Pesticide Safety & Controlling Deer Ticks

A quick glance outside is enough to know that mean old Father Winter has finally gone away, and it’s time to see Mother Nature’s more pleasant side.

With the rising temps and melting snow come the blacklegged ticks, aka deer ticks. Capable of surviving even the harshest of winters, deer ticks often become active in the first warm days of the spring season. Thriving in high moisture environments, 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.

When battling ticks, taking action sooner is always better. Beginning treatments as soon as warm weather arrives will help keep female adult deer ticks from wreaking havoc around your home by laying thousands of eggs to start a new generation of dangerous ticks. While we encourage taking a stand against ticks as soon as possible, researching the product you are introducing into your yard is equally as important. When it comes to outdoor pest control, the motto “spray first, ask questions later” is definitely not your best bet!

There are many proven, effective solutions to tackling your tick problem. Many traditional solutions carry deadly consequences for ticks of all shapes and sizes; additionally, 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 in a manner 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, especially so you can truly enjoy the season before old man winter returns again!

When looking to defend yourself not only from ticks, but also from harmful synthetic insecticides, it’s important to keep these 3 tips in mind:

1. 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 ticks. Be sure to ask if the company mixes synthetic chemicals into their organic products!
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.