Do Ticks Die in Winter?

Do Ticks Die in Winter? There are few parts in the world where you can be safe from ticks but unfortunately, Idaho is not one of them. Ticks have been intruding on our lives for centuries. They have a tendency to target our beloved pets, but they can just as easily choose a human host to feed on. 

There are some things you may not know about ticks, and today, we at Pestcom Pest Management would like to shed some light on this pest.

1. Ticks crawl: They don’t fly. If you discover a tick on your body, it didn’t fly their or fall from above a tree. The tick actually crawls up your foot or leg and traverse your body to find the favorable place which could be as high as the top of your head. Hair makes a great hiding place for ticks!

2. Size of Ticks: Ticks, no matter the species, come in a variety of sizes ranging from small to large in comparison with each other

3. Do Ticks Die in Winter?Ticks remain active throughout the duration of winter. Ticks, especially Deer Ticks can survive freezing temperatures. The only time ticks seek shelter is when snow is on the ground or it is frozen.

4. Tick borne diseases: Disease-causing microbes are carried by ticks. In the past few decades tick-transmitted infections have become more common. The surge of increased deer population extending into semi-urban areas throughout the U.S. has also created the spread of Deer Ticks and Lone Star ticks.

Scientists are discovering the list of disease-causing microbes transmitted by ticks is dramatically increasing. Diseases include: Lyme disease bacteria, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia protozoa, and other rickettsia, along with encephalitis-causing viruses, and possibly Bartonella bacteria.

5. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease: Deer ticks are responsible for transmitting Lyme disease bacteria. Lyme disease is only transmitted to people by being bitten by a deer tick or one of its associated species found around the world.

6. Chances of disease after tick bite: Typically you have a minimum of 24 hours to locate and remove the offending tick before any tick-borne diseases are transmitted. A quick daily tick check during your shower or bath can increase your odds of finding and removing any ticks before they can transmit any infections.

7. Inspecting for ticks: When doing your search, keep in mind a Deer Tick nymph looks like a poppy seed on your skin and about 1 out of 4 nymph deer ticks carry the Lyme disease and other nasty germs. They’re easily missed and their bites are normally painless. They often bite in hard to see places, so if you suspect the possibility, have a family member check the areas you can’t see.

8. How to remove a tick: Pointy tweezers are the simplest and safest way to remove a tick. After you have a grasp, pull the tick out like a splinter.

9. Tick prevention: If you know you are going into nature settings, wear clothing with built-in tick repellent to prevent tick bites. An easy way to avoid tick bites and disease is to wear appropriate clothing (shoes, socks, shorts or pants, and shirt) with tick repellent built-in if available, otherwise wear pants and long sleeve shirts.

House & Yard Tick Control

While Lyme disease is thankfully not common here, ticks in Idaho are known to transmit at least five different diseases to people, plus several harmful diseases to livestock. 

If you discover ticks on your Idaho property, contact Pestcom Pest Management and let our trained experts do the rest!

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