The summer months in Connecticut bring longer days and warmer weather, but we also begin to see a more prevalent tick problem around this time of year. While ticks can easily be transferred to people through high grass and brush, it might surprise you to discover that mice are some of the biggest culprits to spreading ticks, and more importantly, Lyme Disease. Millette has perfected a device, called the Tick Box, to virtually eliminate the threat of ticks being spread by way of rodents.

Mice, Ticks, and Warm Weather

Forty to ninety percent of white-footed mice are infected by deer ticks, and deer ticks carry the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. Once a white-footed mouse becomes a host to these ticks, they can easily move throughout a human’s environment and more importantly, their home.

With hotter summers and warmer winter months, New England has seen an increase in the mouse population, as they are more likely to survive year-round due to these changes in climate. Because of this, Connecticut is experiencing a larger pest control issue when it comes to mice, which in turn runs the risk of ticks being more likely to be transmitted.

The Tick Box Solution from Millette

At Millette, we recognize the real threat of ticks and how they relate directly to the mice population. We understand that by protecting mice from ticks, we in turn are protecting humans from ticks. This is the foundation of our tick control system, The Tick Box. The key to this device is a small, plastic box which holds an insecticide that’s effective against ticks, and a bait that’s attractive to mice. Millette’s qualified and professional team will determine how many boxes you need to protect your property, and will place them in the interface between landscaped and wooded areas. The bait will attract mice living on and around your property to the system boxes.

As a mouse moves through a box, it will pass under a small applicator wick containing a low-dose insecticide. The wick will lightly brush its head or shoulders, gently applying traces of the insecticide. The insecticide won’t harm the mice or any other animals that might touch (or even eat them), but it will kill the ticks that the mice are carrying. A single dose will protect mice for up to 40 days against any new ticks. As they return to the system, they will receive additional protection. A major positive in regards to The Tick Box is that the boxes are self-contained, and the insecticide they use is not a threat to any animal other than ticks on small rodents. The system is effective for approximately 90 days as installed, with two 90-day installations that take care of ticks for a full season.

For further information regarding this evolutionary approach to tick control, or to learn more about all of our pest control solutions, please contact us for a free estimate.

Posted in Tick Control