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Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 7:47:23 AM

kalikshama

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My landlord just got a puppy and is freaking out about ticks. We're in Eastern MA, which does have a high incidence of Lyme disease. The way my mother and I deal with ticks is to look for them after gardening, pull them off, and flush them. She used Frontline or something for her dog.

My landlord wants to spray the yard, which is right next to my organic gardens. I used to work for someone who sprayed his yard regularly, which not only didn't prevent ticks, but both of his dogs, which were of different breeds, had an unbelievable amount of tumors.

Anyone have any suggestions for a compromise between my method and his?

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 7:58:16 AM

Moonhead

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Kill his puppy?

Seriously, I doubt you'll get very far trying to get a landlord to do something a tenant wants to do, rather than what he feels is the right approach, however witless or futile that is. Sorry. Maybe emphasising the garden, and that you know people who've tried spraying their yard and it didn't work would help, but don't hold your breath.
Good luck.

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 8:01:26 AM

kalikshama

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He lives downstairs and we are friendly. I can do anything I want to do, that I pay for. So, if he wants to use Toxic Chemical X for $10 and there is Less Toxic Chemical Y for $15, I'd kick in the $5.

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 8:24:57 AM

Moonhead

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Maybe some research on the sprays would be a help then. Are there any sites that do comparisons of insecticides on sale in the 'States?

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 8:51:19 AM

freedomdwarf1

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Dunno if this helps - http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/zoonotic/tickborne/documents/american_dog_tick_faq.pdf
or this - http://www.tickencounter.org/faq/tick_habitat

Personally, I'd destroy the tick habitat so they have nowhere to live near where I'd be living.
But that's just me.

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 8:56:05 AM

angelikaJ

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There is a company that makes tubes filled with nesting material treated with permethrin.
Mice pull it out and use it in their nests, and it kills the ticks.
I would try that.

http://www.ticktubes.com/

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 9:00:31 AM

DarkSteven

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There is a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. They are very toxic to insects but less so to warm blooded creatures.

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 9:20:21 AM

kalikshama

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I wouldn't want to kill the bees too.

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 11:06:35 AM

kalikshama

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He bought something with bifenthrin in it and is going to limit its use to the area where she goes, which is not near the gardens. Not sure how far away is far enough.

< Message edited by kalikshama -- 4/10/2014 11:07:10 AM >

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 6:30:59 PM

Aynne88

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http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/askthebugman/article/How-to-remove-dangerous-ticks-from-your-home-yard-3368425.php

Swear by this stuff.

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RE: Less toxic tick management - 4/10/2014 10:35:47 PM

DesFIP

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Buy guinea fowl. Not only do they eat ticks, but you can eat the eggs.
And tell him to cut the grass more frequently and keep out of the high weeds.

Otherwise, I'd call his vet and ask what they feel about toxic chemicals in the dog's yard vs use of safe Frontline or Advantix. Then tell him to talk to the vet.

And drown him in research.
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_4/features/Canine-Malignant-Lymphoma-and-Lawn-Pesticides_20494-1.html
http://ecochem.com/ENN_herbicide_dogs.html

Whole pages come up about this if you google cancer rates in dogs from pesticides.

I just used the Frontline and made it a practice of running my hands over them. It takes 24 hours of the tick on you (in people) for Lymes transmission. If every time the dog comes back in, you stroke them and remove the tick, there's no chance. Remind him to check himself as well.

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