Check Your Outdoor Space For Ticks With This Brilliant Hack

As temperatures drop, you might think it's safe to spend some tick-free time outdoors. However, these pests can pose a threat any time of the year. This is why you need to check your yard for ticks, and you can do so with nothing more than a stick and a piece of fabric. And unless it's freezing out, ticks may be lurking in your yard, as they're outside all year long. However, there are two times a year when they're out and about more times than others. This is in the spring (March to May) and then again from late summer through the fall (August to November). 

But since you run the risk of encountering ticks on any given day, it's important to take precautionary measures. Ticks are known for carrying a plethora of bacteria and viruses. They're also a breeding ground for parasites, most commonly causing babesiosis. But this isn't the only disease ticks harbor. They also transmit Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and more. Prevention is key to keeping ticks out of your yard, and here's how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets.

Attach a piece of fabric to a pole. Locate any tall grass or weeds in your yard, and drag the fabric through it. Remember to use light-colored fabric to easily spot the ticks. If you have woods in your yard, check this area as well. Should your yard have ticks, they'll latch onto this piece of fabric. Take a look around your yard, paying attention to large open areas. If animals are wandering around your yard — especially opossums, squirrels, deer, raccoons, and birds — you probably have ticks in close proximity. If you live in an area with lizards, they can carry ticks as well. 

Does this mean ticks are the unwanted visitor you're stuck with all year? Not necessarily. You can deter ticks in the first place by mowing your lawn frequently. Don't let it grow too high, as ticks often cling to the tops of tall grass. Instead, keep your lawn no higher than 4 inches. During the fall season, keep your yard free from leaves. You can rake or use a leaf blower — just be sure to remove these piles from your property. Leaves on the ground offer ticks a nice place to set up shop, protecting them from predators and offering higher humidity levels. So before you drop your guard outside, use this genius hack to check for the lawn pests no one wants.