Tick Control in Downers Grove, IL

The Ticks Found Around Downers Grove

Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks). Small and dark, they can carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Nymphs, which are about the size of a poppy seed, are active in late spring and summer and are the hardest to spot. Adults are active in fall and can even appear on mild winter days.

American dog ticks. Larger, brown with white markings. They are common in grassy and brushy areas in spring and summer. They can carry other tick borne illnesses.

Different ticks carry different germs, and a tick bite does not always mean illness. Still, it is best to avoid bites and to remove ticks quickly.

Where Ticks Live in Your Yard

Ticks do not live in the middle of a sunny, well mown lawn. They wait in cool, damp, shady spots and climb onto people and pets who brush past.

• Leaf litter and piles of yard debris
• Tall grass and brush at the edges of the lawn
• The line where lawn meets woods
• Ground cover, ivy and dense shrubs
• Stone walls and woodpiles, where mice and other hosts hide
• Play areas next to trees or shrubs

Ticks travel on deer, mice, chipmunks, birds and pets, so yards near trees, parks or forest preserves see more of them.

How We Treat Your Yard for Ticks

1. Yard inspection. We look at where your family and pets spend time and where the yard meets wooded, brushy or overgrown areas.

2. Focus on the tick zones. We treat the edges, leaf litter, tall grass, ground cover and other shady areas where ticks wait, rather than the whole lawn.

3. Yard advice. We suggest simple changes that make it harder for ticks to live near your home.

4. Repeat visits. Ticks are active in more than one season, so treatments through the active months help keep numbers down. Your technician will suggest the timing that fits your yard.

What You Can Do to Lower Tick Risk

• Rake and remove leaf litter, especially along fences, woods and shrubs
• Mow the lawn regularly and trim tall grass at the edges
• Put a strip of wood chips or gravel between the lawn and woods
• Move play equipment, patios and seating away from wooded edges
• Stack firewood neatly and away from the house
• Keep bird feeders away from the house, since they draw mice and deer
• Talk to your vet about tick prevention for pets

Tick Checks and Safety

• Check yourself, children and pets after being outside, especially the scalp, behind the ears, armpits, waist, groin and behind the knees
• Shower soon after coming indoors
• Dry clothes on high heat for about 10 minutes to kill ticks
• Use an EPA registered repellent and wear light colored clothes so ticks are easier to see

If you find a tick: Use thin pointed tweezers to grab it close to the skin and pull straight up with steady pressure. Clean the area with soap and water. Do not use petroleum jelly, a hot match or other home tricks. If you develop a rash, fever or other symptoms after a bite, contact your doctor. We are a pest control company and cannot give medical advice.

When Ticks Are Active

Tick activity changes with the season. Nymphs are most active from late spring into summer, and adult blacklegged ticks are active in fall. On mild winter days when the ground is not frozen, adult ticks can still be found. Dog ticks are more common in spring and early summer. The typical last frost comes in late April and the first frost in mid-to-late October, but mild days can extend activity beyond those dates.

Tick Control Across Downers Grove

We treat yards in Downers Grove, including ZIP codes 60515 and 60516, and in nearby towns such as Lisle, Woodridge, Westmont and Darien.