Spring has arrived in Texas! It is time to get outside more. But if you spend a lot of time outdoors, you’ll probably want to learn about ticks and the risks of being bitten. Ticks are active all year round in Texas, but especially as warm weather increases in the spring and into the summer months.
You can encounter several species of ticks across the Lone Star State, including in Corpus Christi and areas all along the Texas Gulf Coast. The four most common types of ticks found in Texas are American Dog Ticks, Lone Star Ticks, Brown Dog Ticks, and Blacklegged Ticks. They live in both wooded areas and common outdoor areas around homes. These pests are tiny and can be hard to spot, especially in their earliest stages of development when they are the size of poppy seeds.
People in Texas should take precautions against these dangerous pests–knowing how to protect yourself is important. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, ticks are vectors of many different diseases, many of which cause serious illness; many tick-borne illnesses can be fatal. The most well-known tick-borne illness is Lyme disease; other illnesses transmitted by ticks include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
While engaging in outdoor activities, it is vital to limit your exposure to harmful ticks. Some things you should do include applying insect repellent and wearing long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and closed-toes shoes to deter ticks from attaching. Also, you should avoid walking through heavy vegetation, leaf piles, and other organic debris where ticks often nest. And after being outdoors, make sure to do “tick checks” on your whole family, including pets.
You can take steps to discourage ticks from being active around your property as well. Regularly trimming shrubs, bushes, and trees and removing the yard waste helps decrease the habitat favored by ticks. And deter wildlife pests like rodents that often carry ticks from your property–cover garbage cans and store pet food inside to keep wildlife at bay. Furthermore, it is important to contact tick control experts at a professional pest management company for assistance keeping your yard tick-free.
If you are in the market for buying or selling property in Corpus Christi or other communities along the Texas Gulf Coast, you should reach out to a licensed real estate professional, like those at the Corpus Christi-based WEICHERT, REALTORS® – The Place of Houses. The Weichert team can help you with your market research and answer any questions you have. If you need guidance or advice about the process of buying or selling a property, consulting competent and experienced professionals is key. To discuss your real estate needs regarding properties on or near the Texas coast, WEICHERT, REALTORS® – The Place of Houses is the professional real estate team to call. This knowledgeable team employs well-trained, seasoned real estate specialists who are committed to providing excellent support to all their clients. Contact WEICHERT, REALTORS® – The Place of Houses so the expert real estate team can help you explore all your options with efficiency and ease.
