Identify Ticks in Your Area
www.tickencounter.org : This is a great site to learn all about ticks, their habitat and how to reduce your risk of exposure.
Tick Testing
Tick testing is most helpful for researchers. The information gleaned fro a specimen can be helpful in knowing what types of infections you may be carrying form a recent tick bite, however, there is no way of being sure that the tick transmitted an infection to you.
www.tickreport.com : This service is out of Massachusetts and costs $50 for their basic panel.
www.bayarealyme.org : Free but takes months to get results back. BATA is interested in research and hopes that individuals will send in as many ticks as possible that they find on their bodies and just in the surrounding habitat.
Insecticides for Your Clothing
Permethrin: can be purchased at any outdoor store and sometimes hardware stores. This is a toxic substance to animals and humans so be sure to follow directions carefully. www.insectshield.com is a company that will treat your clothes for a good price.
Insect Repellents
Chemical sprays: DEET, Picaridin (safer than DEET), IR5535 found in Skin So Soft products (safer than DEET)
Herbal Essential Oils that work but must be applied often to be effective: Cedar oil. Lemon Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lemon Grass.
Yard:
Check with your local pest management company to see if they offer essential oil sprays for the yard.
Tick Tubes: Damminix brand or other company with permethrin treated cotton
Nix Ticks: Tick control system out of CT. Provides essential oil spray and tick tubes.
