Do groundhog ticks carry Lyme disease?

The groundhog tick is not a voracious biter. It does not carry Lyme disease, but a bite from a groundhog tick could be fatal.

Groundhog tick bites can really pack a punch by way of a potentially fatal tick-borne illness known as Powassan virus disease. Like the bite from a groundhog tick, Powassan virus disease is very rare, but why put your health at risk with a yard that remains an unprotected potential tick habitat?

What is the Powassan virus?

The Powassan virus is spread through infected ticks. It can cause Powassan virus disease, a severe illness that can result in a brain infection (encephalitis) or infect the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

All it takes is a single bite from an infected tick to get Powassan virus disease. To date, Powassan virus disease has been reported among people in the northeastern and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Powassan virus disease tends to spread in late spring and mid-fall, both of which are times when ticks are very active.

Who is most at risk of a groundhog tick bite?

Research suggests that ticks may be attracted to certain blood types. In one study, researchers found that ticks prefer type A blood, followed by type O, type AB, and type B.

Along with blood type, ticks may be drawn to you based on the carbon dioxide that you exhale and the sweat you emit. They may be attracted to light-colored clothing, too.

How many cases of Powassan are there in the U.S. each year?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Powassan peaked in the United States in 2019 with 35 known cases. The latest survey from 2021 lists 23 known Powassan cases in the U.S., slightly higher than 2020, which had 20 confirmed cases.

Is residential tick control recommended to eliminate groundhog ticks?

Residential tick control in Austin can make a big difference in terms of addressing groundhog ticks and other types of ticks around your home. To understand why, consider how a residential tick control treatment is performed.

During a residential tick control treatment, highly trained technicians visit your home and look for any areas where ticks populate. They then apply a spray designed to reduce the number of ticks on your property. The treatment delivers results that last at least a few weeks. Plus, these tick control technicians can come back to your home at regular intervals to perform ongoing treatments.

In addition to the standard treatment for residential tick control in Austin, tick tubes are available. Each tick tube is filled with insecticide-treated cotton. Mice can collect this cotton and use it for bedding. Meanwhile, ticks can latch on to the mice that collect this cotton. When these ticks are exposed to the cotton, they die on contact.

Is commercial tick control the same as residential tick control?

While every residential and commercial tick control client receives a custom-tailored plan of attack, our tick control methodology is the same for everyone. Mosquito Squad's commercial tick control begins with identifying potential problem areas, which will be interrupted on the spot. Our commercial tick control technicians will provide information about keeping your yard less tick-friendly as well. Then, they will treat your property with our EPA-registered tick control or natural tick control formula. You have nothing to lose but ticks, because our residential and commercial tick control is guaranteed!

Trust the experts at Mosquito Squad for guaranteed tick control in Austin TX to help keep your yard safer from the threat of tick bites, including groundhog ticks. Contact us today at (512) 456-9954.

Also Read: Is mosquito control safe for pets?