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Ticks Are Making National News: What Arkansas Homeowners Need to Know This Summer

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:30:46 GMT

Why Ticks Are a Big Concern Right Now

Ticks are in the news across the country, and Arkansas homeowners should be paying attention.

According to recent CDC data, emergency room visits for tick bites have been higher than normal in many parts of the United States this year. National media outlets have also reported that tick-bite ER visits recently reached some of the highest levels seen in years.

Here in Arkansas, ticks are not just a trail problem. They can be found in yards, wooded lots, tall grass, brush lines, pet areas, and places where deer and wildlife travel. For homeowners in Hot Springs Village, Hot Springs, and surrounding areas, tick prevention should be part of your summer pest control plan.

At Pesty Phil’s Pest Control, we want to help local homeowners understand why ticks are a concern, where they hide, and what can be done to help reduce them around your home.

Where Ticks Hide Around the Home

Ticks are usually not found in the middle of a hot, sunny driveway. They prefer shaded, protected areas where they can wait for a person, pet, or animal to pass by.

Common tick areas around Arkansas homes include:

Tall grass
Leaf litter
Wooded property edges
Brush lines
Fence rows
Pet resting areas
Around sheds
Around crawlspace openings
Near wood piles
Under shrubs
Along trails and walking paths
Areas where deer, squirrels, raccoons, and other wildlife travel

If you live near woods, a lake, a golf course, or natural green space, your property may have more tick pressure than you realize.

Dogs and cats can pick up ticks while walking through the yard, woods, trails, or brush. Once ticks get on pets, they can be carried closer to patios, porches, garages, and indoor living areas.

Pet owners should check their animals regularly, especially around the ears, neck, legs, belly, and between the toes. It is also a good idea to talk with your veterinarian about a flea and tick prevention plan.

Professional yard treatments can help reduce tick pressure in the areas where pets spend the most time.

Pets Can Bring Ticks Closer to the Home

Do You Need Tick Control in Hot Springs Village or Hot Springs?

If you have seen ticks on yourself, your pets, or around your property, it is time to take action.

You may benefit from tick control if:

You live near woods or natural areas
You have pets
You see deer or wildlife near your home
Your yard has tall grass, shade, or leaf litter
Your family spends a lot of time outside
You have found ticks after being in your own yard
You want added protection during peak tick season

Ticks are not something homeowners should ignore, especially here in Arkansas.

Ticks become more active when temperatures warm up, especially in areas with grass, shade, moisture, leaf litter, woods, and wildlife activity. That sounds a lot like Arkansas.

Many homes in our area are surrounded by beautiful trees, natural areas, trails, lakes, and wooded lots. Those same features that make our area a great place to live can also create the perfect environment for ticks.

Ticks can attach to people and pets as they move through grass, brush, leaves, or shaded yard edges. They are often picked up while walking through the yard, doing lawn work, hiking, fishing, camping, or even letting pets outside.

Arkansas Has a Real Tick Problem

Ticks are more than just an itchy nuisance. Some ticks can carry diseases that affect people and animals.

The Arkansas Department of Health lists several tick-borne diseases found in Arkansas, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is considered the most common tick-borne disease in the state.

That does not mean every tick bite will make someone sick. But it does mean Arkansas homeowners should take tick prevention seriously, especially during the warmer months.

Ticks are not always easy to control with basic yard cleanup alone. They can hide in shaded grass, brush, leaf litter, and along wooded edges. They can also be brought onto the property by wildlife.

Professional tick treatments are designed to target the areas where ticks are most likely to rest and wait for a host.

At Pesty Phil’s Pest Control, we focus on the areas that matter most around your home, including:

Yard edges
Shaded areas
Pet areas
Brush lines
Around patios and porches
Around sheds and crawlspace openings
Areas where family and pets spend time

Our goal is to help reduce tick pressure so you can enjoy your yard with more peace of mind.

Why Professional Tick Treatments Help

What Homeowners Can Do to Help Reduce Ticks

There are several simple steps that can help make your yard less attractive to ticks.

Start with these:

Keep the lawn mowed regularly.
Remove leaf litter and brush from yard edges.
Trim shrubs and plants away from walkways and the home.
Keep wood piles away from the house.
Create a clean barrier between wooded areas and the lawn.
Keep pets on veterinarian-approved flea and tick prevention.
Check yourself, children, and pets after being outside.
Avoid walking through tall grass and brush when possible.
Keep outdoor clutter cleaned up.
Schedule regular yard treatments during peak pest season.

Tick control works best when homeowners combine good yard maintenance with professional treatment in high-risk areas.

Final Thoughts

Ticks are making national headlines, but for Arkansas homeowners, this is not just a national story. It is a local concern.

With wooded lots, warm weather, wildlife, and plenty of outdoor activity, Hot Springs Village and Hot Springs properties can be prime areas for tick activity.

The good news is that prevention makes a difference. By keeping your yard maintained, checking yourself and your pets, and using professional tick control when needed, you can help reduce the risk around your home.

If you need help with ticks, fleas, chiggers, mosquitoes, or other yard pests, Pesty Phil’s Pest Control is here to help.

Link:

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2026/2026-cdc-data-show-weekly-er-visits-for-tick-bites-higher-than-usual.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://abcnews.com/Health/weekly-er-visits-tick-bites-reach-highest-level/story?id=132056568&utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/diseases-conditions/diseases-from-animals-insects/tickborne-disease/tickborne-diseases-in-arkansas/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Chiggers in Arkansas: What They Are, How to Avoid Them, and How to Get Rid of Them

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:31:25 GMT

What Are Chiggers?

