What Are Ticks?
Ticks are blood-feeding parasites that pose serious health risks to both humans and pets in Texas. Unlike insects, ticks are arachnids—related to spiders and mites.
What makes ticks particularly dangerous is their ability to transmit diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. A single bite can result in a serious illness requiring weeks of medical treatment.
Ticks don't jump or fly. They wait on vegetation and grab onto passing hosts. In Texas's warm climate, ticks are active nearly year-round, with peak activity in spring and fall.
Types of Texas Ticks
1. Lone Star Tick
Most common in Texas. Reddish-brown, females have distinctive white dot on back. Aggressive biters. Transmit ehrlichiosis and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). All life stages bite humans.
2. American Dog Tick
Brown with white/gray markings. Found in grassy areas, along trails. Primary carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Texas. Prefer dogs but readily bite humans.
3. Black-Legged Tick (Deer Tick)
Small, dark brown to black. Found in East Texas woodlands. Primary carrier of Lyme disease. Nymphs are tiny (poppy seed size) and often go unnoticed.
4. Brown Dog Tick
Reddish-brown, uniform color. Only tick that infests indoors. Completes entire life cycle on dogs or in homes. Can establish large populations in kennels or homes with dogs.
Identification Guide
Size
Unfed: 3-5mm | Engorged: up to 10mm (pea-sized when full of blood)
Color
Brown, reddish-brown, or black depending on species and feeding status
Shape
Flat, oval body when unfed; balloon-like when engorged. 8 legs (adults)
Behavioral Signs
- Cannot jump or fly—climb onto hosts from vegetation
- Quest on tips of grass and shrubs waiting for hosts
- Prefer warm, moist areas on body (armpits, groin, hairline)
- Feed for days before dropping off
Signs of Tick Activity
On Pets:
- Visible ticks attached to skin, especially around ears, neck, between toes
- Excessive scratching or head shaking
- Red, irritated skin where ticks attached
- Lethargy or loss of appetite (if tick-borne disease present)
In Yard:
- Ticks on tall grass and vegetation edges
- High tick activity near wooded areas or wildlife paths
- Ticks on outdoor furniture or playground equipment
- Family members or pets getting bitten after yard time
Indoors (Brown Dog Tick):
- Ticks crawling on walls, curtains, or furniture
- Multiple ticks on dog even with outdoor treatment
- Ticks in cracks, baseboards, or behind furniture
Health Risks & Tick-Borne Diseases
Diseases in Texas
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Fever, headache, rash. Can be fatal if untreated. Transmitted by American dog tick and brown dog tick
- Ehrlichiosis: Flu-like symptoms, low white blood cell count. Transmitted by lone star tick
- Lyme Disease: Bull's-eye rash, joint pain, neurological issues. Rare but increasing in East Texas. Transmitted by black-legged tick
- STARI: Rash similar to Lyme disease. Transmitted by lone star tick
- Tularemia: Fever, skin ulcers, swollen lymph nodes. Transmitted by dog tick and lone star tick
- Alpha-gal Syndrome: Red meat allergy triggered by lone star tick bites
Pet Health Risks
- Canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis
- Anemia from heavy tick infestations
- Tick paralysis (rare but serious)
- Lyme disease (less common in Texas dogs)
Prevention Strategies
Yard Management
- Keep grass mowed short (3 inches or less)
- Clear leaf litter and brush piles
- Create wood chip or gravel barriers between lawn and wooded areas
- Keep playground equipment away from trees and shrubs
- Discourage deer and rodents with fencing
- Stack firewood away from house on dry surface
Personal Protection
- Wear long pants and sleeves in wooded areas
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin
- Walk in center of trails, avoid brushing against vegetation
- Perform full-body tick checks after outdoor activities
- Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors
Pet Protection
- Year-round tick preventatives (topical, oral, or collar)
- Check pets daily for ticks after outdoor time
- Keep pets out of wooded areas during peak tick season
- Discuss Lyme disease vaccine with veterinarian
Professional Tick Treatment
Effective tick control requires treating the yard where ticks live and wait for hosts, not just individual ticks on pets.
Our Treatment Protocol
Property Inspection
Identify high-risk areas—wooded edges, tall grass, leaf litter, wildlife paths
Yard Treatment
Application of residual insecticide to grass, shrubs, ground cover, and transition zones. Focus on shaded areas where ticks quest
Perimeter Barrier
Create treated barrier around play areas, patios, and entry points
Habitat Modification Recommendations
Guidance on lawn maintenance and landscaping to reduce tick harborage
Seasonal Treatments
Monthly treatments during peak season (March-November) for continuous protection
Treatment Cost Expectations
Common Questions
Q: How do I safely remove a tick?
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure—don't twist. Clean area with rubbing alcohol. Save tick in sealed bag if you develop symptoms.
Q: When should I see a doctor after a tick bite?
Seek medical care if you develop fever, rash, or flu-like symptoms within 30 days of a tick bite. Early treatment of tick-borne diseases is critical for best outcomes.
Q: How long do treatments last?
Yard treatments typically provide 3-4 weeks of protection. Monthly treatments during peak season (March-November) provide the best protection for families and pets.
Q: Are tick treatments safe for pets and children?
Yes. We use EPA-registered products that are safe once dried (typically 2-4 hours). Yard treatments target ticks while minimizing impact on beneficial insects.
Protect Your Family from Ticks
Don't risk tick-borne diseases in your own backyard.
Let us create a safe outdoor environment.