help with ticks

[davs2601]

Hey folks
ticks have infested my yard!!! I am having a horrible time trying to get rid of them. I have sprayed the yard with triazicide (sp) that comes in the bottle you hook to your hose and I went slowly making sure not to miss any areas and coat it well. I have treated the dogs with the flea and tick prevention drops that go on the back of the neck. I have washed them with flea and tick killer/repeller shampoo. and I have sprayed them with biospot flea and tick treatment. Of course I didnt do all of this at once to the dogs.

AND I STILL HAVE TICKS!!!! Its driving me nuts. Aside from getting some chickens I dont know what else I could to to get rid of them. Please if you have some ideas or products that have worked send them my way

Thanks
David

[kdvollmer]

This may sound wierd, or crazy, but my father in Law in TN swears by using a couple of boxes of powdered Laundry Detergent through a spreader of some type. I have never tried it, soI don't know. I believe that they have tried it while I am deployed and they watch my Basset Hound. Unsed to have a problem with tics, but not anymore.

[Muliefever]

rubbing alchohol! I sprayed it all over my wood pile and they were either dead or gone the next day!

[springerDIVA]

Y'all have had a lot of rain up there this year so they're going to be crawling all season too.
We have a policy in our home that has kept infestations at bay over they years. When we all (dogs and people) come in from the field everyone gets a bath. We check for hitchhikers and burrs and thorns/needles. If we spot any of the enemy we attack with Adams spray directly on the parasite. We also use Frontline our our dogs. It has proven more effective than biospot for us.
As for the yard, you may want to use more than one product. The laundry powder can be toxic to pets, especially if ingested.
I have found the Ortho Max yard spray to be effective. Orange oil is another thing that they are not fond of either. I use DE pool filter powder,(you can get it at one of the big box stores for around $10). It's crushed seashells and fleas and other small instectscannot come in contact with it without great harm. It's safe for pets and kidsonce applied to the yard and can be used indoors if necessary. You need to wear glasses and gloves when spreading it out. Start with on the perimeter and move inward with whatever you choose to use.
Ask neighbors to treat at the same time. If they don't then you're fighting a loosing battle. You need to repeat your treatment process about every 2 weeks, this is the average breeding cycle for fleas and ticks.

Check with your local ag extension office or nursery to find out what is working. Sometimes the bugs build up a resistance. Just like anti-biotics.

We're hearing of a lot of similiar problems in our area too as a result of all of the spring and summer rains. As it's thundering and blowing in now. Hope this helps.

[Phil from Maine]

It may sound strange but, mixing some dawn dish detergent with water and spread around will kill them and fleas as well.. Good luck to you on your problem..

[daleh]

any form of soap, works as a bug treatment. However, this will only last a few hours.
I have a bad problem with fleas and the only thing that works is Perethrium(sp) It can be mixed up in agallon spray bottle and be sprayed every week. I spray my dogs, horses, kennels, barn, and all the groud around every week.
costs abot $20 per bottle but, lastes all summer

[davs2601]

thanks for all of the replies. I agree with you about attributing this to all of this rain. all of the bugs are out of control!! I found another bottle of triazicide in the shed so I put it down again. I will probably pick up some of the ortho granuals and spread them as well here in about a week. I will have to look for the pool filter powder and give that a try as well.

I never thought to call the local ag office, great idea thanks. That would explain why they wont die off.

Thanks again to everyone

[TimberCreek]

Go to walmart and buy the green bottle of termite killer around $12. Read the ingredients. You need permathrin. Believe it is 5%. Mix 2-3 oz per gallon in pump sprayer.Mow grass low, set sprayer to misting. Spray entire yard. repeat spraying againthe next day. Ticks, chiggars,fleasetcwill be dead!Do not do, if it is going to rain. If you have moles and spray your yard with this they will move on. The permathrin will not hurt the pets after about 1 hr, they can go out. One of the pet flea repellant manufacturers actually uses permathrin in their treatment that you actually put on the dogs back.

[davs2601]

I actually do have a horrible mole problem. I will definately give that a try
Thanks

[fechmupbud]

I was going to ask you about your yard and whether you keep your trouble areas mowed but was a little nervous to speak up until I saw Timbercreek's response. I secondkeeping the grass mowed, and mowed low in your case.