When summer weather finally arrives, many Albany and the Capital Region residents want to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of yards, parks, and nearby attractions. While the weather is delightful and being outdoors is always welcome, local residents should be cautious about where they go and how they dress to avoid ticks.

Ticks, along with mosquitos, mites, fleas, and flies, fall under the vector category, meaning they can transmit diseases. While mosquitos are often in the spotlight, ticks are equally dangerous. The tick bite can cause serious illnesses such as:

• Lyme disease 
• Babesiosis, 
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  
  

These disorders can have significant health implications, and it’s crucial to protect ourselves. 

Lyme disease, a well-known tick-borne illness, is a significant concern in Albany and the Capital Region. While it’s challenging to pinpoint the exact number of cases, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 500,000 US residents are diagnosed and treated annually. We know that our local community is not immune to this health threat. Blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) are the leading carriers of Lyme disease, babesiosis, and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, which are less common but still pose a risk. 

In addition to the blacklegged deer tick, our region is home to American dog ticks, which carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lone star ticks, which may transmit germs that cause human Monocytic ehrlichiosis. 

Tick-transmitted diseases are rarely fatal.

Most people who get Lyme disease recover completely after a course of antibiotics, although some do experience chronic symptoms. Babesiosis infections are rare in humans and don’t typically cause severe illness in patients with uncompromised immune systems. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can cause rash, headache, nausea, sore throat, and more. If untreated, the bacteria can lead to more significant complications. Like Lyme disease, RMSF is generally responsive to antibiotics. 

How to protect yourself from ticks.

Around your home, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of ticks for humans and pets:

• Trim bushes, tall grass, and weeds to minimize hiding places for ticks.
• Grow bug-repelling plants like basil, chrysanthemums, lavender, lemongrass, and marigolds.
• Store firewood at a distance from your home and outdoor activities.
• Use tick repellent and dress to reduce their access (like long sleeves, pants tucked into boots or socks, and hats).
• Check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks after outdoor activities. 

Know when to get help.

Consider calling in the help of a local pest professional, like Thomas Pest Services, especially if you see ticks or have vulnerable human or pet residents. We are tick control experts. Our technicians will find the places on your property where ticks may be hiding, treat those areas with organic pest control products, and suggest steps you can take to make your yard less hospitable for these and other intruders. 

Call today for a complimentary inspection and estimate, and take back your yard for the summer!