Ticks wait on the tips of grass, brush and ground cover for a person or pet to brush past. Around here that usually means yards that back onto hillsides, canyons, creeks or open space, and anywhere dogs spend a lot of time. Cal Termite & Pest Control treats ticks around homes in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties from our offices in Ventura, Woodland Hills and Santa Barbara.
Ticks you are likely to find in Southern California
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) lists four ticks as the common ones in the state. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to treat.
- Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus). A small, dark-legged tick of brush, leaf litter and grassy edges. According to UC IPM, it has been reported in 56 of California’s 58 counties, bites people more often than any other tick in the state, and is the only tick that spreads Lyme disease to people in California.
- Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis). A larger tick with grey and brown markings, found in grass and brush. CDPH lists it as a carrier of spotted fever, including Pacific Coast tick fever.
- American dog tick (Dermacentor similis). Found in grassy areas and often picked up by dogs. CDPH lists spotted fever and tularemia for this tick.
- Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). The one most likely to become an indoor problem. CDPH notes it prefers places with dogs and can live easily in homes and yards, so it can breed around pet beds and along baseboards.
Signs you need tick control
- You keep finding ticks on your dog or cat after they have only been in your own yard.
- Ticks show up on walls, baseboards, curtains or around pet beds. That usually means brown dog ticks are breeding inside.
- You or your kids find ticks after yard work, gardening or playing near the edge of the lawn.
- Your yard backs onto brush, chaparral, a creek or open space where deer, rabbits and rodents pass through. Ticks feed on that wildlife and drop off along the way.
How we treat ticks
- Free inspection. We walk the property with you and check the places ticks wait and hide: lawn edges, ground cover, brush and fence lines, under decks, dog runs and the spots where your pets rest, plus indoor pet areas if you are seeing ticks inside. We work out which tick you have and give you a written quote.
- Targeted treatment. We treat where ticks actually live instead of spraying the whole yard: the strip where lawn meets brush, shaded ground cover, fence lines and pet areas, and indoor cracks and baseboards when brown dog ticks are breeding inside. We use products registered for that use, apply them by the label, and tell you what we used and how long to keep kids and pets off treated areas.
- Your pets. Treating the yard only goes so far if your dog keeps carrying ticks in. We do not treat animals, so we ask you to talk with your vet about a tick preventive at the same time, so the yard and your pet are protected together.
- Follow-up. If ticks come back after treatment, we come back free.
How to get ready for your treatment
- Mow the lawn and cut back tall grass and weeds along the yard edges a day or two before we arrive.
- Pick up toys, pet bowls and other items from the lawn and patio.
- For indoor treatment, wash pet bedding in hot water and vacuum along baseboards and under furniture where pets rest, then empty the vacuum outside.
- Keep kids and pets inside or away from treated areas until they are dry. Your technician will tell you how long.
Keeping ticks off your family
CDPH recommends staying in the middle of trails, avoiding tall grass and leaf litter, using an EPA-registered repellent made for ticks, and checking yourself, your kids and your pets after time outdoors (CDPH tick fact sheet).
If a tick is attached, CDPH says to grab it with tweezers as close to the skin as you can and pull it firmly straight out. Do not twist, burn or smother it. Wash your hands and the bite with soap and water, and see a doctor if you get a rash or flu-like symptoms within 30 days of the bite (CDPH Common Ticks in California card).
Around the yard, keep grass short, leave a strip of mulch or gravel between the lawn and any brush, stack firewood off the ground and away from the house, and keep rodents from nesting near the home. Fewer hiding places and fewer animal hosts means fewer ticks.
Why homeowners call Cal Termite for ticks
- Same-day service is available.
- Free inspection, followed by a written quote.
- Free come-backs if ticks return after treatment.
- Registered with the California Structural Pest Control Board, PR 7556.
- Award-winning pest control, rated 5 stars by 750+ customers.
- Local offices in Ventura, Woodland Hills and Santa Barbara.
Related services: Pest Control Services | Mosquito Control | Rodent Control | Spider Control