Tick Season is Upon Us!

Springtime weather in Iowa can bring many things, from rainy days to unseasonably warm afternoons, along with this comes every pet owner’s least favorite creepy crawly…ticks! Tick season officially kicked off in March, but as we enter May, we are in what is known as peak activity time now through July.  That means that now is the time to start your pets on prevention, as the CDC predicts that this will be one of the worst years for ticks. In fact, tick populations have been trending upwards steadily for the last three years – so no, you aren’t imagining things!

There are many tried and true ways to protect your pets and yourself from ticks, and contrary to popular belief, ticks are not only found in dense wooded areas but can also take up residence in tall grass.  So, in addition to providing monthly preventives, you can also try some of my favorite methods for keeping ticks at bay:

• Keep your yard mowed; keeping your grass short and well-maintained will make a less enticing home for ticks.  Be sure to keep brush piles cleaned up as these can also be  a habitat for ticks (also be sure to avoid areas of standing water as this can attract mosquitoes – another summertime pest for your pets!) If you have a woodpile, it’s best to keep that stacked in the sunniest part of your yard.

• Treat your yard; I treat my own property with diatomaceous earth, dispersed into the yard with a spreader.  This is a food-grade product, so it’s safe for both people and pets, working on insects like ticks and fleas (this is, however, a bee-safe product!) by dehydrating and killing them within hours of contact. You can apply diatomaceous earth in a 3-foot perimeter around your yard monthly, or more frequently with periods of heavy rain.

• Plant wisely; Add fragrant plants like lavender, rosemary, and marigolds to your flower beds to help deter ticks.  Using these plants to create a perimeter around your yard is especially effective and can be complemented by rocks or mulch to provide a drier ground cover that ticks are less likely to inhabit.

• Treat your pets; talk to your veterinarian about keeping your pets on monthly preventives, as there are many options that could be a fit for your pet.  If you apply a topical flea and tick medication to your dog, be sure they aren’t getting a bath or wetting their fur for 2-3 days before and after their application for best results. Don’t forget to check your cats for ticks! We strongly encourage that cats be kept as indoor pets only, but ticks and other pests can catch a ride into your home on your clothes or your dogs’ fur and migrate. Consider asking your vet about seasonal preventives for your feline friends, too.

• Treat yourself! If you’re heading outside during peak tick season, consider the use of a spray or mist product like Wondercide to help kill and repel not just ticks, but also mosquitoes and fleas! This plant-based product is safe for both pets and people.

A few preventive measures can ensure that your spring and summer are more enjoyable for you and your pets outdoors!

Learn more about ticks here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html

Happy Trails!

Sonia 

President, Last Hope Animal Rescue