Off-Season Protection

 
On the temperate days of winter, ticks emerge hungry from breeding grounds in mulch beds, leaf piles, woodpiles, and tall grasses. These newly hatched ticks will latch quickly onto unsuspecting passersby who don’t even know there is a threat. So homeowners who choose the warmer days of winter to do yard work or spend some leisure time outside are exposed to a budding crop of hungry ticks.
 
Tick Shield uses Talstar XTRA granules that are applied to the areas where ticks tend to emerge. The first treatment is scheduled for December, with subsequent treatments scheduled for later months. Since early winter temperatures tend to fluctuate significantly and recent Long Island winters have been warmer, the need for full-year protection has become apparent.    

Ready Your Property to Prevent Off-Season Tick Bites

 
Aside from scheduling our granular Tick Shield application, there are other ways that you can help protect against tick bites during the wintertime.

     

  1. Move woodpiles away, far from your house. Many of us enjoy having a roaring fire in our home’s fireplaces during the winter, but that doesn’t mean that you need to keep woodpiles close to the house. Ticks love to hide in wood, so keep the piles far from home and only bring in what’s required.
  2. Get rid of leaf piles and other seasonal debris. Another favorite hiding place for ticks is piles of dead leaves. Be sure to get rid of these piles as quickly as possible. Bag leaves and pile them as far from the house as possible. If your kids and pets like to jump around in the leaves, be sure to check them thoroughly for ticks afterward.
  3. Trim the lawn and bushes. Don’t make it easy for ticks to find an easy meal this winter. Before it gets too cold, make sure your grass is trimmed low and your bushes and hedges are cut back, particularly those which grow close to your house. Ticks hide in tall grasses and wait for unsuspecting victims to walk past.

Call East End Tick Control® for Year-Round Tick Prevention

 
East End Tick and Mosquito Control® is Eastern Suffolk County’s most-experienced pest control company. Since 1997, we have provided the Twin Forks and East End with the most effective extermination methods. Protect yourself and your family year-round by requesting a free estimate now or call our Southampton office at (631) 287-9700, our East Hampton office at (631) 324-9700, or our Southold office at (631) 765-9700.

Filed Under: Prevention, Tick Control, Winter

The Time to Start Preparing for Winter is Now

August 18, 2020 by Brian Kelly

Lone Star Tick Long IslandMost 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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Filed Under: Prevention, Tick Control, Winter

Ticks in Winter: Cause for Concern?

February 22, 2017 by Brian Kelly

Tick Bite Long Island

Are ticks active in winter?

It’s winter here on Long Island and while the amount of bugs we see regularly dwindles in the wintertime we know they will be back once springtime rolls around again. While it is usually bitterly cold outside there can be warm periods in the winter where the temperature can get above even 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great time to go outside and enjoy a brief intermission from the cold and get a little taste of spring with the added bonus of there being no ticks, mosquitoes, or other disease-carrying bugs to worry about. Except that may not be entirely true.

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Filed Under: Tick Control, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

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