Tick problem at the yard edge
Ticks are concentrated where the lawn meets brush and leaf litter. The plan is built around that edge and the paths people and pets use to cross it.
Serving Mendocino County
Flea and Tick Control in Philo, CA
Flea and tick control for Philo yards and homes, planned around the western blacklegged tick, which is present in Mendocino County.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Price confirmed on site before any work
- Anderson Valley, the Ukiah valley and the coast
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Flea and Tick
Flea and Tick Control: what it covers
Quick answer
Flea and tick control treats the yard, the wood and the animals' resting places where fleas and ticks live. The western blacklegged tick is present in Mendocino County and can carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. In Philo, Philo Pest Control connects Mendocino County homeowners with a local technician, and the plan is agreed before any product goes down.
Ticks are the main concern on a Mendocino County property, because the western blacklegged tick can carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Ticks wait in grass, leaf litter and brush for a host to pass, so a yard edge that is overgrown or shaded is where most people pick them up.
Adult western blacklegged ticks are most active from late fall through spring, and nymphs are most active from spring to early summer, according to the county's public health guidance. Those are the months when a tick check and a yard assessment do the most good.
Fleas are a separate job from ticks, and the plan is written for the pest found. Call (855) 974-4733 to describe the yard and any pets, and ask the technician to explain the plan before anything is applied.
- Service area
- Philo & Mendocino County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
Warning signs
Signs you need flea and tick control
Do not crush a tick with bare fingers, and do not use petroleum jelly, a hot match or nail polish to remove one. Use fine tweezers close to the skin and pull steadily, then clean the bite and watch for a rash or fever.
- Ticks found on a dog, a cat or a person after walking through grass or brush
- A yard edge of tall grass, leaf litter or brush next to a path or lawn
- Fleas found on pets, bedding or in carpet near a pet's resting spot
- Pets scratching or chewing more than usual during the late fall to spring period
- A tick attached to a person or animal that you cannot remove cleanly
- A tick in the house after a pet has been outside
- Children playing where leaf litter and brush meet the lawn
Our process
How our flea and tick control visit works
Assess the yard and the resting areas
The technician looks at the grass, leaf litter, brush, woodpiles and the edge where the lawn meets wild ground, since these are where ticks wait and where pets rest.
Identify the pest
Ticks and fleas are identified and recorded separately, because the western blacklegged tick and a flea call for different parts of the plan.
Set out the yard plan and the non-chemical steps
Clearing brush and leaf litter, keeping grass short near the house and moving woodpiles away from the walls are explained, with any product named and placed as agreed.
Advise on testing and pet care
Mendocino County residents can have ticks identified or tested at the Solano or Sonoma County Public Health laboratories. The technician explains how to keep tick checks part of the routine for people and pets.
Follow up in the active season
A follow-up visit is scheduled for the period when adults or nymphs are most active, so the plan is checked when it matters most.
When are ticks most active in Mendocino County?
Adult western blacklegged ticks are most active from late fall through spring, and nymphs from spring to early summer, according to the county's public health guidance. A tick can be picked up in any season, so the yard is worth checking all year.
Nymphs are very small, and they are easy to miss on a person or an animal. That is part of why the spring and early summer months are a time to check more carefully, even when the grass looks quiet.
The pattern is a guide, not a calendar. A mild spell in the middle of winter can bring ticks out, so the checks continue through the year.
- Late fall to spring: adult activity
- Spring to early summer: nymph activity
- Check people and pets after walks in brush
Can a tick bite give you Lyme disease?
The western blacklegged tick can carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Mendocino County's public health guidance says ticks can be identified or tested at the Solano or Sonoma County Public Health laboratories, and a medical professional should be consulted about any bite or rash.
Removing an attached tick promptly and carefully lowers the chance of infection, and the way it is removed matters. Watch for a rash or a fever in the weeks after a bite, and tell a medical professional about the bite.
The county's public health guidance also reports that the Lyme disease rate in Mendocino County from 2005 to 2014 was among the highest in California, at 3.9 per 100,000. That is an older figure, so the current rate should be checked with the county.
- Remove an attached tick promptly
- Keep the tick in a sealed bag for identification
- Tell a medical professional about any bite or rash
How common are infected ticks in Mendocino oak woodland?
