KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- With summer comes lots of perks, but also lots of pests, as we are now in peak tick season.
They’re pests that aren't just an annoyance, but carry diseases, as well.
But have weather conditions created a good breeding ground for them this season?
We talked to the experts to find out.
With spring sprung, showers have fallen, and that’s good news for most us, but it’s also good news for ticks.
Jim Holmes with Heritage Termite and Pest Service says, "We had a mild winter and wet spring and such a harsh summer for past give years that they are really thriving so they have come out of hiding."
There are two kinds: hard and soft shell.
Here in East Tennessee, we usually see soft shell ticks, and they are likely in your back yard right now.
Holmes says, "The females can't lay eggs ‘till a blood meal, then they will lay 20 to 50 at a time."
Despite many myths, Holmes says, “Ticks can't jump or fly so they climb to an area where they can fall on a host."
So the number-one thing you can do to keep them from getting onto you, your child, or your pet is to keep the grass in your yard short.
Other than that, the best prevention is to treat yourself and your yard. A spray-down by the professionals inside out is your best bet. Also, you will need to treat your animals with flea and tick medication from your veterinarian.
Some other tips to keep ticks at bay:
Check your children and pets each and every time they have been playing outside; use EPA approved tick repellants; and wear long light-colored clothing.
These are all important things to do not just to prevent bites, but the disease carried by the bugs, too.
Holmes says, "Can get lyme disease and rocky mountain spotted fever."
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