Ticks Love These 5 Common Backyard Hiding Places, Pest Experts Warn

Key Takeaways

• Ticks hide in cool, damp spots like tall grass, shade, mulch, and garden beds because these areas help them avoid drying out.

• Mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and pets help ticks spread by carrying them through your yard.

• Reduce your risk by mowing regularly, wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and keeping pets on tick prevention.

Summer is here, which means you'll be spending time outside enjoying the nice weather, barbecues, and fun with friends and family. But it also means exposing yourself to unwelcome guests like ticks. 

While many tick bites don't cause illness, some can transmit diseases or trigger serious health conditions, including Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome. Ticks can also cling to your pets, making prevention even more important.

The good news is you don't have to avoid your yard altogether—you just need to know where ticks are most likely to hide and take a few simple precautions. Here are five places in your yard where pest experts say ticks love to hide.

Meet Our Expert

• Kurt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products

• Mariah Baggio-Deibler, PhD, technical director at PestMaster

• Marnie Shanahan, founder of Tick Socks

01 of 05

Tall Grass

Did you forget to mow the lawn for a few weeks? Before you drag that mower out of the garage, do yourself a favor and put on a pair of long pants and socks first, because there's a good chance ticks are hiding out in that grass. 

"Most people think of ticks as insects, but they're actually tiny arachnids," says Marnie Shanahan, founder of Tick Socks. "Like many arachnids, they're vulnerable to drying out, so they seek out shaded, humid places like tall grass where they're protected from the sun." 

Another problem is that tall grass also puts ticks in the perfect position to transfer onto people or pets as they brush past. "From there, many ticks crawl upward in search of exposed skin, which is why shoes and socks are such an important first line of defense," Shanahan adds.

So be sure to mow on schedule , and keep your grass short for the rest of the summer.

Tips

In summer, mow cool-season grasses to 3 to 3½ inches and warm-season grasses to 2 to 2½ inches. Follow the one-third rule, meaning you should never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mow. This helps keep your lawn healthy while reducing the cool, overgrown conditions ticks prefer.

02 of 05

Areas Where Rodents Gather

A busy population of backyard critters could be a sign that ticks are nearby, too. Kurt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products, says we usually associate ticks with large animals, but it's really small rodents like mice that help sustain the tick population.

"As we built our homes in previously wooded areas, we chased away the predators of the mice like foxes, hawks, and other types of critters," he explains. "The mice population increases. Each mouse can be home to ten or more ticks. It's all about the rodents. Mice, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. They are where the tick journey begins."

03 of 05

Your Pet's Favorite Spots

If your dog or cat has a favorite place to play or relax, it's worth checking that area for ticks. Your furry family might be attracting them, explains Mariah Baggio-Deibler, PhD, technical director at PestMaster.

"Most hard ticks quest between ankle and knee height, although the blacklegged tick may climb vegetation up to 3 feet high," she explains. "Ticks do not fly or fall from trees. Instead, they climb vegetation and wait with their front legs extended to attach to a passing host."

This is why it's also important to make sure your pets are on an appropriate tick prevention plan . 

04 of 05

Cool, Shady Spots

Do you have a cool, shaded area in your yard that feels peaceful on a hot summer day? We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these spaces are just as attractive to ticks.

"Ticks thrive in environments that provide humidity, shade, and access to hosts," says Baggio-Deibler. "Because they are highly sensitive to drying out, they prefer areas that remain cool and moist." She also notes that shaded areas have cooler temperatures and higher humidity, allowing ticks to survive longer.

05 of 05

Garden Beds and Mulch

You probably know your garden attracts pests , and unfortunately, that also includes ticks. Baggio-Deibler says ticks can often be found in mulch beds, garden beds, and even ornamental plantings.

This doesn't mean you should stop gardening. It just means you need to wear appropriate clothing while gardening and use bug repellent when necessary.

Related: The 9 Best Mosquito Repellents & Bug Sprays, Tested and Reviewed

Read the original article on Real Simple