Why Tick Control Is Still Important During The Winter In Meridian

December 25, 2021


Now that winter is in full swing, you may think you can relax about yard pests like ticks on your Meridian property, but you couldn't be more wrong. Not only can an active infestation go dormant during the winter and return in massive numbers during the spring, but some species of ticks in Meridian are just built differently. Effective tick control is still vital for your property during the winter, and we've got all the information you need about tick prevention and organic tick control in Meridian.

deer tick in yard

The Life Cycle Of Ticks In Meridian

If you ever want to impress an entomologist, tell them that you know ticks start their lives with six legs instead of eight. It's true – after hatching, tick larvae crawl around with six legs and only gain their fourth pair of legs after eating their first blood meal and molting into nymphs. Larvae are barely 1/32 of an inch big and present the least amount of danger to humans since ticks don't hatch pre-loaded with diseases. Nymphs are around 1/16 of an inch long and, as they've already consumed their first blood meal, now have the potential of carrying a blood-borne disease.

After their second blood meal, nymphs molt into their final form – the adult tick. With two blood meals under their proverbial belts, adult ticks are significantly more likely to carry some sort of dangerous pathogen, which they pass to their hosts through feeding:

  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Lyme Disease
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Babesiosis
  • Powassan Virus Disease
  • Borrelia Miyamotoi Disease
  • Tularemia

Once their final meal has concluded, female ticks will mate and either go dormant for the winter or lay over a thousand eggs before passing on into the great beyond.

How Can Ticks Survive The Winter In Meridian?

For most ticks in Meridian, a significant temperature drop will trigger a hibernation known as diapause. Most ticks in winter become completely inactive with temperatures under 35°F, but that rule doesn't apply to all species. Deer ticks will only go partially dormant if they haven't partaken in their last meal, and winter ticks are primarily active during the fall and winter months. Sometimes, ticks will find a nice, warm host to keep them from entering diapause.

How To Prevent Ticks From Infesting Your Meridian Property

Ticks don't infest properties without the help of a host, and ticks in winter are far less likely to infest your Meridian property. Still, stranger things have happened, but luckily there are some easy tick prevention tips for your home and property:

  • Implement tight-fitting lids on all indoor and outdoor trash bins
  • Keep your lawn properly manicured – mow the grass regularly, underbrush trimmed away, piles of clippings, leaves, and mulch removed
  • Don't encourage wildlife to get comfortable on your property – no bird feeders or salt licks, keep vegetable gardens fenced off, clean up any fallen fruit if you have fruit trees
  • Make sure your pantry foods are stored in airtight containers, and never leave food or dirty dishes sitting out overnight
  • Seal up any potential entry points around the exterior of your home to keep rodents out

The Most Effective Tick Control For Your Meridian Property

With how dangerous these pests are, even in winter, effective tick control is always important for your Meridian property. It's not easy to control the habits of wildlife though, no matter how hard you try, so your best option for organic tick control in Meridian is with our pest professionals at Owyhee Environmental. The health and safety of our customers is always our highest priority, which is why we always use the best low-impact pest control products in our treatments. This ensures maximum effectiveness with minimal health risks, unlike conventional treatments with harsh chemicals. So if you want to make sure the tick population on your property stays at zero, then get in contact with us today to schedule your first appointment.




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