A quick glance outside is enough to know that mean old Father Winter has finally gone away. It’s time to see Mother Nature’s more pleasant side, but with that comes increased pest activity, reminding us to be proactive about tick control.
Capable of surviving even the harshest of winters, deer tick activity often booms in the first warm days of spring. Thriving in high-moisture environments, like tall grass and in piles of leaves (even mulch can be a tick habitat), ticks have a veritable field day between the melting snow and warmer temperatures associated with the changing of the seasons. This spring will inevitably be a very active season for these unwelcome pests.
Whens, Hows & Whats of Safe Tick Control Solutions
While there are many proven, effective solutions to tackling your tick problem, traditional chemical pesticides often carry deadly consequences for more than just common ticks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports possible human and environmental harm from their use as well. Fortunately, for those of us with concerns about harming our health and the environment, there are all-natural and National Organic Program (NOP) compliant solutions to control and prevent tick-borne illnesses that are safer for everyone but the ticks!
Pesticide safety is as important as protection from harmful pests. Our goal is always to provide maximum protection with minimum environmental impact. We’re committed to using organic tick control methods to keep you safer from tick-borne illnesses through the entire tick season, so you can truly enjoy the great New England outdoor seasons before old man winter returns again!
When looking to defend yourself not only from tick bites, but also from harmful synthetic insecticides, it’s important to keep these 3 tips in mind:
- Read the Label - The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and product labels provide safety information and ingredients for all products used. These should be readily available from any company licensed to spray for deer ticks. Be sure to ask if the company mixes synthetic chemicals into their organic products!
- Research the Ingredients - Products differ in their toxicity to humans, wildlife, aquatic organisms and beneficial insects. A simple Google search of ingredients will provide the environmental impact of the product used. Look for ingredients that are EPA FIFRA 25(b) exempt. This means the ingredients pose little-to-no risk to human health or the environment, so the EPA has exempted them from the registration requirement.
- Be Wary of One Time Applications – When you buy fresh, organic food at the grocery store, you’ll notice it will turn rotten much more quickly than processed foods. The same concept works for natural and botanical spray products. While they can be just as effective as their chemically synthesized counterparts, they often require more frequent applications. If a company is advertising an “all-natural alternative” that requires less than 3 treatments for season-long protection, make sure you ask for the MSDS product label. Often, the “safe” solution is being supplemented with a synthetic chemical.
Don't wait until these pests become active again in your yard, lay eggs and infest your property. Contact us today and we'll get back to you from our office near you with a free quote and information on effective tick control treatmeant options to keep you and your family protected:
