We’ve had our first run ins with ticks in our suburban Chicago backyard recently. They were never an issue before, and never literally just outside the door. I’m sure the unseasonably warm start to the year is to blame.
The good thing is, we're just approaching the best time to apply tick tubes, early spring to summer.
I had the same experience the first season I tried. I moved the location around the second season and noticed they were empty after a few months.
I hide some near a wood pile, along fences underneath plants. I just ordered more. It makes me feel better even if it’s just placebo.
I do wonder if we're going to end up with permethrin-resistant super ticks though.
I don't know if this has appeared in ticks but it has appeared in mosquitos.
Ever since I found out that ticks carry a disease that makes you allergic to meat, I became extra worried about them. However, despite living in a major tick area, I've luckily never seen one. I just make it a point to wear long pants and sleeves when working in the yard and then immediately shower afterwards.
Pick a set of outerwear to be your yard work clothing. I’ve got a pair of overalls, a light long sleeve shirt, and a hat. Treat them with permethrin. This doesn’t repel ticks and mosquitos, but can actually incapacitate or kill them on contact.
Tuck your pants in your boots, and sleeves in your gloves if you’re wearing any.
Every time before you go out, spray yourself (particularly any exposed skin) with the picaridin repellent.
I live in the middle of a forest that’s sitting on wetlands. The bugs are out of control here. I haven’t found a tick on me (not in me, on me at all) in years. I also get very, very few mosquito bites.
(If you don’t want to go this crazy… just long pants tucked in and some picaridin repellent before you go out is all my wife does and she’s had similar results, though spends less time outside and less wandering through dense forest and stuff.)