Finding ticks in your home can be alarming. Ticks are small parasitic organisms that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. While most ticks live outdoors, it is possible for them to find their way indoors and become a nuisance. Understanding why ticks end up in your home and how to prevent indoor infestations is important for protecting your family and pets.
What types of ticks commonly end up in houses?
There are several tick species that are known to enter structures and take up residence in homes. The most frequent tick intruders in many regions of North America include:
- Blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks)
- Lone star ticks
- American dog ticks (or wood ticks)
- Brown dog ticks
Of these, blacklegged ticks and American dog ticks are most likely to bite humans. Lone star ticks will also bite people but prefer livestock, dogs and other animals. Brown dog ticks rarely bite humans, focusing more on canine hosts. Any of these ticks can transmit diseases when they do bite.
How are ticks getting into my house?
Ticks use several strategies to make their way inside, including:
- Hitching a ride on people or pets
- Crawling in through cracks, crevices and openings
- Nesting inItems brought from outside
- Blown in by wind
Ticks will crawl onto people or animals outdoors and then get carried indoors. Pets like dogs and cats can pick up several ticks during walks through tick-infested areas. The ticks will often remain attached after returning home, then drop off and become established inside. Ticks can also crawl inside through any small cracks, gaps or openings. Common entry points include under doors, through windows, and via the gaps around pipes and wiring.
Outdoor items that are brought inside, like firewood, plants, leaf litter or furniture, may harbor tick nests. Ticks can then crawl off and spread throughout the indoor space. Finally, strong winds may pick up and blow ticks indoors from outdoor vegetation or yards.
When are ticks most likely to come inside?
Ticks will seek access into buildings more frequently during certain seasons and life stages:
- Late spring and early summer – Adult ticks are highly active and searching for hosts.
- Mid to late summer – Large numbers of tick nymphs are around.
- Fall – Tick larvae become abundant and are easily blown by winds.
- Winter – On warm winter days, overwintering adult ticks reactivate and may enter structures.
During peak activity periods, vigilance is required to prevent tick infestations. Keeping them out of living spaces helps avoid close encounters and bites.
Where are ticks found inside houses?
Once indoors, common areas for tick encounters include:
- Beds, bedding and bedroom carpets
- Upholstered furniture and furniture coverings
- Carpets and rugs
- Curtains and window frames
- Pet bedding and resting areas
- Clutter like stacks of clothing, towels or paper
- Cracks and crevices in walls or floors
Ticks gravitate to protected spots with access to hosts. Beds and couches provide an opportunity to encounter sleeping humans or pets. Ticks will hide out in dark, humid locations until hosts pass by. Regularly checking these areas can help identify infestations quickly.
How can I prevent ticks from entering my house?
Preventative measures can help exclude ticks from your home environment. Recommended tick proofing tactics include:
- Clear tall grasses and vegetation next to the home
- Install a vegetation-free border of wood chips, gravel or pavement around the structure
- Seal cracks, gaps and crevices with caulk or sealants
- Use tight-fitting screens on doors and windows
- Keep the lawn mowed short
- Remove leaf litter, brush piles and tidying up outdoor areas
- Discourage rodents by sealing possible entries and removing food sources
- Treat the yard with pesticides labeled for tick control
- Check pets closely and treat dogs with vet-approved tick preventatives
These strategies limit tick access points and reduce populations near the home. Consult with pest control experts for professional tick treatment services and exclusion methods as needed.
How can I get rid of ticks in my house?
If ticks have already established themselves indoors, treatment options include:
- Professional tick control services using indoor-approved insecticides
- Thorough cleaning and vacuuming with special attention to cracks and crevices
- Washing and drying clothes on high heat to kill any ticks present
- Using desiccant dusts like diatomaceous earth in wall voids and secluded spots
Topical sprays, foggers and powders can provide quick knockdown of ticks found crawling in living areas. Residual sprays may also be applied baseboards, carpets and furniture. Steam cleaning carpets can kill ticks on contact. To remove ticks nesting in cracks, vacuuming combined with dusts is most effective. Monitor closely and repeat applications as needed until the infestation is eliminated.
What diseases can ticks transmit?
Several dangerous tick-borne diseases occur in the United States that pet owners should be aware of:
| Disease | Primary Tick Vector | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Lyme Disease | Blacklegged ticks | Rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue |
| Anaplasmosis | Blacklegged ticks | Fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, cough |
| Ehrlichiosis | Lone star ticks | Fever, headache, muscle pain, gastrointestinal issues |
| Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever | American dog ticks | Fever, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting |
| Tularemia | American dog ticks | Ulceration at bite site, fever, chills, headache |
Prompt medical attention is required for assessment anytime a tick bite occurs. Reducing tick populations in the environment and on pets minimizes disease transmission risks.
How can I protect my family from tick-borne diseases?
Several important tips can help safeguard family members from tick-related illnesses:
- Avoid areas with high tick populations
- Use EPA-approved tick repellents
- Wear light colored long pants and sleeves when outdoors
- Perform frequent tick checks after outdoor exposure
- Bath or shower within 2 hours after coming indoors
- Tumble dry clothes on high heat to kill any ticks
- Talk to your vet about tick control products for pets
- Have pets screened annually for tick-borne diseases
Being proactive and diligent are the best defenses against tick-transmitted infections. Reducing tick access into the home environment also protects human occupants.
Conclusion
Finding ticks inside your home can certainly be disturbing. But through vigilance and integrated pest management, indoor tick control is possible. Focus on exclusion tactics, reducing tick habitats, and inspecting pets and living areas. Seek help from pest management professionals when needed. With a committed prevention program, you can minimize unwanted tick encounters and keep your family safe.