Create Your Own DIY Lawn Care

Pest Control Superstore | Turf Chest - 10% off + FREE Shipping over $500 →

Related Categories

Dog Fleas
Ticks

Safety Products

Choctaw-Kaul

15'' Green Nitrile Gloves

$6.20
View details

Compliance Safety

Ventless Safety Goggles

$4.25
View details

Choctaw-Kaul

Series 122S Zipper Front Coveralls with Hood & Boots

$15.00
View details
Make sure to read the product label of any insecticide you plan to use to find details about the recommended personal protective gear. Typically, it’s advised to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes with socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. If the area has poor ventilation, the manufacturer might suggest wearing a mask or respirator.
Pest Guides Lawn Care Guides

Tick Guide

Identify

Inspect

Treat

Prevent

Tick Identification Guide

What Are Ticks?
Ticks are small, blood-feeding parasites that attach to humans and animals. With hundreds of species worldwide, several found in the United States are known to spread diseases to people and pets.

Ticks can sometimes be mistaken for other pests, like fleas, especially in their immature stages. This guide will help you identify ticks and understand their common traits across various species.

If you’ve discovered ticks, continue reading our guides to learn:

  • How to eliminate ticks
  • Where to find ticks in your home or yard
  • How to prevent ticks from entering your home

Recommended Products

Key Features of Ticks | Size

Ticks progress through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Tick larvae are less than 1 millimeter long, roughly the size of a poppy seed. Nymphs measure 1-2 millimeters, comparable to a pinhead. Adult ticks range from 2-6 millimeters when unfed and can grow up to 10 millimeters after feeding. Adult males are usually smaller than females.

Key Features of Ticks | Shape

Ticks have a flattened oval or teardrop shape before feeding and become plump and rounded after feeding. Immature ticks in the larval stage have six legs, while nymphs and adults develop eight legs as they mature. Ticks lack wings and antennae, making them easy to distinguish from other pests.

Key Features of Ticks | Color

The color and markings of ticks vary widely depending on the species. Refer to the chart for examples of tick coloration to help with identification.

Range

Ticks are found throughout the United States. While individual species may vary by region, at least one species is present in every state.

Found a tick? Learn how to inspect for more with our guide to finding ticks in your home or yard. Explore our step-by-step guide on how to eliminate ticks and protect your property.

A Step-by-Step Tick Inspection Guide

If you’ve discovered a tick in your home or suspect you or your pet has been bitten, there are three key areas you need to inspect:

  1. Your Pets
  2. Inside Your Home
  3. Your Yard

By understanding where ticks are likely to live and identifying infestation areas, you’ll be better prepared to treat them. Follow the guide below to learn how to inspect for ticks. Already found ticks? Check out our How to Get Rid of Ticks guide for treatment solutions.

Call Us

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET

Email Our Pros

We’re here to help

Live Chat

Offline. Leave Us a Message

Step1 Inspect Pets for Ticks

Ticks on pets are often discovered during grooming or petting when small bumps are felt. Regular tick inspections, especially during tick season, are crucial.

How to Inspect Your Pet:

  • Gather a pair of tweezers and a small bowl of rubbing alcohol.
  • Slowly check your pet’s coat for bumps or bites. Focus on sensitive areas such as:

If You Find Ticks:

  • Use tweezers to carefully remove the ticks, following your veterinarian’s instructions.
  • Drop the ticks into the bowl of rubbing alcohol to kill them quickly.
  • Notify your veterinarian for advice or to conduct blood tests to rule out tick-borne diseases.

Step2 Inspect Your Home for Ticks

Pets and humans can bring ticks into your home, especially after outdoor activities like hiking or camping. A bright flashlight can help you thoroughly check potential hiding spots.

Key Areas to Inspect Indoors:

  • Pet Crates and Bedding: Look for live ticks, especially in corners and crevices.
  • Upholstered Furniture: Check seams, folds, cushion edges, and areas your pet frequents.
  • Entry Points and Baseboards: Inspect around windows, doors, and baseboards, which are common hiding spots for ticks.

Step3 Examine Your Yard for Ticks

If your pet has a tick, it may have picked it up in your yard. Knowing where ticks reside outdoors can help you target infestations and protect your pets from bringing them inside.

Key Outdoor Areas to Check:

  • Along rock or brick retaining walls
  • On tall or dense brush
  • In yard debris piles, including firewood
  • Areas where your pet plays or rests outdoors
  • Trees, bushes, tall grasses, and leaf litter

Pro Tip

Perform a quick tick test by dragging a white towel attached to a stick over areas you suspect have ticks. Ticks will cling to the towel, helping you pinpoint infestations.

Identified ticks or an infestation? Check out our guide on How to Get Rid of Ticks by clicking the arrow at the bottom of this page.

How to Get Rid of Ticks

Successfully eliminating a tick infestation requires treating the three main areas where ticks are commonly found: your pets, your home, and your yard. Begin by treating your pets, then move on to your home, and finally, your yard. Skipping any of these areas increases the likelihood of reinfestation.

Tick treatment methods are similar regardless of the tick species or type. Read our guide below for step-by-step instructions. Unsure if you’re dealing with ticks? Check out our guide on what ticks look like to confirm.

Call Us

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET

Email Our Pros

We’re here to help

Live Chat

Offline. Leave Us a Message

Step1 Treat Your Pets for Ticks

Since ticks commonly infest pets, starting with their treatment is essential. Select a tick treatment based on your pet’s species, age, weight, and overall health. Always read the product label and consult your veterinarian to ensure safe and effective use.

