If you live in a wooded area or in a place where ticks are common, you may have concerns for your own health and that of your pets. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to control ticks near your home to reduce the chances of being on the receiving end of a tick bite. Here are just some of the steps you can take to deal with ticks.

Keep Your Lawn Maintained

Keeping your lawn maintained is one way to keep ticks away They can hide in tall grass, so keep your lawn trimmed. Avoid leaving piles of firewood or leaves on your property, Rake leaves as they fall, and keep other debris out of your yard as well. By reducing the places that ticks can hide or call home, you can better keep them away from your property.

Install Deer Fences

Deer and other wildlife may be beautiful to look at, but they can often bring ticks with them. Install a deer fence surrounding your property to keep these large animals out, and trim back tree branches near the fence line to help keep smaller animals, such as squirrels away as well. By controlling the animals that have access to your property, you may be able to prevent animals carrying ticks from bringing these pesky creatures into your yard.

Use Repellents

There are many types of repellents on the market, from chemicals that prevent ticks from fully developing to chemicals that actually repel them from your property. Even with the use of these chemicals in your yard, you'll still want to take extra measures to protect your family and your pets. Pets should wear tick collars and receive regular tick treatments, but be sure to partner with your veterinarian to ensure you are giving them the proper care they need. You can also purchase tick repellent you can wear on your clothing and skin, which can come in handy whether you are planning an outdoor picnic or you are just letting your kids play in your yard.

Home Prevention

If you are concerned about ticks getting into your home, you may want to contact a pest control expert for assistance. Ticks can thrive in homes where they find hosts to feed off of, such as mice, rats, or squirrels. If you have an issue with small animals nesting in your home and you live in an area where ticks are common, you may find that you can soon have a tick infestation as well. Be sure to wash all clothes worn outdoors as soon as possible, and work with your pest control expert to identify any other steps you can take to keep ticks out of your home.

Removing ticks from your skin or from your pets can be complicated, and ticks can sometimes carry serious diseases. Taking these steps can help you to reduce the chances of having to deal with tick removal. Contact an exterminating company, like Environmental Services Pest Control, for more help.