Tick Pest Control Geelong​

In spring and summer in Australia, especially after rain, the tick population increases due to the humid environment. It’s important to be aware of the risks of tick bites, to take steps to prevent them and learn about tick removal and tick control.

There are about 74 tick species in Australia but the main ones include the cattle tick, bush tick, brown dog tick, and the worst offender, the paralysis tick (ixodes holocyclus), which is the most dangerous and deadly type of tick to both pets and people.

Where Are Paralysis Ticks Found in Australia?

Paralysis ticks are commonly found in outdoor areas on the east coast of Australia from Victoria to northern Queensland year-round. Ticks are a parasite to native mammals, livestock, pets and people. Anyone allergic to tick bites should seek urgent medical assistance.

Tick Control in the Back Yard

While you can’t control tick infestations in bushland, tick control in suburban backyards is recommended. Ticks can occur in lawns, long grass, bushes and in leaf litter, so tick removal and tick control is advisable to prevent a tick infestation and avoid tick paralysis. For tick removal and help to control ticks, call Essential Pest Solutions today.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Australia

The diseases carried by ticks in this country and transmitted to humans via tick bites are Australian Tick Typhus or Spotted Fever which occurs along the east coast from North Queensland to Victoria, and Flinders Island Spotted Fever which occurs in Victoria, Tasmania and Flinders Island in Bass Strait.

The occurrence of Lyme disease caused by a tick bite in Australia is a contentious issue. But tick paralysis due to paralysis ticks is known to mainly affect dogs and small pets, and bush ticks can transmit a babesiosis parasite to dogs.

Tick control is important. If you have a tick infestation and need to control ticks, or for grass tick removal or tick protection, book a tick inspection to control ticks or provide tick treatment for your yard with Essential Pest Solutions today.

You Don’t Want a Tick Bite

You often don’t realise you have a tick because they secrete an anaesthetic that numbs the pain. In humans, there may be flu-like symptoms, partial facial paralysis, rashes, weak limbs, and an unsteady gait. Dogs e.g., may lose control of their back legs.

A severe allergic reaction in people include symptoms from a swollen throat to potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock so if you are allergic, seek medical help. If your pet has a tick and is showing symptoms – particularly weak back legs or inability to walk – get urgent veterinary treatment, even after successful tick removal.

Ticks Penetrate Your Skin and Suck Your Blood

Ticks don’t fly; they crawl to the tips of long blades of grass and bushes, even fence posts, waiting for mammals to brush past so they attach to the host’s skin. So, avoid walking in bushland unless you wear a long-sleeved shirt, trousers and use insect repellent in case of a tick infestation. Also, the wind can carry ticks onto clotheslines and be brought inside with the laundry.

The Safest Tick Removal Technique

Ticks have hooks and barbs on their mouthparts that dig into the skin, helping the tick to cling on.

For tick removal, do this:

• Using sterilised or clean fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick close to the skin.
• With a steady motion, pull forward and out in the opposite direction that the tick’s hooks went in. This means pulling toward the tick’s head.

This tick-removal method lessens the chance of breaking off the head. If the head stays in the skin, you may need to consult a medical practitioner to remove it. The tick will probably still be alive if taken out whole, so drop it into methylated spirits to kill it. After tick removal, clean the bite site with warm soap and water.

Don’t Fall For Myths About Tick Removal

Tick removal folk remedies and myths don’t work or make things worse. Some suggest dabbing the tick with methylated spirits or covering it with Vaseline or nail polish.

Others recommend freezing or a hot match which is supposed to either kill ticks (which would affect removal) or cause it to ‘back out’. All these dodgy methods make the tick dig deeper and inject more disease-laden anaesthetic, increasing the risk of infection.

The Life Cycle of Ticks

After the eggs hatch, the larvae are 0.5 mm in size and thousands of them can climb onto nearby vegetation at about human waist height. Engorged paralysis tick adults can swell to the size of a fat thumbnail and are usually coloured blue.

At Essential Pest Solutions, we safely kill ticks at every stage of their life cycle and will work with you after the initial cleaning to kill any remaining ticks and prevent ticks in the future. Trust us to implement the necessary measures to ensure a tick-free environment for you and your loved ones.

Contact Essential Pest Solutions For Tick Removal

If you’re searching for “tick control services near me” in Geelong, our professional tick pest control experts can help to keep your family and pets safe from tick bites and tick-borne diseases with effective tick removal solutions.

Contact us at Essential Pest Solutions here for local tick control or call us today on 0438 422 580 for tick management, tick removal and control around your home or workplace.