York veterinarians are reporting that ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, have been spotted already this year in several places, including downtown Aurora, forested trails in York Region and Jokers Hill in Newmarket.

What color do ticks hate?

6. Certain Aromatherapy Essential Oils. Not only smell great, but they are also known to be natural tick repellents. Ticks hate the smell of lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and rose geranium so theyll avoid latching on to anything that smells of those items.

Are ticks attracted to light?

Ticks are attracted to light colors. So when outside in areas that may be infested with ticks, wear dark clothing. It also helps to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants and tuck everything in so that a tick is less likely to come in contact with your skin.

What is the most dangerous tick?

Adult brown dog ticks are about the size and color of the deer tick. The bites of brown dog ticks can be extremely dangerous to your pet: They can cause diseases like ehrlichiosis, babesiosis (a parasite infection of the blood), and bartonellosis.

Are ticks around at night?

Ticks can be active year round The time of day when ticks are most active can also vary from species to species, as some prefer to hunt during the cooler and more humid hours of the early morning and evenings, while others are more active at midday, when it is hotter and dryer.

What attracts ticks to homes?

Ticks thrive in moist and humid conditions where the humidity is 90 percent or higher, and most cannot survive in a climate-controlled house for more than a few days. Indoors, they simply desiccate (dry out) and die.

What to wear to avoid ticks?

Light-colored clothes, which makes it easier to spot them. Long pants tucked into your socks -- for more protection, you can tape the area where your pants and socks meet. Long-sleeve shirt. Boots or hiking shoes.

Do ticks infest homes?

Most ticks have no interest in coming indoors. However, brown dog ticks can be enticed indoors through small cracks and crevices in homes that arent well maintained. If this happens and ticks start laying eggs, you could have a full-blown infestation on your hands.

Whats the difference between a wood tick and a deer tick?

Both deer and wood ticks have U-shaped backs, but the big difference can be seen in the coloring of their lower back region. A deer ticks lower back is red while a wood tick has a black lower back.

What month are ticks the worst?

Most cases of Lyme disease are reported from May through August, which corresponds to the peak activity period for nymphs. This suggests that the majority of Lyme disease cases are transmitted by nymphal deer ticks.