Ticks are a huge problem in the area where I live. I was reading an article the other day that my county had more cases of Lyme disease reported from 2000-2015 than any other county!
Ugh. I hate them. I am constantly looking for ways to keep them at bay. We are surrounded by woods on all three sides of our house so it’s hard to keep the little critters and the deer that bring them into the yard out.
While doing some research I found an interesting way to help kill the ticks but not the mice- create tick tubes!
Apparently mice can carry over a 100 ticks on them at one time! Tick tubes help eliminate the ticks but are safe for the critters. Basically how they work is the mice will take the lint out of the tubes to make their nest. The lint that was sprayed with the Permethrin will kill the ticks but not harm the mice.
How to make Tick Tubes:
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- Save your empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls for the “tube”
- Save your dryer lint, if you don’t have dryer lint you can also use cotton balls.
- Outside, lay out the lint/cotton balls and spray Permethrin on one side. Use gloves!
- Let dry for two hours and then flip it over and spray the other side.
- Let dry for another two hours.
- Take the lint and stuff it into the tubes leaving about an inch on each side.
- Place the tubes around the perimeter of your property.
- These tick tubes last about 3-4 weeks then you will need to replace them. In this video I show how to make them using small cuts of PVC pipes so you only need to replace the lint not the whole tube.
***Please follow the directions on the bottle carefully and wear gloves. This is not something you use on skin, but you can use it on clothing and outside gear to repeal insects.
You can get Permethrin here with my affiliate link.
For more uses of Permethrin and how you can use it on your outdoor gear and clothes see my other post: How to keep Ticks at Bay
How to Make Tick Tubes
Make Tick tubes to help eliminate them from your yard!
Materials
- PVC Pipe cut about 6-8 inches or Empty Toilet Paper Rolls
- Dryer Lint or Cotton Balls
- Permethrin Spray
Instructions
- Save your empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls for the "tube"
- Save your dryer lint, if you don't have dryer lint you can also use cotton balls.
- Outside, lay out the lint/cotton balls and spray Permethrin on one side. Use gloves!
- Let dry for two hours and then flip it over and spray the other side.
- Let dry for another two hours.
- Take the lint and stuff it into the tubes leaving about an inch on each side.
- Place the tubes around the perimeter of your property.
- These tick tubes last about 3-4 weeks then you will need to replace them. In this video I show how to make them using small cuts of PVC pipes so you only need to replace the lint not the whole tube.
Carol
Sunday 6th of June 2021
You know if you put these where mice travel they might keep the bees, birds and cats safe. Along sheds, barns putting a few leaves or mulch lightly over them they might be really good.
JoDena Dittman
Saturday 5th of June 2021
Instead of laying out the lint to spray, put it in a ziplock bag and spray, then shake it around. The vapors won't be lost in the air. Take it out and hang it with a clothespin on a line of some kind to dry. It will take half the time. You could also hang it up and spray it but again, some of the vapors will be lost into the air. I do this with a lot of things in the kitchen when I need to season them; spray nonstick cooking spray and then pour in some seasoning, shake, and dump it out.
REmbree
Friday 17th of April 2020
Permethrin is topical insecticide, which is not known to rapidly harm most mammals or birds, but is dangerously toxic to cats and fish. It has a low mammalian toxicity and is poorly absorbed by skin, which has prompted its use to treat head lice and nits, scabies, and various species of ticks. Apr 10, 2012
Libby
Tuesday 12th of June 2018
How many should I put our per square foot of yard?
HOMEGIRL
Wednesday 13th of June 2018
I don't know if there is a rule. I just placed it where it was out of the way but where I see chipmunks etc running around.
Gordorillian
Monday 11th of June 2018
First time I came across this product when I did my national service (compulsory 2-year conscription). We were sprayed front, neck to ankles and back, neck to ankles and were then not allowed to sit down for 45-mins to allow the spray to dry. It worked extremely well and kept not only the bush-ticks but all bugs away from us.