Step1.1 Spot-On Pet Tick Drops

  • Quick and easy to apply, pet tick drops are a low-stress option.
  • Apply the product directly to your pet’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades, to prevent licking.
  • Ticks begin to die within 24 hours, though some may remain attached and need removal with tweezers.
  • Reapply every 4-6 weeks as directed.

Step1.2 Tick Baths

  • Medicated flea and tick shampoos kill ticks on contact and offer immediate relief.
  • Baths do not provide ongoing protection and only eliminate ticks present during the wash.

Step1.3 Pet Tick Sprays

  • Tick sprays provide a quick kill and short-term protection.
  • Apply the spray evenly across your pet’s coat, rubbing it in for better coverage.

Products we recommend for Step 1.3

Step1.4 Tick Collars and Preventative Medication

  • Medicated collars, such as Seresto, provide up to 8 months of protection.
  • Monthly oral medications prescribed by a veterinarian offer an additional layer of prevention.

Step2 Treat Your Home for Ticks

If you’ve seen a tick inside your home, you need to act quickly to prevent a larger infestation. Depending on the severity, it can take weeks or months to fully eliminate ticks. A combination of liquid insecticides, aerosol sprays, and insecticide dusts is recommended, along with an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to stop ticks from maturing and reproducing.

Indoor Tick Treatment Tips:

  • Liquid Insecticides: Spray around door and window frames, baseboards, and cracks.
  • Aerosols: Use on carpets, furniture, drapes, and pet bedding.
  • Dusts: Apply in cracks, crevices, baseboards, and other hard-to-reach areas.

Important Notes:

  • Focus on areas where ticks may climb, such as furniture backs and arms.
  • Always follow the product label for safe and effective use.

Reapply treatments as indicated on the product label until ticks are completely eliminated.

Products we recommend for Step 2

Step3 Treat Your Yard for Ticks

Outdoor tick infestations are a common source of reinfestation for pets and homes. A combination of a liquid insecticide and an IGR will kill adult ticks and prevent immature ticks from maturing, reducing the risk of reinfestation.

How to Treat Your Yard for Ticks:

  1. Prepare Your Solution: Mix a liquid insecticide and an IGR with water in a sprayer. Follow the product label for the proper ratios.
  2. Spray the Yard: Apply to the entire yard, including grass, bushes, tall brush, plants (including undersides), yard debris, mulch, and retaining walls.
  3. Repeat Treatments: Reapply every 30 days during tick season for effective control.

Important Tips:

  • Dense areas like bushes or tall grass require more water to ensure thorough coverage.
  • Keep pets and children out of treated areas until the solution dries completely.

Outdoor treatments take time, so be patient. You should notice a reduction in ticks within a few weeks.

Products we recommend for Step 3

Pro Tip

Identifying the tick species in your yard can help you understand which host animals may be bringing ticks onto your property, allowing you to make your yard less hospitable to these animals.

After treating for ticks, learn how to prevent them from returning with our comprehensive tick prevention guide. Click the arrow below to continue.

How to Prevent a Tick Infestation

Steps to Prevent Ticks

After treating your yard, home, and pets for ticks, the next step is prevention. Follow our 3-step guide below for the best strategies to avoid future infestations.

Call Us

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET

Email Our Pros

We’re here to help

Live Chat

Offline. Leave Us a Message

Step1 Tick Prevention for Pets

The most effective way to protect your pets from ticks is by using monthly flea and tick preventatives. Options like drops, sprays, tick collars, and oral medications offer reliable protection. Always read product labels, as some sprays and drops may only provide short-term coverage.

Key Tips for Pet Tick Prevention:

  • Regularly inspect your pet by running your hands through their fur to feel for bumps and visually check for ticks.
  • After outdoor activities, especially in wooded areas, thoroughly check your pet.
  • Use a tick repellent spray on your pet before venturing outdoors.

For a detailed inspection guide, read our Tick Inspection Guide to learn how to check your pet for ticks effectively.

Products we recommend for Step 1

Step2 Indoor Tick Prevention

Ticks can enter your home on pets, clothing, or shoes. Regular inspections and cleaning are vital for keeping your indoor spaces tick-free.

Indoor Tick Prevention Tips:

  • Check pets, yourself, and family members for ticks regularly, particularly after outdoor activities like hiking or camping.
  • Inspect door frames, windows, baseboards, and high corners, as ticks tend to climb.
  • Pay attention to furniture seams, tufts, and backs, where ticks may hide.
  • Vacuum carpets and rugs at least once a week to remove any ticks or eggs.

Products we recommend for Step 2

Step3 Outdoor Tick Prevention

Wildlife such as rabbits, squirrels, deer, and stray cats can carry ticks into your yard. Taking steps to limit tick habitats can reduce the risk of infestation.

Outdoor Tick Prevention Tips:

  • Spray your yard with an insecticide like Temprid FX once a month during tick season.
  • Trim back trees to allow sunlight into shaded areas where ticks thrive.
  • Keep your grass short and well-maintained.
  • Remove yard debris, leaf piles, and stacked wood, as these provide harborage for ticks.
  • Create a clear, well-manicured border between your yard and wooded areas to reduce tick migration.
  • Add wood mulch or pea gravel to the border as an additional deterrent.

Products we recommend for Step 3

Did you find a tick on your pet, in your home, or in your yard? Learn more about what ticks look like or read our guide on where ticks hide to ensure you’ve checked everywhere. For comprehensive tick elimination, follow our How to Get Rid of Ticks guide, which includes tips on treating your pets and property effectively.

Next