Warmer Temps Causing Pests To Crawl Out
By: Brittany Escobar
Updated: March 18, 2013
"I've lived all over the country, I've never seen ticks like you'll see in this area," said Tim Gafford of Gafford Pest Control Services.
He said its primarily do to the arid environment and heat making it a haven for ticks.
"If they get on the pet you need to get with your veterinarian," said Gafford.
Over at the Animal Medical Center, Dr. Tim Polk said they've seen an increase of animals coming in with ticks.
"At least once or twice a week we diagnose a tick borne disease on a dog," he said, "so it's definitely out there and definitely a problem here."
Polk said the thought of tick borne illnesses are scary, because not only can they be give to your dog, but a tick can bite you too.
"Definately the same ticks that bite dogs can bite people and that can be problematic for us as well."
Spreading disease that can cause low platelet counts, high fevers and neurological symptoms.
Gafford said these warmer temperatures are to blame for the increase of ticks, but they aren't the only pests.
"Your oriental cockroaches are moving in which is a main nuisance," he said and add to the list black widows and brown recluse spiders.
"We are actually even seeing rats in the homes now in parts of town," Gafford said, " Which is pretty amazing because we hadn't seen that and I think a lot of that has to do with the dryness and things cause there is not a food source for them outside the urban area."
Weather will have a major impact on the pest we see, so Gafford said if it becomes a problem make sure to treat it.
"As it heats up we anticipate a lot more pests this year and you know if it rains it'll change the dynamics of that as well," he said.
He said its primarily do to the arid environment and heat making it a haven for ticks.
"If they get on the pet you need to get with your veterinarian," said Gafford.
Over at the Animal Medical Center, Dr. Tim Polk said they've seen an increase of animals coming in with ticks.
"At least once or twice a week we diagnose a tick borne disease on a dog," he said, "so it's definitely out there and definitely a problem here."
Polk said the thought of tick borne illnesses are scary, because not only can they be give to your dog, but a tick can bite you too.
"Definately the same ticks that bite dogs can bite people and that can be problematic for us as well."
Spreading disease that can cause low platelet counts, high fevers and neurological symptoms.
Gafford said these warmer temperatures are to blame for the increase of ticks, but they aren't the only pests.
"Your oriental cockroaches are moving in which is a main nuisance," he said and add to the list black widows and brown recluse spiders.
"We are actually even seeing rats in the homes now in parts of town," Gafford said, " Which is pretty amazing because we hadn't seen that and I think a lot of that has to do with the dryness and things cause there is not a food source for them outside the urban area."
Weather will have a major impact on the pest we see, so Gafford said if it becomes a problem make sure to treat it.
"As it heats up we anticipate a lot more pests this year and you know if it rains it'll change the dynamics of that as well," he said.
