How to Wipe Out Ticks from Your Iowa Property — for Good

I have been hiking several times this year, and I don't think any of my adventures so far have come without the very apparent danger of ticks. On each one of my hikes, my kids and I have had at least one of these nasty bloodsuckers crawling on us. Now, those adventures have been far and away from where people live, but what happens when these disease-carrying parasites are found closer to home? Say your backyard, country property, or farm. Don't worry, I've got you covered on how to deal with a tick invasion.

What Even Is a Tick Nest?

Trust me, you'll know it when you spot it.

First off, it’s not a “nest” like you’d see in a tree. When folks talk about tick nests, what they’re really seeing is a cluster of tick larvae—hundreds of tiny, reddish-brown specks balled up together in grass, leaf litter, or around woodpiles.

If you see what looks like ground pepper that moves when you get close, you’ve probably found one. When the ticks are very small, they can't spread the disease yet, but these larvae' first meal from a mouse could infect it.

These little guys are out for blood (literally), and in Iowa, the big threats are deer ticks (think Lyme disease) and dog ticks, which can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Both illnesses are debilitating, and they can spread nine other diseases to humans and pets alike.

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How Can I Deal with a Tick Invasion (DIY Style)

If you find a tick nest in your yard, don’t freak out. You can handle this. Yeah, your first thought might be to kill it with fire. And where that might work it's also dangerous and probably illegal. Instead, try this:

• Gear up. Long sleeves, gloves, and pants tucked into socks. You can even treat your clothes before going into battle. Trust me on this.

• Use Diatomaceous Earth. This natural, pet-safe powder dries out and kills ticks by wrecking their exoskeletons. Just sprinkle it generously over the nest and nearby area, especially if it’s shady and damp. With this method, you really can't go overboard, so "let it snow."
• Spray ‘Em Dead. You can get tick-killing sprays with permethrin or bifenthrin at your local hardware store. Hit the nest and a few feet around it, then keep pets and kids out of the area until it dries. To be fair, if you found a tick nest, no one should be playing by it anyway.
• Clean It Up. You don't want them to come back, right? Remove leaf piles, mow tall grass, and create some space between wooded areas and your lawn. You can even toss out tick tubes you can make yourself. Take cotton balls and soak them in permethrin and place them in cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel rolls). This deterrent will help limit the area tick populations that use your local mice and rodents as hosts.

You Can Always Call the "Tick-Pros," and Maybe You Should...

If you've got multiple nests or you’ve tried spraying and treating but they keep coming back, it might be time to bring in pest control. Find a company that knows the tick species we’ve got here in Iowa. They'll treat your yard without turning it into a chemical war zone.

READ MORE: What Happens If You Squeeze an Attached Tick? Infection!

Liten, at the end of the day, you don’t want ticks taking over your backyard. These foul beasts spread disease and make enjoying the outdoors a serious pain. A little know-how, a few supplies, and some smart cleanup can keep your yard safe for you, your kids, and your pets.