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As will be seen in our August issue’s Question of the Month (p. 14), PMP contributors Stuart Aust, Dr. Doug Mampe and Mark Sheperdigian shared tick tips. But so did several of our other contributors – and we’d love to hear from you, too. Comment below!
Dr. Austin Frishman, BCE-Emeritus: Start by having a training session with your people on how to protect themselves while inspecting and treating for ticks. Issue effective repellent and insist they use it; check with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the best ones to use. Check yourself for ticks after each job, and remove any you find. There are special low-cost kits you should carry with you. Learn from experience. I contracted Lyme disease many years ago.
Paul Hardy: Basically, the only way ticks get into a structure is by being carried. Control starts outside by removing weeds, brush and high grass (mow to 3 inches). To treat, concentrate on the drip lines of trees, bushes and the overhangs of structures. Normally, ticks are not out in the open except on walkways.
Ray Johnson: The first rule of pest management will always be inspection, so a close inspection of pets and humans after being outside is key. Then, treat the affected areas with a backpack misting machine using a labeled product.
Frank Meek: Know the tick! Make sure you understand the lifecycle and behaviors of this animal.
About the Author
Heather Gooch is the editor-in-chief for PMP magazine. She can be reached at hgooch@northcoastmedia.net or 330-321-9754.
You can’t identify a tick if you don’t know what they look like. Familiarizing yourself with the ticks in your area will help you with the ability to actually ID if it is a tick or not.