Of all the tiny critters we get calls on, the tick seems to be very popular as of late. Do not take a tick problem lightly. Aside from giving most folks the willies, they carry some very nasty diseases. I hate to sound like a broken record (for you young folks, that is the big round thing with the small hole in it that plays music) but we are back to controlling our environment. Ticks just don’t show up in an area. The urban wildlife (rabbits, rats, squirrels, raccoon, etc) that visit us are bringing in the ticks. Yes, I know how cute they are, but they are bringing friends. If you feed the birds stop, for about a month or so. Do not leave pet food outside. Keep the grass short, flowerbeds maintained and any brush picked up. This includes the stacks of firewood.
There are both all-natural and synthetic insecticides that will kill ticks. As always read and follow the label directions. The following link will help.
CDC on tick: http://www.cdc.gov/features/stopticks/
Controlling ticks: https://insects.tamu.edu/extension/publications/epubs/e-150.cfm
Tick control, there is an AP for that: http://tickapp.tamu.edu/control.php
