Long Island Ticks Removal
Everything you need to know about Long Island Ticks
Ticks are common in Long Island backyards and wooded areas. There are three kinds of ticks most commonly found on humans on Long Island. Be aware of tick bites as they can transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease or tick-borne disease.
Long Island Ticks’ natural habitats are high-grass and wooded areas. It’s highly recommended to do a tick check regularly on yourself and your children. If you happen to find a tick, it’s best to remove ticks with fine tweezers and place them in a small empty pill container with rubbing alcohol when spotted on your body.
What kind of ticks are on Long Island NY
There are three main species of ticks in Long Island: American dog tick, deer tick, and lone star ticks.
American Dog Ticks on Long Island
The American dog tick is also known as Wood Tick. The tick is very colorful and features a reddish-brown back mixed with greyish markings. Like most ticks, they have 8 legs with the exception of leaves. They usually only have 6 legs and grow two more as they reach adulthood.
As the name indicated, the American Dog Tick chooses mostly dogs and other furry animals as their hosts. Nonetheless, the Wood Tick can be hazardous to humans by transmitting several diseases and bacterias.
The American Dog Tick can be found in long grass areas. It’s advised to check up on yourself and your dogs after walking through high-grass areas.
Deer Ticks in Long Island
Deer ticks are also known as black-legged ticks or Bear ticks in some parts of the US. It has its name from parasitizing Long Island deers. The brown-black-ish Deer Tick is very small – much smaller than the American Dog Tick.
Like most ticks, the Deer Tick lives in high-grass areas but also in wooded areas on leaves. Anywhere, where deers would reside, too.
Deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Powassan virus, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. If you notice a high amount of black-legged ticks, please call professional tick control.
Lone Star Ticks
Lone Star Ticks have their name from a “star” or white dot on the female ticks back. Females are much larger than males. The Lone Star tick doesn’t transmit Lyme diseases but is known for causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia and meat allergies.
Lone Star Ticks can be found in wooded and forest areas across Long Island. They like thick underbrush and large trees as their habitat.
When is tick season in Long Island?
Tick season starts with spring and peaks in the months of May and June but can go far into the summer. Usually, Long Islanders start to see more ticks from April on.
Suffolk County Department of Health Tips on avoiding ticks and the diseases they carry while enjoying time outdoors
- Wear light-colored clothing.
- Wear long pants and sleeves.
- Tuck your pants into your socks.
- Tuck your shirt into your pants.
- Use repellents as directed.
- Walk along the center of trails.
- Conduct frequent clothing checks.
- Once home, dry clothing on the highest temperature setting for 10 minutes to kill any ticks.
- Carefully inspect your body for ticks.
- Keep pets from tick-infested areas and check them before entering the house.
How can you prevent ticks?
Ticks often live in high-grass areas. Homeowners are advised to cut their grass regularly to prevent living room for ticks like the American Dog Tick in their own backyard.
People living near wooded areas, trails, campgrounds, or parks have higher risks of tick infestations.
Infested areas can be very dangerous and cutting the grass might not be sufficient. Please call our recommended partner Mosquito Joe’s Tick Removal for a free pest inspection.