A study of Mendocino oak woodlands found nymphal infection typically between 5 and 10 percent, with a range from under 1 percent to 41 percent. The figure varies by site, so it describes the study area rather than any single yard.
A yard next to oak woodland or dense brush can have a different tick pattern from a lawn in town. The technician looks at the yard edge rather than relying on any single study.
The percentages are a reason to check ticks, not a reason to assume every tick is infected. Testing a tick is the only way to know its status for a specific case.
- Infection rates vary from site to site
- Test a tick to know its status
- Check the edge where the yard meets wild ground
What does flea and tick control cost in Philo?
The price is confirmed on site after the yard, the pests and the number of pets are known. A small lawn with a short edge is the simplest scope, and a larger property with brush and woodpiles takes more time.
Follow-up visits in the active season are priced as separate items, so the homeowner can see how many are included before agreeing.
Yard clearing and brush work, if recommended, is quoted separately from the treatment, and the plan says which parts are the homeowner's to do.
- Size of the yard and length of the brush edge
- Pests found and the number of pets
- Follow-up visits in the active season
- Clearing work, listed separately
Options
Types and options for flea and tick control
Flea problem around pets
Fleas are found around pets and where pets rest. The plan treats the resting areas and the pets' bedding, and it is coordinated with whatever the owner uses on the animal.
Ticks and fleas together
A property with both needs a plan that separates the yard edge from the resting spots. The technician explains what each part is for, so the homeowner can keep track of it.
Mendocino County
Why flea and tick control is different in California North Coast
Philo sits in the Anderson Valley, between the creek and river corridor and the wooded ground around it. Yards that meet brush and oak cover are the ones where the western blacklegged tick is most likely to be found, so the assessment starts at the edge.
Mendocino County's tick guidance points residents to the Solano and Sonoma County Public Health laboratories for identification and testing. A tick from a Philo yard can be sent through that route if the household wants a result.
One call and it gets handled.
Most flea and tick control calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Where we work
Flea and Tick Control across Mendocino County
- Flea and Tick in Boonville
- Flea and Tick in Navarro
- Flea and Tick in Yorkville
- Flea and Tick in Manchester
- Flea and Tick in Point Arena
- Flea and Tick in Ukiah
- Flea and Tick in Talmage
- Flea and Tick in Calpella
- Flea and Tick in Redwood Valley
- Flea and Tick in Hopland
- Flea and Tick in Potter Valley
- Flea and Tick in Willits
- Flea and Tick in Elk
- Flea and Tick in Albion
- Flea and Tick in Little River
- Flea and Tick in Comptche
- Flea and Tick in Mendocino
- Flea and Tick in Gualala
- Flea and Tick in Annapolis
- Flea and Tick in The Sea Ranch
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
General Pest Control
On-site inspection and a written treatment plan for household pests in Philo and the surrounding Mendocino County valleys.
Wasp and Yellowjacket Removal
Locating and removing wasp and yellowjacket nests around a Philo home, with the species identified and the risk to the household explained first.
Garden and Yard Pest Control
Yard and garden pest inspection for Philo homes, planning the planting, the lawn edge and the resting places before any product is named.
Mosquito Control
Property-level mosquito control for Philo yards near the creek and river, with standing water and shaded cover checked before any product is used.
Guides
Read before you book
Ticks and Lyme Risk in Mendocino County
The western blacklegged tick carries the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, and Mendocino County has reported Lyme incidence among the highest in California.
A General Seasonal Pest Calendar for Anderson Valley
This calendar is general, not a local schedule.
FAQ
Flea and Tick Control FAQs
Is there a tick problem in Philo all year?
Ticks are present in Mendocino County in more than one season, and adults are most active from late fall through spring. Checking after time outdoors is a sensible habit at any time of year.
Can I treat the yard for ticks myself?
Clearing brush and leaf litter and keeping grass short near the house are useful steps you can take. Any product should be chosen after the technician has assessed the yard and the label directions have been read.
Do fleas and ticks need the same treatment?
No. Ticks live in the yard edge and fleas live around the animal's resting areas, so the plan treats each where it is found.
Where can I get a tick tested in Mendocino County?
The county's public health guidance points to the Solano and Sonoma County Public Health laboratories for identification and testing. Ask a medical professional or the county before sending a sample.