Move over mosquitoes: Tick prevention grabs attention in fall and winter

MONROE, Conn., Oct. 3, 2016 /CNW/ -- Zika-carrying mosquitoes had their moment this year as top headline-grabbing pests, but the arrival of cooler weather means the resurgence of another disease-carrying insect. Ticks transmit a number of diseases, including Lyme disease that affect people and pets. And while cold weather may kill off mosquitoes, ticks remain a year-round threat.

The ticks which spread Lyme disease — adult black-legged or deer ticks — are most active during fall and winter, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), which predicts 2016 will be a banner year for ticks. Annually, about 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme Disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate.

Multiple diseases, multiple risks

The CDC lists 15 different diseases transmitted by ticks, including Lyme, anaplasmosis, two types of rickettsiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF). These diseases can vary greatly in severity and duration; some can be debilitating and even fatal.

Ticks thrive nearly everywhere, with different species preferring different locales. While ticks are commonly found in heavily wooded areas, they also thrive in domestic settings such as gardens, landscape plantings and backyard grasses. In fact, experts estimate that the majority of people who contract tick-borne diseases came in contact with the tick that made them ill right in their own backyards.

Tick prevention starts with deer

Ticks hang out on shrubs, trees and in grass waiting for a host to pass by. Hitching a ride on suburban deer, rabbit, other animals, including pets, is one of their main means of transportation. Cooler weather means deer are more likely to come closer to homes looking for mates, or to dine on suburban landscapes as wild food sources dwindle.

Ticks may travel to your backyard riding on the deer that's dining on your landscaping, only to stay behind when the deer moves on. Once they're in your environment, it's just a waiting game for the tick to find a host; a person, dog or cat passing by.

While you may know the need to inspect humans for ticks after spending time outdoors, it can be harder to detect their presence when they're hidden in pet fur. Both dogs and cats can pick up ticks that they bring into your home, where the tick may transfer to a human or stick with the pet and make it sick.

The CDC recommends homeowners discourage deer away from residences in order to help minimize potential exposure to ticks.

"Tick populations do not decrease substantially unless deer are eradicated or severely reduced," the CDC says.

Deterring deer and rabbits

You can discourage deer from entering your environment in a number of ways, from long-term measures like planting vegetation deer don't like, to sure-fire but challenging tactics like building a tall fence. However, these tactics have their limitations. With cold weather approaching, you don't have time to install new plantings and deer will eat just about anything available in cold weather. Plus, many communities restrict the height of fences and deer have been known to easily jump over fences as high as 10 feet.

One of the easiest, most effective and practical ways to deter deer is through the use of a topical foliar spray like Bobbex Deer and Rabbit Repellent. The spray can be applied year-round; it uses taste and scent-aversion ingredients to deter deer and rabbits from grazing on foliage, shrubs and landscapes. During spring and summer months, gardeners rely on Bobbex to protect their gardens from deer and rabbit damage. It's also effective in winter to not only protect plants, but also people and pets — by keeping tick-carrying deer and rabbits away from homes.

Although the ticks that transmit Lyme Disease are most often associated with deer, people may also be exposed to ticks if they or their pets come in contact with wild rabbits that have taken up residence under a home's deck, or have made a nest nearby. Other small mammals, such as mice, can also harbor disease-carrying ticks. In fact, larval deer ticks often take their first meals from small mammals like mice or rabbits. Using a repellent like Bobbex can help minimize your risks of coming in contact with tick-carrying deer and rabbits. 

It's safe for use around children and pets because the product is all natural. It works in fall and winter as well as during warm weather, and won't wash off under rain or snow. In 3^rd party tests by the Connecticut Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Bobbex Deer and Rabbit Repellent was found to be 94 percent effective in deterring deer and rabbits when compared to like repellents.

Human and companion animal health experts agree: keeping animals away from your home is essential for reducing exposure to disease-bearing ticks. Learn more at: http://bobbex.ca/

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SOURCE Bobbex

800-792-4449, [email protected], http://bobbex.ca