If you live in Arkansas, especially around wooded areas, lakes, trails, tall grass, or shaded yards, you’ve probably heard someone say, “The chiggers got me.”

Chiggers are tiny, but the itching they leave behind can be miserable. Around Hot Springs Village, Hot Springs, and surrounding areas, chiggers can become a common outdoor problem during the warmer months. Whether you’re mowing, gardening, hiking, fishing, walking the dog, or just trying to enjoy your backyard, chiggers can quickly make being outside uncomfortable.

The good news is that with the right prevention steps and regular yard treatments, you can help reduce chigger activity around your home.

What Do Chigger Bites Look Like?

Identifying the Signs of a Chigger Problem

Chigger bites usually appear as small, red, itchy bumps. They are often found in areas where clothing fits tightly against the skin.

Common bite areas include:

Ankles
Sock lines
Waistline
Behind the knees
Underwear lines
Armpits

The itching can be intense and may last for several days. Scratching can also irritate the skin further, so it’s best to avoid scratching as much as possible.

If you have a severe reaction, signs of infection, or symptoms that do not improve, it’s always a good idea to contact a medical professional.

The best way to deal with chiggers is to reduce your exposure to the areas where they live. A few simple habits can make a big difference.

How to Avoid Chiggers

Why One Treatment May Not Be Enough

Chiggers are often a seasonal problem in Arkansas. Their activity can continue through the warm months, especially in yards with shade, moisture, woods, tall grass, or heavy vegetation nearby.

That’s why ongoing seasonal treatments are usually more effective than a one-time spray. For many properties, monthly outdoor treatments during the active season can help reduce chiggers, fleas, ticks, and other pests around the yard.

When to Call Pesty Phil’s Pest Control

If you are getting itchy every time you walk through your yard, mow, garden, sit outside, or let the dogs out, it may be time for professional treatment.

At Pesty Phil’s Pest Control, we help homeowners in Hot Springs Village, Hot Springs, and surrounding areas reduce chiggers, fleas, ticks, and other seasonal outdoor pests.

As a locally and veteran-owned business, you deal directly with Phil — your neighbor, not a big-company middleman.

Chiggers are the larval stage of certain mites. They are extremely small, which means most people never actually see them. Even though they are tiny, the irritation they cause can feel anything but small.

One common myth is that chiggers burrow into your skin. They do not burrow. Instead, they attach to the skin and cause irritation that leads to itchy, red bumps.

Chigger bites are often noticed after spending time in tall grass, weeds, wooded areas, or other overgrown outdoor spaces.

Where Are Chiggers Found in Arkansas?

Chiggers are commonly found in outdoor areas with thick vegetation, moisture, shade, and cover.

Common chigger hiding spots include:

Tall grass
Weeds
Wood lines
Brush piles
Leaf litter
Shaded areas
Moist areas
Trails and field edges
Lake-area properties
Overgrown lawns

In Arkansas, this makes chiggers especially common around wooded neighborhoods, natural lots, lake homes, and yards that back up to tree lines or undeveloped areas.

Chigger control starts with making your yard less attractive to them.

Helpful steps include:

Mowing regularly
Trimming weeds and brush
Cleaning up leaf litter
Removing unnecessary brush piles
Reducing overgrown shaded areas
Keeping fence lines and wood lines maintained
Treating high-risk areas where chiggers are active

Professional pest control treatments can help reduce chigger activity around lawns and outdoor living spaces, especially when focused on the areas where chiggers are most likely to be found.

How to Get Rid of Chiggers in Your Yard

Keep Your Lawn Cut Short

Chiggers like tall grass and overgrown areas. Keeping your lawn mowed regularly helps reduce the places where they can hide.

Trim Weeds and Overgrowth

Pay close attention to fence lines, landscaping, wood lines, and areas around sheds or outbuildings. These spots can become perfect hiding places for chiggers when vegetation gets thick.

Remove Leaf Litter and Brush

Leaves, sticks, and brush piles hold moisture and provide cover for pests. Cleaning up these areas can help make your yard less inviting to chiggers, fleas, ticks, and other outdoor pests.

Avoid Sitting Directly in Tall Grass

If you are outdoors, try not to sit directly in tall grass, weeds, or along wooded edges. These are some of the most common places people pick up chiggers.

Wear Protective Clothing

When hiking, mowing, fishing, gardening, or working outside, wear long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes. If you are going into heavy vegetation, tucking your pants into your socks can help reduce exposure.

Shower After Being Outdoors

After spending time in tall grass, wooded areas, trails, or lake areas, shower as soon as possible and wash your clothes. This can help remove chiggers before they cause more irritation.

Can Chiggers Live Inside Your House?

Chiggers are mainly an outdoor pest. They do not infest homes like fleas, roaches, or bed bugs.

Most indoor concerns happen when chiggers are brought inside on clothing, shoes, pets, or skin after spending time outdoors. If you think you’ve been exposed, shower, wash your clothes, and avoid placing outdoor clothing on beds or furniture.

Chiggers may be tiny, but they can make your yard feel unusable. With proper lawn maintenance, smart prevention, and professional seasonal treatments, you can enjoy your outdoor space with a lot less itching.

If chiggers, fleas, or ticks are making your yard uncomfortable, Pesty Phil’s Pest Control can help.