integrated tick management for people who prefer not to spray

published: August 9, 2025 •
tickslyme-diseasepest-controlwildlife-managementhealth
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tick season in michigan has gotten progressively worse. nationally, nearly half a million americans are treated for lyme disease each year. michigan reported 1,215 cases in 2024, up 168% over five years. anaplasmosis cases increased almost 5x. researchers have identified michigan, along with illinois, indiana, and ohio, as likely targets for future lyme disease emergence.

after pretty nasty bouts of ehrlichiosis and lyme, i’ve had to get serious about tick control - despite a preference to spray as little as possible for myself and the bees. below is what we’ve learned on our property.

where i get ticks

i used to take notes on the ticks we’d pick up, and the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to areas that deer and groundhogs frequented. in particular, places where deer bed in or near brush were the worst. if you see matted grass under autumn olive, buckthorn, apple, or raspberry, expect you’re in for a tiny hitchiker.

if you don’t mind spending a few hundred bucks to help science, you should strongly consider saving the ticks you find and sending them to ticklab.org. not only will this help keep up surveillance for everyone, but you’ll learn what might be hiding inside those bites if you’re not lucky enough to avoid them. if you ever have to guess which antibiotic to choose in a hurry - like i recently did with ehrlichiosis - you’ll thank yourself.

tick biology basics

blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) have a two-year lifecycle. understanding when they’re active helps time interventions:

  • peak nymph activity: may-july (highest disease transmission risk - they’re tiny)
  • peak adult activity: october-may (when above freezing)
  • larvae feeding: late summer/early fall

all of this is highly subject to moisture conditions. if the winter is warm and wet or the spring is dry, you might see shifted timelines.

nymphs are the size of a poppy seed. you won’t see them unless you’re looking in good lighting with clean skin.

Rendering diagram...

figure 1: blacklegged tick two-year lifecycle. the critical nymph stage (emphasized) occurs in year 2 and is responsible for most disease transmission. click the button in the upper right corner to expand the diagram to fullscreen.

integrated control approach

barn cats

barn cats not only catch and kill rodents, but also act as a sink for ticks by exploring and hunting in areas where ticks frequent. if you regularly check or medicate your cats for them, you’ll end up decreasing the host population and tick population at the same time.

tick tubes

most effective intervention for the effort, but requires a time machine. mice pick up permethrin-treated cotton for nesting material, which kills ticks feeding on them. in a couple years, the reduced early life cycle population will manifest.

timing

  • first application: early april (before nymphs emerge)
  • second application: late july/early august (targets larvae)
  • third application: late september/october (peak cotton usage by mice)

placement

  • density: ~24 tubes per acre of tick habitat in theory, but your property and land use will heavily impact.
  • locations: around structures, log piles, wind breaks like stone walls, trail edges, dense plantings, etc.
  • avoid: well-lit open areas (mice prefer shadows) or places you’ll accidentally brush hog / mow or weedwack

products

  • commercial: thermacell tick control tubes
  • diy option: ohio state extension guide - toilet paper tubes, cotton balls, 7% permethrin
  • note: some sources warn diy tubes may violate epa pesticide labels. commercial products have been safety tested for this specific use. your call on risk/benefit.

penn state research shows tick tubes reduce tick burdens on mice within one season. connecticut studies found 37-91% reduction in ticks on mice. cotton use peaks in late september/october when mice are preparing winter nests. however, studies haven’t shown significant reduction in overall tick populations or disease risk - you’re reducing tick loads on mice, not eliminating the population.

perimeter spraying

focused application around high-use areas. don’t spray everything - target transition zones where ticks enter or exit your activity nexus.

timing

  • most critical: single application in may or early june when nymphs emerge, but pay attention to rain and vegetation state.
  • optimal: mid-may and mid-june (two applications)
  • optional: mid-october for adult ticks

application areas

  • woodland edges
  • 3-6 foot perimeter around yard
  • along trails
  • around play areas and gardens

product

  • ben’s tick fence: bens30.com - cedar oil based, safer around pets
  • usda research: cedar oil repelled 80-94% of blacklegged tick nymphs
  • worked as well as deet for blacklegged ticks specifically
  • limit use to areas where you really need it

effectiveness: pyrethroid sprays achieve 54-80% reduction. cedar oil repels 80-94% of blacklegged ticks but requires more frequent application.

host management

deer are the primary reproductive host. groundhogs, raccoons, and other mammals maintain the cycle.

after aggressively managing our deer population for the last five years, we have seen a HUGE improvement. i get more ticks at a suburban backyard cookout than from our log pile now.

deer population control

  • overpopulated areas need aggressive management
  • hunt does and even fawns if necessary - the cost of extra tags is much less than getting seriously sick
  • hunt every season you can - bow and firearm - and invite friends or even trustworthy strangers
  • michigan dnr recommends late february for deer culls when feasible
  • target density: 5-10 deer per 300 acres according to michigan dnr

