The year 2017 has seen a rise in tick populations across the U.S., but especially in New England. With an increased tick population comes a heightened risk of contracting serious tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, the Powassan virus, Babesiosis, HGA, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Below, tick control experts list their best tips for avoiding the tiny pests and the diseases they carry. Eliminate Their HabitatTicks thrive in dark, messy areas and tall grass, so make sure your lawn is mowed short and debris like leaf and wood piles are moved away. Avoid High-Risk Areas When spending time outdoors, be on the lookout for brush, shaded areas, wet and dry leaf piles, and high grass, and avoid those areas. Protect Yourself (& Your Pets) Take preventative measures to protect yourself from ticks — this means wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and tucking your pants into your socks. Wear insect repellents with DEET, and don’t forget to protect your pets with tick collars and medication. Master the Tick CheckAfter returning from an extended period outside, always perform a thorough tick check. Grab a mirror and don’t forget to check areas like the back of the knees, the armpits, and the back. Check kids and pets, and be sure to take a hot shower within two hours of returning. Even if you follow all the tips above, sometimes a tick bite happens anyway. If you find that you’ve been bitten by a tick, remove it firmly using a pair of tweezers. Diseases take some time to transmit from tick to human, so the sooner you remove the insect, the lesser your chances of contracting a tick-borne illness. To be proactive about your tick control measures, contact Massachusetts’ leading tick control company — Mosquito Shield of South Shore, Cape Cod & South Coast. These experts will assess your property and apply their special residential tick control formula to reduce your risk of tick bites. To learn more about this product, call (781) 424-5697 or visit the company online.