Ticks in Your Yard in Wyoming: 6 Ways to Cut Them Back

Short answer

Ticks in Gillette yards come from the tall grass, sagebrush and pasture around town and peak from about April through June. Cut them back by mowing often, making a dry strip between your lawn and the prairie, clearing brush and leaf piles, treating pets, checking everyone after outdoor play and using a perimeter barrier spray every few weeks in spring.

Which ticks live around Gillette?

The ticks found most around Gillette are the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the American dog tick. Both wait on tips of grass and brush and grab onto people, dogs, horses and deer as they pass. Wood ticks can spread Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and can rarely cause tick paralysis.

The blacklegged tick that spreads Lyme disease is not common in this part of Wyoming. That does not mean ticks are harmless here, but it does change what you watch for.

When are ticks most active in Gillette?

Ticks in Gillette are most active from about April through June, when snow has melted and the grass is green. Activity drops in the hot, dry part of summer and picks up a little again in early fall. A warm spring can start the season early.

Where do ticks hide in your yard?

Ticks hide where your yard meets tall grass, sagebrush and brush, along fence lines, under shrubs, in leaf piles and in shady, damp spots. They dry out easily, so they avoid short, sunny lawn and stay in cover until a host walks by.

Homes on acreage in pest control Buffalo and pest control Sleepy Hollow often have a long edge of prairie right against the yard. That edge is where most ticks are picked up.

What are 6 ways to cut back ticks?

The six best ways to cut back ticks are mowing often, building a dry buffer strip, clearing brush and leaf piles, keeping wildlife out, treating pets and using a perimeter barrier spray in spring.

1. Mow often. Keep lawn short, especially along fences and paths.
2. Build a buffer strip. A 3-foot strip of gravel or wood chips between lawn and prairie keeps ticks from crossing.
3. Clear brush and leaves. Remove leaf piles, brush and junk where ticks and mice hide.
4. Keep wildlife out. Deer, rabbits and mice carry ticks into the yard. Fencing and fewer feeders help.
5. Treat pets. Use a vet-approved tick product on dogs and check horses daily in spring.
6. Barrier spray. A perimeter treatment on fence lines and grass edges every few weeks in peak season knocks ticks down.

How do you remove a tick safely?

Remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers. Grab it as close to the skin as you can and pull straight up with steady pressure. Do not twist, squeeze or burn it. Clean the bite with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

Write down the date. If a fever, rash or headache shows up in the following weeks, tell your doctor about the tick bite.

How do you check kids and pets for ticks?

Check kids and pets for ticks right after they come in from the yard, a hike or the pasture. Ticks often crawl for a while before they bite, so a quick check can catch them before they attach.

• On kids: check the scalp, behind the ears, the neck, armpits, waistband and behind the knees
• On dogs: run your hands over the ears, neck, between the toes, under the collar and around the tail
• On horses: check the mane, under the jaw, the chest and the tail head
• Toss outdoor clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill hidden ticks

A shower within two hours of coming inside also helps wash off ticks that have not attached yet.

When should you call for tick control?

Call for tick control when you find ticks on kids or pets more than once a week, when you live next to open range or pasture, or when you want a yard that is safe to use all spring. A mosquito and tick control Gillette WY plan treats grass edges and fence lines on a regular cycle and covers mosquitoes later in the summer. If you also have skunks or raccoons bringing ticks under the deck, ask about wildlife removal Gillette WY.

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