Protect Where You Live and Play
Author: Paula Jackson Jones
Published: 06/12/2017
In a recent phone call with a woman, who had pulled a tick off
her child and who subsequently is being treated for Lyme Disease, I raised the
question of prevention practices and asked her what she was using. She mentioned repellent on the skin and
treating the clothing with Permethrin but then she mentioned noticing an
increase in ticks on her pets. The day that she pulled the tick off her child,
they had been outside playing in the yard that had not been treated. When I
asked her Why, she replied that she wanted something safe but effective because
she had pets and children playing outside.
That led me to interview a couple owners of state licensed pest
management companies in Midcoast Maine that provides “yard barrier treatments”
about their services, what options they offer and how safe and effective they
were. Here are the summaries of those
interviews:
Q) How is business this time of year?
A) We stay busy seven days a week and put in
long days to meet the needs of our customers.
Come home late to phone messages and emails. With the rise in tick
infestation, we've seen our business double with calls and new customers.
Q) What services do you offer?
A) Synthetic and Organic Sprays.
Q) How safe are these treatments?
A) The synthetics, although
concentrated in the bottle, are diluted (18ounces in 100 gallons of
water). Allow time for product to dry
and then is safe and effective. It does not reconstitute itself once dried and
bonded to the soil.
Q) People have raised concerns about the effects of synthetics on
the environment and especially with bees. Your thoughts?
A) That's why we offer an organic option that is
safe and effective. There are
do-it-yourself options such as tick tubes along the parameters of their yards
but its less effective on large yards.
We've even treated large yards parameters that have chickens roaming the
interior area of the yard. People have choices other than spray but with the
rise in tick infestation, some choices may not keep up with the level of ticks
we are being exposed to.
Q) How long do yard treatments last?
A) Depends on the product used, Organic or Synthetic, anywhere from 1 to 3
months. Organic applications can be effected by the weather, rain can wash it
down, lasting 1-2 months. Synthetic
applications (Pyrethrin or Bifenthrin, a product used by crop dusters) bonds
with the top 2-3 inches of soil and last 2-4 months (depending on product
used).
Q) Which services are you getting more calls for this season:
A) We're seeing an increase in more customers
wanting the Organic spray because of their concern with pets, children and the
overall environment.
Q) Is one better than the other?
A) They are both equal in effectiveness but the synthetic applications
tends to last longer than organic.
Q) Tell me about the cost ~ is there a difference between?
A) No, they are about the same. Average cost for an acre or two $150-$250.
Q) Any recommendations for the readers?
A) I recommend at least 2 treatments a year
(Spring and Fall). I check out the area and if there is a high level of tick
infestation, maybe 3-4 treatments. Some
places, I only treat once a year. I pay
attention to where the ticks are!
~ Paula
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