How Dangerous Are The Ticks In Mesa?

Ticks in Mesa, AZ can be more than a nuisance. Some of them can be fairly dangerous and carry the risk of transmitting serious diseases to humans. Learning tick prevention tips is the first step in decreasing your chances of contracting a tick-borne illness.

Ticks Common To Mesa

There are several ticks commonly seen in the Mesa area; it is important to understand each of these ticks’ descriptions and the diseases they can carry.

• Brown Dog Tick : Usually red-brown or dark brown, the brown dog tick is most commonly seen on pets, but it has been known to bite humans. This tick can spread Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and ehrlichiosis.

• American Dog Tick : This type of tick is dark brown in color and will bite both humans and animals. Disease risks for this tick include Rocky Mountain Spotted fever and tularemia.

• Soft-Bodied Ticks : Soft-bodied ticks range in color from sandy-brown to reddish-brown and dark brown. They are smaller than other tick types and have a more rounded body. This tick type can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and tick-borne relapsing fever.

You may encounter all of these ticks in moist, shaded areas, as these are their favorite living spots. If a tick is looking to feed, it will wait on the edge of vegetation or leaves for an unsuspecting human or animal to pass by. When the potential host moves close enough, the tick will grab onto them and start searching for a place to bite.

When a tick bites, they will often search for the thinnest area of skin. Humans generally won’t feel when a tick bites into their skin, which is part of what makes it difficult to detect ticks on your body. If anything is felt, it will be a pinch or a light itch. If a tick has bitten you and fallen off afterward, the area may feel itchy and raised or appear red.

While not every tick bite will pass on disease, and most bitten areas heal within several days of the tick’s removal, there are several symptoms to look out for that indicate the tick has introduced something more serious to your body.

If you start to experience any of these symptoms, you should be seeking medical attention as soon as possible:

• Pain or swelling on the bitten area

• Rash or redness (a bullseye shaped rash may indicate Lyme disease)

• A burning sensation on the bitten area

• Blisters

• Difficulty breathing

• Neck stiffness

• Headache

• Nausea

• Weakness or muscle and joint pain

• Fever or chills

Preventing Ticks Around Your Mesa Property

There are several steps you can take to prevent ticks from entering your property in the first place:

• Deter wildlife hosts for ticks such as rodents entering your property by sealing outdoor trash cans and pet food. You can also enlist the help of the experts at Green Home Pest Control to treat rodent infestations.

• Make sure to keep your grass trimmed down and remove debris from your yard to prevent ticks from hiding out in tall grasses or shaded areas.

• Fix outdoor leaks to stop moisture from attracting ticks onto your property.

• Use tick prevention treatments on any of your pets that go outdoors to prevent ticks from latching onto your animals and being brought inside your home.

Expert Tick Removal

For help with treating a tick infestation on your Mesa property, contact the professionals at Green Home Pest Control for more advice and expert assistance in making your home completely pest-free. With over 30 years in the industry, we have customized pest control plans designed with eco-friendly products. Call us today!