Often a forgotten pest, Great Britain is home to a fair few species of tick, all with varying preferred hosts and some making a nasty habit of latching onto humans. The Sheep tick, in particular, makes no dispute when it comes to human hosts, but will feed on species of bird and mammals as well.

Typically, ticks will be found nestled amongst woodland and, in some cases, gardens with an abundance of vegetation, so it’s important to take care when gardening and strolling around natural surroundings. Of course, there are precautions you can take to prevent a bite, which Pest Control in London have been highlighted below.

Preventing Tick Bites

• Wear long sleeves and full-length trousers or jeans to cover otherwise exposed skin when exploring woodland and other common tick habitats – note that spotting ticks on clothing is much easier with lighter shades
• Invest in an approved insect repellent
• Tidy up the exterior of your property – trim shrubs and clear any unnecessary vegetation to reduce the risk of ticks making their home in your garden

If you do suffer a tick bite, though, you need to be careful when removing this pest from the skin. Below we have compiled a step-by-step guide to removing a tick.

How to Remove a Tick

Often considered the best way to remove a tick from the skin, fine-tipped tweezers are essential here. If, however, you don’t have this tool, use gloves and tissue paper; under no circumstances should a tick be handled with bare hands. To remove a tick, you should:

• Use the tweezers to get hold of the pest as close as possible to its mouth – this will be the part of the tick that’s buried in your skin whilst the body will be exposed above the surface
• Avoid pulling at the tick around the stomach – doing so may force fluid into your body
• Take care when pulling the tick out. Do so gently and don’t let go until the tick’s mouth has released your skin
• Never try and twist the body, as this can detach the head from the body, leaving the former under the skin
• Wash the affected area with soap and warm water after removal

So, now you know how to avoid and treat tick bites. Unfortunately, though, the tick is not the only pest Britain’s have to face, so if you do need any more advice regarding pests or you require a pest inspection and treatment, feel free to get in touch today. We’re always happy to help.