Are you worried that a tick may fall on you from a tree above you? Do Ticks Live in Trees?
What is the preferred habitat of a tick before it attaches to the skin? What places should I avoid?
In this article, we’ll find out if ticks live in trees and much more about these awful pests that need to stay away from us and our loved ones.
Do Ticks Live in Trees?
Ticks do not live in trees. They prefer to stay lower to the ground. Ticks also enjoy high grassy areas. The aim of a tick is to remain in an area with high humidity to ensure its survival.
Thick vegetation and tall grass are the favorite spots for ticks to hang out until they are able to latch onto the skin of an animal or human passing by.
Where Are Ticks Most Commonly Found?
Ticks prefer to stay low to the ground, but they prefer slightly elevated grassy areas. There are plenty of animals that love to feed and wander through wooded or tall grassy environments making it easy for ticks to latch onto them.
These tall grassy see habitats also invite plenty of animals such as:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Birds
- Squirrels
- Mice
Tips can also be found in urban locations where there is plenty of grass. There are species of ticks that can also be found on beaches near the coast.
Where Do Ticks Hide?
Text hide closer to the ground. It is common for people to think that a tick has fallen on them or onto their pet. This is not true. Ticks prefer spots like:
- Bushes
- Naturalized areas with tall shrubs
- Unmowed lawns
- Weeds
- Tall grasses
- Anywhere that is low, humid and shady.
Ticks do not live in trees and do not fall from them either. The number one hiding spot for a tick is inside the thick hair of a human or fur of an animal.
What Attracts Ticks to Your Yard?
Ticks are looking for warm and moist locations that are preferably shady as well. If your yard contains these perfect locations for you to relax and enjoy, chances are a tick may also preferred it as well.
If your property also contains tall grass, shrubs and groundcover, ticks may also decide to take up residence in these areas as well. Mow your lawn and use permethrin yard spray to keep ticks away.
Why Are There So Many Ticks This Year?
It is important to follow the latest news and information regarding ticks. During tick season the weather is warm and moist. Follow the advice from health and insect experts when it is available to you.
There is a recent population explosion of ticks due to a lack of acorns and mild winters. If the winter is mild, ticks are able to thrive and survive through temperatures that do not dip below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Do You Tell if You Have Ticks in Your Yard?
It’s important to examine your yard for ticks. If you become slightly more experienced at discovering ticks, the prevention process will get easier.
Here are some tips to help you discover ticks in your yard and get rid of them:
- Look along rocks or brick walls.
- Check dense brush.
- Examine tall grass.
- Look in piles of yard debris.
- Inspect your firewood.
- Look near patio furniture.
- Check bushes and weeds.
- Look closer in piles of leaves.
Yard maintenance goes a long way in preventing ticks. Another great idea is to plant more natural tick repellent plants that they hate going near such as marigold.
How Do I Rid My Yard of Ticks?
Getting rid of ticks or preventing them from entering or living in your yard is a process that requires some effort. We would like to list a few methods to help you get rid of ticks in your yard:
- Try Tick Dragging: This is where you drag a cloth across the top of all yard vegetation to attract ticks.
- Check your pets thoroughly each week so they don’t bring ticks to your property.
- Use a flashlight for closer inspection of your yard’s hard to reach areas.
- Use cedar oil and spray it all over your yard.
- Try Eucalyptus and neem oil. Ticks hate their scent.
- Dry them out from the inside with diatomaceous earth
- Call a professional or use a fogger yourself.
- Apply permethrin yard spray.
With this amount of effort, your yard should be free of ticks. Also reduce moisture, humidity and shaded areas to eliminate preferred environments for ticks to survive.
Do Ticks Jump on You?
No. Ticks are unable to jump on you. They also do not live in trees and fall off them. Ticks can’t fly either.
These awful pests are stealth and capable of hiding on tall blades of grass, leaves and shrubs without you or your loved ones noticing.
A creature rubs their body or anything attached to allow a tick to hop aboard. Ticks crawl, but they are crafty.
You may think a tick landed on your dog or cat, but the truth is they were dragged, rubbed or touched when your favorite animal was passing by.
What Animal Eat Ticks?
The following animals are known to eat ticks:
- Frogs
- Lizards
- Chickens
- Squirrels
- Opossums
- Guinea fowl
- Wild turkeys
- Ants and fire ants
Unfortunately some of the animals on this list are also susceptible to becoming a tick’s next host. The laws of nature lists survival over everything else. A tick knows how to survive and latch on better than most creatures.
Are Ticks Worse After Rain?
Yes, the rain brings in more humidity. Ticks prefer humid and moist conditions to thrive. The rain isn’t causing the ticks to automatically increase in numbers.
Ticks need moisture and humidity in order to breathe and reproduce. Tick seasons are usually during humid and wet periods during the year.
It’s important to follow weather patterns and listen to the information provided from health and insect experts on when and where ticks are thriving in your area.
How Do I Find a Tick Nest?
You cannot find a tick nest because they do not have one. Ticks are on the move and only stop to lay eggs in moist, humid and hidden areas.
They may also lay hundreds of eggs in locations that are unnoticed or left undisturbed. Abandoned yards or homes may find tick infestations during humid and warm seasons.
What Plant Keeps Ticks Away?
There are many plants that ticks hate. One of which is the marigold plant that lets off a soft and sweet scent. Ticks, fleas and light hate it. Marigold plants grow indoors and Outdoors. Other plants that repel takes include:
- Rosemary
- Chrysanthemum
- Mint
- Lemongrass
- Sage
- Lavender
- Garlic
- Onions
- Petunias
- Brown-eyed Susan
- Juniper
At What Temperature Do Ticks Become Inactive?
If temperatures start to get cold then ticks begin to die off. They need humid and moist temperatures to create larger populations.
A tick may go into dormancy at a temperature of anything lower than 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Over a long winter season, ticks will not survive.
When the weather gets very cold underneath 14 degrees Fahrenheit for example, it is rare for it ticks to live any longer.
Do Ticks Live in Oak Trees?
Black-legged ticks have been found to live in oak trees. This is rare however, because most ticks do not prefer to stay much higher than the heights of bushes, shrubs and tall grassy areas.
A tick may hitch a ride on the back of a rodent such as a mouse or squirrel who is shooting up a tall oak tree looking for acorns.
Ticks are opportunistic and would find themselves in unusual areas like tall trees because of their host bringing them to this location. A tick on its own with prefer to crawl closer to the ground.
What Bushes Attract Ticks?
One popular bush that attracts a tick is the honeysuckle. This bush is upright with spreading shrubs that can reach up to 20 feet in height. The flowers are white to yellow.
These simple leaves are green and the surrounding vegetation around honeysuckle fits in well to integrate it into the surrounding environment.
Ticks find their way into honeysuckle bushes by crawling from one thick shrub or bush to another. They may also be found underneath these bushes and shrubs as they crawl on the grass below.
Conclusion
A tick most likely did not fall from a tree and land onto you or your pet. One of you may have rubbed against a blade or grass, weed, shrub or bush that contained a tick who prefers to stay lower to the ground where it is more humid.
A tick on a tree may have gotten there by hitching a ride on a rodent that climbed up to heights where they are not known to frequent.
We wish you the best of luck and care during tick season and hope that you, your pets and your property are protected.
Thanks for visiting ThePestManagement.com for the best information to help you to make the pest control process easy, safe & affordable.