As we gear up for summer, make sure you are prepared to combat the ticks that infest our region. Throughout Massachusetts, ticks are once again roaming, looking for an unsuspecting meal. Despite our superior size, strength, and intellect, we are highly susceptible to tick bites due to the secretive nature of these creatures. Tiny and quiet, ticks are very good at slipping under our radar and attaching themselves to our skin for a meal and a ride.

Like hitchhikers of the natural world, ticks have spread throughout the Northeast and threaten our outdoor living experiences daily. As great as summer can be, ticks always lie in wait, so it is important to understand why preventing bites is essential now and in the future. Tick-borne diseases are becoming more common every year due to the expanding range of ticks, and some have only been discovered relatively recently.

You probably know about the main tick-borne illness Lyme disease, but there are many other ailments that a tick bite can cause. Typically, when we imagine what causes a tick-borne disease, we think of the dangerous bacteria that can damage our health so severely. However, some ticks are dangerous for other reasons.

The lone star tick, typically associated with the southern United States, has rapidly expanded its range over the past decades, and it is now found in a few places in Massachusetts. Due to climate change, traditional tick ranges have all expanded beyond their historic size, and this is very troubling in the case of the lone star tick. Why? This tick isn’t just capable of spreading disease; it can also cause you to develop an allergy to meat. Known as alfa-gal syndrome, this allergy is only caused by lone star ticks, whose bite triggers the allergy’s onset. Alfa-gal is the shorthand name for a sugar molecule that is found in many kinds of meat, as well as the saliva of the lone star tick. Once your body identifies alfa-gal as being associated with the bite of a tick, the immune system goes into overdrive and will react in the same way when meat is consumed. Symptoms of the allergy can include hives, itching, swelling, intestinal issues, and even anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. To defend your health, as well as your appetite for meat, make sure you implement tick control this summer.

Protect your health and summer with Ludlow tick control

Lone star ticks are just one of a few tick species that are abundant in Massachusetts. Each tick species you are likely to come across can transmit various diseases, so it is best to be defended against these creatures. At Mosquito Squad, we’ve worked since 2005 to defend our customers from ticks, and we’re still going strong. Using our barrier protection treatment, which is also effective against mosquitoes, we will treat your yard’s perimeter and interior to ensure ticks aren’t welcome. With a treatment every 2-3 weeks, we can guarantee a dramatic reduction in the tick population on your property. Your health is too important to take chances with, and our professionals are here to ensure you’re always defended this season.

Lone star tick bites can make you allergic to meat. To ensure you avoid this terrible scenario, trust the experts at Mosquito Squad of Springfield for Ludlow tick control. Whatever your tick control needs, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call at (413) 418-3359.