NH Tick Control

Take back your yard!

New Hampshire is home to multiple tick species - two of which are currently of most concern; the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the Blacklegged “deer” Tick (Ixodes scapularis). The Blacklegged Tick in particular has become prevelant in popular culture due to its notariety as the vector (transmitter) of the organism that causes Lyme disease.

Why Monadnock?

Given the public concern over the presence of ticks, especially with sensitive carriers such as pets or children, Monadnock Pest & Wildlife Services is fully prepared to assist with your tick control needs. It takes more than simply “spraying pesticides” to producing proactive results. Finding (and addressing) tick harborage areas in and around your property is paramount to a successful tick remediation program. Understanding tick biology and characteristics of the species that harbor and breed in and around New Hampshire homes is also important. Additionally, being able to successfully control tick populations while minimizing impact to other (potentially beneficial) “backyard bugs” and the environment is an important part of our tick control process.

With over 30 years of tick control experience behind us - Monadnock Pest & Wildlife Services is ready to address your tick concerns.

Tick Characteristics

Ticks are small, blood-sucking arachnids (related to spiders) that can range in size from as small as a pin’s head to as large as a pencil eraser. Ticks have eight legs and can range in color from shades of brown to reddish brown and black. There are two families of ticks, the Ixodidae (“hard” ticks) and Argasidae (“soft” ticks). Of most importance is the family Ixodidae. Multiple species are of human concern because they are known to latch on or “bite” people and/or companion pets.

Ticks are parasitic blood feeders. Like mosquitoes, bed bugs, fleas, mites and others, they rely on a host with blood to feed and survive. Once they have latched onto a host and bored under the skin, they begin to feed on blood. As they take in more blood, they will grow in size, in a process known as “gorging”. At their largest, ticks can swell to the size of a marble. After a tick has been feeding for several days, they become engorged and can turn a greenish-blue color before detaching and dropping off the host. During this process, some ticks can also transmit diseases to the people or pets they bite, including Lyme Disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.

Nuisance characteristics:

Common tick issues include (but are not limited to):

• Harborage in/around private homes and public parks.

• Attachment and feeding on humans.

• Attachment and feeding on companion animals.

• Vector for human-impacting diseases such as Lyme.

Common NH Tick Species:

Common species include:

• American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

• Blacklegged “deer” Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Lesser Known NH Tick Species:

Less common, yet still present tick species include:

• The Winter Tick (Dermacentor albipictus)

• The Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

• Woodchuck tick (Ixodes cookei)

• The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Having trouble with ticks? If you live in southern New Hampshire, we’re ready to assist - contact Monadnock Pest & Wildlife today for a worry-free inspection and estimate to assist with evicting ticks from your property!