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Jakob Beltran
Pest Control Technician
Jason Hansen
Pest Control Technician
Mackenzie Keene
Office Manager
The American dog tick, commonly referred to as the wood tick, is prevalent in the U.S., excluding the Rocky Mountain area. These ticks are brown with grayish-white markings and can grow from 3/16” to 5/8” when engorged. Their oval, flattened bodies have six legs as larvae and eight as adults.
Though they prefer to feed on dogs, they can also bite humans and transmit diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The risk of exposure is highest in spring and early summer. Regularly checking pets and maintaining your lawn can reduce the chance of a tick infestation.
Brown Dog Ticks, recognized for their reddish-brown color, often infest dogs and are common in warm areas like California. Although they prefer dogs, these ticks may bite humans if a dog isn’t present.
As adults, Brown Dog Ticks measure around 1/8″ but can swell to 1/2″ after feeding. They have six legs as larvae and develop eight legs as nymphs and adults. Promptly removing ticks from pets is essential to prevent health risks. Regularly inspect pets and clean their environments to minimize tick infestations.
Pacific Coast ticks are common in shrublands and along trails from Oregon to Baja California, making them present in San Diego. These ticks are most active during the cooler months, particularly in April and May. While adults typically feed on large mammals like deer, horses, and cattle, they will also bite dogs and humans.
These ticks are known to carry diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and bovine anaplasmosis. Livestock can also suffer from tick-bite paralysis. About 11% of adult Pacific Coast ticks carry bacteria that cause Pacific Coast tick fever, a disease often mistaken for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
The Western Black-Legged Tick is common throughout the Pacific Coast and in British Columbia, where it is the primary carrier of Lyme disease. These ticks are typically found in forests, grasslands, and areas near water, though they can also inhabit scrubby landscapes. Closely related to the Eastern Black-Legged Tick, they are primarily found on the West Coast.
Adult ticks are most active from early winter through early summer, and nymphs peak during the spring months, especially from April to June. Nymphs feed on small animals like lizards and rodents and rarely bite humans or pets. Yard maintenance and removing debris can help keep ticks at bay.
San Diego Pest Control begins the tick control process with a comprehensive inspection of your property. Our technician will search for high-risk areas such as tall grass, dense bushes, and shaded sections, which are common habitats for ticks. Identifying these areas ensures an effective treatment approach.
Additionally, we focus on spots where pets are most active, as ticks often gather there. This thorough inspection allows us to tailor our treatment to the specific needs of your property, providing a targeted plan to keep your home tick-free and safe.
We begin our tick control service with a conversation about whether you need indoor or outdoor treatments, or both. If you have pets, we usually recommend treating both areas to ensure full coverage. This helps us tailor a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
Our technician will then inspect your yard to find areas with high tick activity. We treat up to half an acre using moisture-activated granules that offer long-lasting protection. If your yard is larger, additional areas can be treated for an extra fee. Indoors, we use a B&G sprayer for a targeted application. This thorough approach ensures effective tick control from the outset.
After the initial tick treatment, we offer a free follow-up two weeks later to address any newly hatched ticks. Our technician will inspect both the indoor and outdoor treated areas to make sure all ticks are gone.
During this follow-up, we may reapply treatments to break the tick life cycle and prevent new infestations. We strive to keep your home and yard tick-free, giving your family and pets peace of mind.
Serving San Diego and its neighboring areas, we’re dedicated to keeping your spaces free from pests. Our team is passionate about these communities and strives to provide top-notch service and lasting results.
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