Tick control methods
In the United Kingdom, there are difficulties regarding tick control in both domestic and rural environments. This is because:
(a) Chemical control is heavily restricted by laws and licensing;
(b) It generally raises concerns regarding its effect on the environmental and public health.
Methods of non-chemical control are limited. However, by using them in combination, and with co-operation between neighbouring landowners and veterinary practices, successful control may be achieved.
Non-chemical methods of control for the domestic environment
Creating a buffer zone for a domestic property
Ticks need a humid environment to thrive. This humidity is created by plant cover and plant debris (e.g. leaf litter). This results in a micro climate that is suitable for ticks. Strategically using paving, wood chips and gravel, around your property can reduce the humidity, keeping the ticks at a distance from housing and recreational areas.
Larger image of the buffer zone plan (new window).
Buffer methods key
1) Tree line of woods, or shrub area.
2) Deer resistant flower garden, see details under "Boundaries" below.
3) Wood pile and bird table, kept outside the perimeter barriers.
4) Perimeter barrier: paths of paving, gravel or wood chip, should be a minimum of 3 foot wide and 3 inches deep.
5) Recreation area with wood chip base.
6) Gravel or wood chip barrier topping to all walkways or planted areas close to the house, if not paved.
Paths
Keep grass short at the edge of paths.
Cut back shrubs and bushes, to prevent overhanging vegetation. Ticks use overhanging grass and plants to quest for a host.
Lawns
Keep lawns short.
Create a barrier of wood chips between the lawn and shrub areas.
Borders
Keep ground cover plants to a minimum.
Rake up leaf litter and compost it.
Recreation areas
Isolate bird feeders by creating a wood chip barrier.
Keep seating and play equipment away from borders, trees, and bird feeders.
Entrances
Paved or graveled areas around doors to the property will help to prevent ticks from crossing the threshold.
Boundaries
Use fencing to divide gardens from deer habitat. 8 foot fencing is normally needed to effectively keep deer out.
Deer are often the favoured host to complete the tick's life cycle. Areas frequented by deer are likely to also have a larger proportion of female ticks that are full of eggs. The female tick will lay her clutch of many thousands of eggs on the ground. These eggs will later hatch into larvae, which will search locally for a blood meal. Keeping deer out of residential areas, combined with other defensive methods, can help to lessen the local tick population.
Selective planting can help to deter deer from the garden. They will often return to a favourite food source, so a border full of plants that are distasteful to deer will help to discourage them from feeding in your garden. Some examples of plants that are reported to be ignored by deer or distasteful to them are:
Achillea, Aconitum, Adenophora, Aegopodium, Alchemilla, Allium, Artemisia, Berberis, Buddleia, Buxus, Carex, Caryopteris, Corydalis, Daphne, Dicentra, Digitalis, Echinops, Euphorbia, Fritillaria, Genista, Geranium, Helenium, Helleborus, Hypericum, Hyssopus, Iris siberica, Lamium, Lavandula, Linaria, Linum, Lychnis, Melissa, Mentha, Narcissus, Nepeta, Origanum, Paeonia, Papaver orientale, Picea, Potentilla, Rhamnus, Rheum, Salvia, Senecio, Stachys, Tanacetum, Teucrium, Thymus, Verbascum.
Bracken and other ground cover plants, which have encroached from neighbouring land, should be eradicated.
Non-chemical methods of control in parks and low-density housing
Landscaping
As above, the suggested methods of landscaping can apply to public parks and recreational areas.
Guinea fowl
Guinea fowl are avid eaters of ticks, but they are extremely noisy. In both suburban and rural controlled study sites, the Helmeted Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) has been used to control ticks. It has been demonstrated that, although noisy, this species would be an appropriate means of tick control in areas of low-density housing and public parks, where noise is unlikely to be a problem.
Chemical and non-chemical methods of control for the rural environment
Deer culling
Studies have indicated that deer feed a large proportion of the tick population. Reducing deer numbers has shown to decrease the number of ticks in certain areas. However, in some studies, adult ticks (which favour deer to complete their life cycle) have adapted to smaller hosts such as hare when deer are removed.
Tick Mops
In some areas where red deer and mountain hares do not occur, sheep are dipped with acaricide 4 times or more per year before being turned out. Treating sheep in this way allows them to mop up ticks, which die when they come into contact with the acaricide residue on the fleece. This method has been successful in reducing tick numbers.
The Game Conservancy Trust is currently conducting trials in the Scottish Highlands to test whether using sheep as 'tick mops' can also be successful in controlling ticks in areas where there are deer and hares.
Using deer and hares as a method of mopping up ticks has also been considered. However, acaricides, which are licensed for use on domestic livestock and pets in the UK, are currently not licensed for use on any type of wildlife.
Bracken control
Approved herbicides are usually sprayed on bracken from mid July to the end of August in order to control its growth.
Bracken is an ideal habitat for ticks. This is because its dense growth keeps humidity levels high. Once it withers and dies, it creates a moist layer for ticks to remain in.
Bracken is growing out of control in certain areas, particularly throughout heather moorland. Once it was harvested for use as winter bedding for livestock, but this tradition died out as modern farming methods took over. In certain areas this plant is invading moorland at a rate of 5% per year. A guide to best practice is available from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Moorland burning
For centuries moorland has been burned to manage the vegetation and to stimulate new growth. Another benefit of this practice is that it can also help to control tick numbers. However, it must be very carefully managed. The 'Muirburn code' covers best practice methods and the legal aspects of moorland burning.
Co-operation and communication will help considerably in achieving successful tick control.
