Tick Control Services

Tick Control FAQs

• +

  What are ticks?

  Ticks are a type of parasitic arachnid mite that feed on the blood of their hosts. Ticks are highly resilient, and can survive for long periods without feeding. Despite some common misconceptions, ticks are incapable of flying or jumping – they instead climb onto hosts using a behavior called “questing.” Ticks reach animal and human hosts by hiding in wait on low-hanging foliage, brush, grasses, branches, and leaves, and then transferring to the host as it passes by. Once onboard a host, the tick “bites” a hole in the host’s skin and inserts its hypostome, a sharp harpoon-like organ that it uses to draw blood and anchor itself.
  Tick nymphs (the immature form of ticks before adulthood) are incredibly small (often the size of a poppy seed or the head of a pin) and are difficult to detect. They frequently attach to pets and, through this connection, can find their way into your home and onto you and your family. Like bed bugs, they require a blood meal in order to continue their progression through their three main life phases (larvae to nymph to adult), and without an initial blood meal, they cannot reach adulthood or reproduce. They will usually travel upwards toward the chest and head region before attaching to feed. Ticks even have a specialized organ in their forelegs that can detect chemical signatures, odors, and temperature shifts that emanate from potential hosts.
  The two most common types of tick in the Pacific Northwest are Deer Ticks (Ixodes pacificus, also known as the Western Black-Legged Tick) and Wood Ticks (various Dermacentor ticks).
  Deer Ticks
  Deer Ticks are the main spreaders of the serious infectious illness known as Lyme Disease. Deer ticks are reddish-brown in color and roughly 3-5 mm in length, however, when engorged with a blood meal, these ticks will appear darker and more red, and can be up to 10 mm or more in length. They have eight legs, which are often darker than the rest of the body. A single female can lay up to 3,000 eggs at once.
  Wood Ticks
  Wood ticks are grayish-brown in color and are approximately 3.5-6 mm in length, When engorged with a blood meal, female wood ticks can reach up to 1.5 cm in length. As with all adult ticks, they possess eight legs. A female Wood Tick is capable of laying 5,000 eggs at a single time.

• +

  How serious are ticks?

  Ticks, in addition to being blood-feeding parasites, are significant vectors of numerous incredibly serious diseases that can affect both humans and animals (like our furry companions). Currently, 16 tick-borne diseases are known to affect humans, and because a single tick may carry multiple disease-causing pathogens, an individual can potentially be infected with several pathogenic agents from one tick bite. The most commonly spread illness from tick bites is Lyme Disease, which is estimated to affect 300,000 people a year in the United States alone. In the short term, Lyme Disease is treatable, but infections are difficult to diagnose, and long term complications can result in arthritis, meningitis, nervous system damage, heart damage, and even death. Lyme Disease can be transmitted when an infected tick (carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that resides in the digestive tract of up to 5% of ticks) has been attached for at least 24 hours to its host. Ticks can harbor other bacterial diseases, like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Typhus Fever, and Relapsing Fever, to name a few. Ticks can also harbor viral diseases, like Deer Tick Virus and Colorado Tick Fever. Additionally, ticks are capable of causing immune reactions that leave affected individuals with a life-long allergy to red meat.

• +

  How do I get rid of ticks?

  Tick Removal From the Body
  Ticks discovered on people or pets require prompt and careful removal. Ticks should always be removed cautiously, as improper removal (such as using fingers for removal, using chemicals, smashing the tick, or burning the tick) can cause the tick to release its bodily fluids into the bite wound, greatly increasing the possibility of infection. The most effective method for removing ticks is by pulling (not twisting) with tweezers or forceps. Ticks should be gripped near the head, so as not to squeeze the body. All mouthparts of the tick should be carefully removed from the site of the bite. After removal, the site should be washed and disinfected. If complications result following a bite (such as rash, fever, or other symptoms) it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
  
  Tick Removal From Property
  Because of their small size, their adeptness at hiding, and their ability to breed rapidly, tick removal without proper professional intervention is a colossal and near-impossible effort. Luckly, Bug Zapper has a proven system for making sure your tick worries are a thing of the past! Our knowledgeable pest service technicians are expertly trained in not just the eradication of these pesky arachnids, but also in the thorough inspection and identification of all ticks hiding on a given property. Nothing gets past Bug Zapper!
  
  We utilize the most effective methods of dealing with tick infestations, including a strong acaricide and a strategic, multi-tiered plan for complete removal of the parasite from all areas in which they are most likely to encounter pets and people. Having your pets treated for ticks and other parasites by your veterinary professional is also necessary for tick control to be successful, and should be included in all treatment plans.
  
  Give Bug Zapper’s friendly staff a call and we’ll schedule a tick treatment for your home. After seeing what you’re dealing with, we’ll be able to create a customized, strategic plan for eliminating these pests from your pets, your home, and your property.

• +

  What types of training do your technicians go through?

  Bug Zapper is always committed to providing you with the best in pest control and removal services. All of our experienced technicians are fully licensed and certified in Oregon, in addition to undergoing advanced training though our rigorous internal apprenticeship program. All of our pest service technicians complete state testing for laws and safety, including IIHS General, IIHS Structural, and Agricultural Vertebrate tests before going through a month-long apprenticeship field training program. Our staff also regularly completes ongoing advanced training and attends industry-based seminars to stay current with the newest and best methods in pest control. We also have the honor of having an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) on our staff – one of only 12 currently operating in the state of Oregon.

• +

  Do you have same day service?

  You can't have all-around excellent customer care without speedy response times and timely service appointments. Bug Zapper works hard to prioritize your needs and to offer same day appointments whenever we’re able. A pest service technician can be on-site in most cases within 24-48 hrs. Call our office and we will gladly make every effort to work with what best fits your schedule and time.