If you’ve been paying attention to the headlines, you know that tick season has started with a vengeance this year.

Tick-borne illnesses are already sending more people to the ER than normal. And, while it’s too soon to say how this year’s tick season will play out, URI tick expert, Dr. Thomas Mather, said the numbers look “worrying.”

Ticks aren’t just a nuisance. They’re a health concern. In Southern New England, Lyme disease used to be the main issue with ticks. However, the recent increase in the region’s lone star tick population has resulted in dozens of confirmed alpha-gal syndrome cases in Rhode Island alone. That’s the disease that can cause a meat allergy.

Keep scrolling to find helpful information and practical tips to protect your family, pets, and property from tick-borne threats, including how YardGuard by SeaScape can help you create a safer, more enjoyable outdoor environment by reducing tick and mosquito activity around your home.

Why Are Ticks Dangerous?

The three most common tick species found in Southern New England are the blacklegged (deer) tick, the American dog tick, and the lone star tick. Because these pests can carry serious diseases, the best protection is preventing bites before they happen.

In New England, the most common tick-borne diseases are Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, which are all carried by the deer tick. These diseases can make both humans and pets sick.

General Signs of Tickborne Illness

• Fever
• Chills
• Joint/Muscle Aches
• Headache/Neck Stiffness
• Fatigue

Signs of Lyme Disease

• Bull’s-eye rash or expanding circular rash
• Acute swelling of the knee or other joint, with no corresponding trauma/injury
• Facial palsy with drooping mouth or eyelid

• Fever
• Lameness
• Limping
• Joint pain/swelling
• Enlargement of lymph nodes
• Lethargy

Alpha-Gal Syndrome

A recent increase in the lone star tick population in Southern New England has resulted in dozens of cases of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) in the region. AGS can cause an allergic reaction to certain foods containing alpha-gal, like red meat or dairy products. According to the CDC, allergic reactions can range from mild to severe, with some being life-threatening.

Signs of Alpha-Gal Syndrome

• Hives or itchy rash
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe stomach pain
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• Drop in blood pressure
• Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids
• Dizziness or faintness
• A combination of symptoms referred to as anaphylaxis

How Can You Prevent Tick Bites?

The best way to avoid tick bites is to be vigilant while in areas where ticks like to hide. The University of Rhode Island has long been a pioneer in tick research. Its TickEncounter page has a lot of information about how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets. By following just a few simple tips like the ones below, you can make your time outside safer and more enjoyable.

• Avoid wooded and brushy areas
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents
• Check clothing and body for ticks after spending time outdoors
• Shower soon after being outdoors
• Wear long pants and shirts when hiking to reduce your exposure to ticks
• Tuck in your shirt and pull your socks up over your pants to reduce spots for ticks to hide
• Spray your shoes with tick repellent for extra protection
• After a hike, dry your clothes for at least 10 minutes to kill any ticks you don’t find, and then wash them
• Set up “tick-safe zones” around your house, which can include open, maintained grass areas that are less hospitable to ticks.
• Consider spraying your yard for ticks for extra protection. YardGuard by SeaScape offers that service.

Where to Check for Ticks

YardGuard by SeaScape: Added Peace of Mind

YardGuard by SeaScape helps reduce your family’s exposure to disease-carrying ticks with our comprehensive Flea and Tick Control Program. Treatments begin in May and continue through September, when tick activity and the risk of exposure are at their highest.

Our service targets the areas where ticks are most likely to be found, including your entire lawn, mulch beds, and a 2- to 3-foot buffer along wooded areas and field edges. With five strategically timed applications throughout the season, you’ll enjoy extended protection from early spring through fall.

Using a combination of granular and liquid treatments, our licensed technicians apply proven tick-control products up to five times per season to help keep your outdoor spaces safer and more enjoyable. The result is reduced tick activity around your property, giving you greater peace of mind while your family and pets enjoy the outdoors.