How do I Know if My Yard Has Ticks?

How do I Know if My Yard Has Ticks?

Many people assume that, because they have deer in their yard, they also have ticks. There’s no way to know if ticks are present, though, unless you test for them.

Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to figure out if you have ticks in your yard:

1. Tick dragging

Here’s how to do it:

Grab a light-colored sheet or towel and drag it through the yard.

Once you’ve pulled the sheet through the yard, take it to a grass-free area, like a driveway, and inspect it carefully for ticks. If you find ticks, place them in a sealed Ziploc bag and destroy them.

2. Check your pets

Another way to identify ticks in your yard is to check your pets after they come inside. If you find ticks on your outdoor pets, there’s a good chance they’re picking the ticks up in your yard.

To check pets for ticks, the CDC recommends running fingers through their hair and using gentle pressure to check for any bumps.

A tick will feel like a hard, small mass.

3. Use a flashlight to spot ticks

You can also check the yard for ticks manually. Using a flashlight, inspect the following locations for signs of ticks:

• Along rock, brick, or retaining walls.
• In areas of dense or tall brush or grass.
• In piles of yard debris, including leaf piles and firewood piles.
• Places where your pets spend time, like dog houses or outdoor kennels.
• In trees or landscaping bushes.