Shelter · Pests & Wildlife
Mosquitoes & Ticks
These are not just a nuisance. Mosquitoes and ticks are disease vectors. Reducing their habitat around your home and protecting yourself outdoors are practical, evidence-based steps you can take now.
Shelter · Pests & Wildlife
These are not just a nuisance. Mosquitoes and ticks are disease vectors. Reducing their habitat around your home and protecting yourself outdoors are practical, evidence-based steps you can take now.
West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the contiguous United States. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, with cases concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest.1, 2 Both are preventable through habitat management around the home and personal protection when spending time outdoors.
This guide covers two layers: reducing mosquito and tick habitat on your property (the same yard management principles from the broader habitat control guide, applied to these specific pests), and personal protection measures recommended by the CDC and EPA.
This page does not cover pesticide application, yard spraying services, or medical treatment for tick- or mosquito-borne diseases. For medical questions, consult your healthcare provider. For yard treatment services, consult a licensed pest management professional.
Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. They can lay eggs in as little as a bottle cap of water and develop from egg to biting adult in as few as five days. Most mosquitoes biting you in your yard breed within about 200 yards of where they bite.3 That means the problem is usually on your property or your immediate neighbors'.
A weekly yard check to eliminate standing water is the most effective single step. The CDC and EPA both identify source reduction (eliminating breeding sites) as the foundation of mosquito control.1, 4
Flowerpot saucers, buckets, tires, tarps, toys, wheelbarrows, birdbaths, and any container that collects water. Turn containers upside down when not in use. Drill drainage holes in recycling bins.
Clean gutters regularly. Clogged gutters hold standing water and are a common overlooked breeding site. Extend downspouts away from the foundation. Fix dripping outdoor faucets.
Change birdbath water at least weekly. Stock ornamental ponds with mosquitofish or use Bti mosquito dunks, a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquito larvae without harming other wildlife, fish, or pets.4
French drains, sump pump basins, corrugated drain pipes, and tree hollows can all hold enough water to breed mosquitoes. Use a flashlight to check drains. A reflection means standing water.
Mow grass and trim shrubs near the house. Adult mosquitoes rest in shaded, humid vegetation during the day. Reducing overgrown areas limits resting habitat.3
Ticks live in shady, humid areas with tall vegetation, leaf litter, and brush. They do not survive well on open, mowed lawns. Many people encounter ticks in their own yard, not just on woodland hikes.2 Managing the transition zone between your maintained lawn and wooded or brushy areas is the key to reducing tick exposure at home.
Purdue Extension recommends a 3-foot-wide barrier of gravel or wood chips between your lawn and wooded or brushy areas. This dry, inhospitable strip discourages tick migration into the yard.3
Clear leaf litter, brush piles, and tall weeds from around the yard, especially along fence lines and the edges of the property. These are the microhabitats where ticks wait for hosts.5
Ticks do not typically cross open, short-mowed lawn. Keeping your lawn at a regular mowing height and trimming undergrowth reduces the habitat where ticks thrive.
Deer are a primary host for adult black-legged ticks (the species that carries Lyme disease). Fencing gardens and discouraging deer from the yard through the measures in the deterrence guide can reduce tick populations over time.
Woodpiles attract rodents, which are hosts for immature ticks. Keep firewood at least 20 feet from the house, elevated, and in a dry area.
Habitat management reduces the population around your home. Personal protection prevents bites when you are outdoors, whether in your yard, on a trail, or working in the garden. The CDC and EPA recommend the following measures:1, 2
Use a repellent registered with the EPA. Effective active ingredients include DEET (20-30% concentration), picaridin (20%), IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE/PMD), and 2-undecanone. Choose concentration based on time spent outdoors. Always follow label directions. Do not use OLE/PMD on children under 3 years of age.1
Treat boots, pants, and socks with 0.5% permethrin, or purchase pre-treated clothing. Permethrin kills ticks and mosquitoes on contact and remains effective through several washings. Apply only to clothing and gear, not to skin.2
Wear long sleeves and long pants when in tick or mosquito habitat. Tuck pants into socks in tick-heavy areas. Avoid outdoor activity at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most active. Use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of the home.
Conduct a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or brushy areas. Shower within two hours of coming inside. Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks. Check pets, as they can bring ticks into the home.2
If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the tick body. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water afterward. If you develop a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms within weeks of a tick bite, consult your healthcare provider and mention the tick exposure.2
Risk varies significantly by region and season. Knowing what diseases are present in your area helps you make proportionate decisions about prevention. Your state health department and the CDC publish maps and seasonal guidance for both mosquito- and tick-borne diseases.
West Nile virus: Most common in the U.S. Transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which bite from evening to morning. Peak transmission in late summer.1
Eastern equine encephalitis: Rare but serious. Found primarily in eastern states.
Zika and dengue: Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Risk in the continental U.S. is currently low but monitored, particularly in southern states.
Lyme disease: Most common tick-borne disease in the U.S. Carried by black-legged ticks (deer ticks). Concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. Most infections occur between late April and August.2
Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Can be serious if untreated. Found across the U.S. but most common in the Southeast and South-Central states.
Anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis: Less common but present in tick-endemic areas. Risk varies by region and tick species.
Personal protection (repellents, clothing, tick checks) is fully within your control regardless of housing type. On your patio or balcony, eliminate any standing water in containers and saucers. Use window and door screens, and report screen damage to your landlord.
If the property has standing water issues (clogged gutters, poor drainage), unmowed common areas, or brush accumulation, document and report these as maintenance requests. These conditions affect the health and comfort of all residents.