4-poster deer feeders

if hunting isn’t sufficient or feasible, 4-poster feeders apply acaricide to feeding deer:

  • deployment: need at least 2 years continuous operation for effectiveness
  • density: one station per 50-60 hectares (125-150 acres)
  • effectiveness: treating 50-70% of deer population achieves 60% reduction in infected nymphs after 5 years
  • maintenance: requires regular corn refilling and acaricide replacement
  • considerations: expensive, requires permits in some areas, attracts deer initially

smaller hosts

  • trap and remove groundhogs near structures (not that you need more reason)
  • relocate or eliminate raccoons denning near homes

landscape management

physical habitat modification reduces tick survival. we try to minimize this strategy, in part because it interferes with pollinator and goat management, but many prefer the golf course look anyway.

if you’re looking to keep it natural, my best recommendation is to mulch your leaves in place or collect them to compost. ideally, mulching will allow the soil cycle, bacteria, fungi, and other bugs to be less impacted.

personal protection

clothing treatment

  • sawyer permethrin fabric treatment: sawyer products
  • university of rhode island study: 73.6x less likely to get tick bite with treated shoes/socks
  • outdoor workers had 60 tick bites vs 166 in untreated group over 2 years
  • treat boots, pants, shirts - use 4.5 oz per outfit (shirt, pants, socks)
  • lasts 6 weeks or 6 washes
  • let dry completely before wearing
  • actually kills ticks on contact, not just repels

field techniques

  • duct tape ankles - creates physical barrier and catches climbing ticks
  • tuck pants into socks (fashion be damned)
  • light colored clothing to spot ticks (this is why i wear white henleys nearly every day)
  • stay on trails when possible

high-risk preparation

during hunting season or heavy brush work:

  • consider shaving legs/arms - easier to feel and spot ticks
  • don’t skip the shower, especially for morning hunts (ask me about lyme…)

effectiveness expectations

with integrated approach:

  • tick tubes: 37-91% reduction on treated mice (60-80% when used consistently)
  • perimeter spraying: 54-80% reduction with pyrethroids, 80-94% repellency with cedar oil
  • 4-poster feeders: 60% reduction in infected nymphs after 5 years with proper coverage
  • permethrin clothing: 73.6x reduction in tick bites
  • landscape modification: foundational habitat reduction, 3x increase in ticks if leaves blown to yard edges
  • combined methods: can achieve >90% reduction in tick encounters

remember: no single intervention eliminates risk. layer your defenses.

seasonal calendar

Rendering diagram...

figure 2: integrated tick management timeline showing the alignment of tick lifecycle stages with optimal intervention timing across multiple years. critical intervention periods are highlighted. the diagram demonstrates why early spring tick tubes (targeting mice before larvae feed) and may spraying (during nymph emergence) are essential. click the button in the upper right corner to expand the diagram to fullscreen.

early spring (march-april)

  • deploy first tick tubes
  • mulch or compost remaining leaf litter
  • establish barriers
  • plan spray schedule watching moisture / perimeter vegetation

late spring (may-june)

  • critical period: primary spraying for nymphs
  • maintain short grass
  • monitor tick activity

summer (july-august)

  • second tick tube application
  • continue landscape maintenance
  • treat heavily used trails

fall (september-october)

  • third tick tube application
  • manage leaf litter properly
  • optional spray for adults
  • deer season prep

winter (november-february)

  • deer management
  • order supplies for next year
  • maintain barriers

safety notes

  • permethrin: safe for dogs when dry, toxic to cats when wet, harmful to aquatic life - less is better
  • keep kids and pets away from sprayed areas 12-24 hours
  • follow all product labels

reality check

you won’t eliminate all ticks, although if you put the effort into reducing the deer population, you can get close.

goal is reducing encounters and disease transmission. the mild winters aren’t helping - ticks that used to die off are surviving and expanding range.

as with all environmental systems, consistent integrated management works best. one intervention alone isn’t enough, and the health of other living and non-living things is important too. but as more and more of us have to deal with serious tick-borne diseases, the effort and cost of prevention is worth it.

key takeaways from federal research

the hhs national community engagement sessions (starting june 2024) highlight critical developments:

  • nearly 500,000 americans treated for lyme disease annually - likely significant undercount
  • tick-borne diseases comprise over 80% of all vector-borne disease cases in the u.s.
  • michigan, illinois, indiana, ohio identified as likely targets for future lyme disease emergence
  • alpha-gal syndrome affects up to 450,000 people nationally, with 42% of healthcare providers unaware of the condition
  • federal vector-borne disease strategy aims for 25% reduction in lyme cases by 2035

resources and references

surveillance and epidemiology

intervention research

products mentioned

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