Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors

Hitching a Ride

Ticks can’t fly or jump, so they have to be clever about how they hitch a ride. Ticks often climb to the highest point of a shrub or blade of grass that they can reach. They perch there, holding on with their back legs and with their front legs extended. When a potential host – like a person or animal – brushes by, they grab on and look for a place to attach. They’re sensing breath, body smells, body heat, moisture, and vibrations.

Tall Grasses and Weeds

Ticks can only climb to about 18 to 24 inches from the ground. That’s the perfect height for tall grasses and weeds. They’ll crawl to the tops and wait for a chance to ambush a host. Mow your lawn regularly and remove weeds around your yard to make it harder for ticks to lurk and pounce. Keep pets (and people) out of tall, grassy areas where ticks hang out.

Leaf Litter

Dead leaves – called leaf litter – are an easy place for ticks to hide. Because piles are on the ground, ticks move from them to animals and humans walking through the yard. You can rake your leaves to remove that perfect tick-friendly habitat. But make sure you don’t just blow them to the edge of your lawn and leave them. The place where lawn and woods meet is an ideal environment for ticks to thrive.

Edges of Wooded Areas

To keep ticks from hanging out at the edge of the lawn, create a natural barrier. Make a three-foot buffer of wood chips or gravel between your grass and any wooded areas. Ticks don’t like to cross over dry areas. The barrier will make it hard for ticks to move into the parts of your yard that you and your pets use the most.

Bushes and Shrubs

Bushes and shrubs give ticks a place to practice their ambush strategy. Certain varieties are a great habitat for deer or rodents, so ticks can find an easy meal. Bush honeysuckle, for example, is a popular hangout for deer. Mice nest in barberry bushes, and ticks love the high humidity underneath. They find shelter and dinner there.

In the Shade

Most ticks prefer shady areas. They like being under tree canopies and in flower beds where they can avoid too much sun and heat. Shade from overgrown plants gives them a safe place to hide. When an animal comes into the shade for a rest, the ticks are able to move onto their bodies as they brush by.

Damp Areas

Most ticks prefer humid, moist areas, which help keep them from drying out. That’s why they like to stay in piles of leaves or in underbrush where it’s damp and cool. They are less active when it’s very dry. When ticks are out in the open where it’s dry and hot, they can dry out so much that they die. A couple of kinds of ticks (brown dog ticks and spinose ear ticks) can thrive in hotter, dryer conditions, like in the South Central and Southwestern U.S.

Ground Cover

Ground cover gives ticks a damp, cool place to thrive, too. It also offers a refuge for rodents as they hunt for food. When the rodents head for cover, it becomes easy for ticks to find an animal to latch on to. If possible, remove ground cover in areas where pets and people tend to hang out.

Stone Walls

Ticks often live around stone walls, particularly those that aren’t well-cared-for and are surrounded by weeds and brush. These overgrown walls can give shelter to mice and other small animals that carry ticks. To make the area less tick-friendly, seal stone walls and fill in the gaps with smaller stones. Keep the area free of leaves, weeds, and grasses.

Furniture and Trash

Ticks also find shelter in things like old lawn furniture, discarded mattresses, and outdoor trash. Get rid of any of those items that you’re not using. Move lawn furniture away from the edges of the yard and far from trees to discourage ticks from staying there.

Tick Check

If your pet has been in tall grass, wooded areas, or any of the places where ticks thrive, be sure to check them for ticks. Check areas like the head and ears, tail, paws, and under their collar. If you find a tick, slowly remove the entire tick – including the head – with tweezers that are as close to the skin as possible. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when you do this. Because ticks can transmit disease, if you see any behavior changes in your pet, like appetite or energy changes, call your vet.

Prevention

You can regularly give tick prevention to your pet to keep ticks away. Prevention is available in many forms, including collars, topical liquids, and oral chews. They work by repelling ticks, keeping them from attaching, or killing them quickly when they latch on. Most are given monthly, and it’s important to use them year-round.