Manchester has so many great parks and trails for family fun, but those same spots also provide an unseen threat that parents and pet owners likely never think about. In the city, ticks are harbored in thinning wooded areas and tall grasses, exposing children and furry family members to tick-borne diseases.
From the rolling hills of Derryfield Park to the vast expanses of Livingston Park, Manchester has hundreds of acres of varied ground for these little parasites to make their homes in. As the warm months kick off, families are spending more time outside, but this also means it’s peak tick season, which is why protection is a must for any family outing. Consult professional exterminators when prevention methods fail, as they can support you with the overall protection your family needs.
Why Manchester’s Parks and Trails Are a Tick Habitat
1. Tall Grass and Overgrown Vegetation
Across Manchester, many park areas consist of uncut grass and other vegetation, which provide places for ticks to wait for hosts to pass by. This is how ticks climb onto children and pets who pass by these “questing” locations.
2. Wildlife Corridors Bring Tick Hosts
In New Hampshire, about 40% of black-legged ticks carry Lyme disease, and the parks in Manchester provide a corridor for deer, mice, and other wildlife that transport ticks everywhere.
3. Seasonal Peak Activity Matches Family Outings
Prime tick season is from spring to fall, which aligns perfectly with the time when families most frequently enjoy Manchester’s outdoor spaces to hike, eat, and play.
4. Ponds and Streams Improve Humidity
Water features such as Dorrs Pond at Livingston Park contribute to timbered tick habitats by creating a microclimate with a relatively high moisture level that can sustain ticks throughout the entire year.
5. Trail Edges and Transition Zones
The edges of mowed areas transition into natural vegetation in Manchester parks, which is ideal tick habitat because it provides cover while still allowing access to a potential host.
Common Mistakes That Increase Tick Exposure Outdoors
- Walking through tall grass with no protection –families always walk along visible trails, but allow children and pets to explore unkept grassy locations where ticks are prevalent
- Clothing inappropriate for tick country –Light-colored clothing, shorts, sandals (places for ticks to attach are challenging to see if you have them)
- Overlooking peak activity periods –Conducting outdoor activities in the early morning or evening hours, when ticks are most active, significantly raises the risk of exposure.
- Failing to repel clothing or gear –Even though folks apply repellent to skin, many forget to treat backpacks, shoes, and other gear that contact vegetation.
- Free-edged pets –let the dog roam off-lead in wooded subjects or high grass and treat lovers at the house when they return home
When Home Prevention Isn’t Enough
No matter how careful a family is, tick problems can become chronic, and DIY efforts to keep those pests at bay only go so far. New Hampshire collected over 14,000 ticks from 259 sites in the state, to illustrate just how widespread these populations are, local to our area, as indicated by recent studies.
It is only when you see ticks on members of your household or animals, despite following the prevention guidelines, that professional pest control becomes necessary. For instance, companies such as Anchor Pest Services know what type of tick species are found commonly in New Hampshire and can identify the exposure risks on your property. Their yard treatments are extensive and build barriers around homes in the parts of the yard where ticks are most likely to set up house.
The fact is, ticks do not recognize property lines, and an untreated yard or nearby conservation land can keep on reintroducing these parasites into your outdoor spaces. Ongoing monitoring and seasonal treatments that change as tick activity levels change with the seasons are also available through professional services, keeping your family protected even as the changing conditions make certain pests more of a problem than others.