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Control Your Backyard from Ticks and Harmful Illnesses - Naturally!

Increased tick activity brings not only itchy bites but also a surge in Lyme disease cases. Over the past two decades, Lyme disease occurrences have risen fourfold throughout the United States, making ticks a significant health concern.

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Increased Tick Presence Brings Rise in Lyme Disease Cases: Over the past two decades, the United...
Increased Tick Presence Brings Rise in Lyme Disease Cases: Over the past two decades, the United States has witnessed a fourfold increase in Lyme disease incidents due to the prevalence of ticks.

Control Your Backyard from Ticks and Harmful Illnesses - Naturally!

**Tick season's upon us, and it's bringing more than just pesky bites! With Lyme disease cases skyrocketing over the past 20 years across the U.S., ticks pose a formidable threat to households, pets, and even pollinators. But don't just sit back and wait for the bite – take action!

Meet Tick BYTES: Your DIY Solution

Tick BYTES (Back Yard Tick Eco‐friendly Solutions), introduced on June 11, offers an easy-to-follow DIY plan to combat ticks and mosquitoes in a natural way. This ingenious system, dreamt up by Lyme advocate Barb Maurais and licensed pest control pro Bob Maurais, has the following priorities this season:

  • Utilizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
  • Employing eco-friendly botanical chemistry, plus budget-friendly backpack sprayers
  • Scalable from individual yards to entire neighborhoods
  • Options that are safe for families, pets, and pollinators

The Inspiration Behind Tick BYTES

As Barb Maurais explains, "In 2024, 68% of ticks submitted to the University of Maine Tick Lab were discovered in people's yards during everyday activities like gardening and play... We created this program to put the power in people's hands to minimize ticks and mosquitoes in their own backyards."

Bob Maurais adds, "Instead of relying solely on professional services, we're providing people the tools ... to unite with their neighbors ... Knowledge is empowering, but action is what saves."

What You Can Do – Backed by Science

Tick BYTES sticks to IPM principles, aligning with extensive research:

  • Habitat Management: Clear clutter, create sunny/gravel zones - ticks despise dryness and love clutter.
  • Chemical Controls: Opt for botanical oils (cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary), used sensibly, to lessen tick presence.
  • Biological Deterrents: Introduce guinea fowl or beneficial nematodes (such as hookworms and roundworms) – natural predators of tick larvae.
  • Neighbor Cooperation: Treating nearby properties is vital – ticks travel with wildlife, so community-wide actions work best.

Make It Work for You

What can you do first to tackle this crucial summer mission and minimize the number of ticks? Start here:

  1. Grab Tick BYTES' free DIY guides, such as Protection Strategies – Home & Away and Time to Treat for Ticks.
  2. Mapping Out Your Yard: Identify shaded, humid zones where ticks thrive.
  3. Apply Eco-friendly Sprays: Use the battery-powered sprayer provided or recommended, or go for popular alternatives.
  4. Maintain Habitat: Keep up with regular yard cleanup and landscaping tweaks.
  5. Connect with Neighbors: Greater coverage means greater protection.

Remember Personal Prevention

Even the best yard defense doesn't replace personal caution:

  • Dress in long sleeves and clothing treated with permethrin, especially in wooded or grassy areas.
  • Conduct thorough body checks after being outdoors, and promptly remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers.

Tick BYTES presents an eco-friendly, community-powered line of defense against major summer pests, like ticks and mosquitoes. By combining habitat modifications, botanical repellents, and organized neighborhood action, it empowers homeowners to protect their loved ones naturally, also safeguarding pollinators in the process.

Sources

[1] University of Maine Tick Lab: https://www.umaine.edu/ipm/insects/pests/ticks/index.html

Author

  • Adriana Copaceanu View more articles
  1. Tick season has escalated health concerns, with Lyme disease cases rapidly increasing, posing threats to households, pets, and pollinators alike.
  2. In response, Tick BYTES, or Back Yard Tick Eco-friendly Solutions, launched on June 11, offers a DIY plan for combating ticks and mosquitoes using natural methods.
  3. This program emphasizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, eco-friendly botanical chemistry, and budget-friendly equipment.
  4. The founders, Lyme advocate Barb Maurais and licensed pest control professional Bob Maurais, aim to give people the power to minimize ticks and mosquitoes in their own gardens.
  5. Science-backed strategies include habitat management, chemical controls using botanical oils, biological deterrents like guinea fowl or beneficial nematodes, and community cooperation.
  6. To start, grab Tick BYTES' free DIY guides, identify shaded, humid zones, apply eco-friendly sprays with a battery-powered sprayer, maintain habitats, and connect with neighbors for greater coverage.
  7. Personal precautions include dressing in protective clothing and conducting thorough body checks after outdoor activities.
  8. Tick BYTES presents an eco-friendly community approach to fight against summer pests like ticks and mosquitoes, ensuring natural protection for families, pets, pollinators, and the environment.

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