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. Especially since everything I am reading says this year is going to be horrible because of the mild winter. 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 critters- 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 critters 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:
Steps: (Affiliate links, please see full disclosure here.)
- 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. – Spray clothing when not wearing it and let dry two hours before handling.***
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
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.
Great idea! I HATE ticks.
I have only one concern.
Birds often use dryer lint when building their nests. Does anyone know if the Permethrin in the lint would be harmful to baby & adult birds?
According to this article, birds should be fine. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/can-birds-harmed-permethrin-applied-trunk-tree-97466.html
I’m trying this! We sprayed our kids clothes and shoes for summer camp last year and it worked well.
I was told that dryer lint is bad for birds to use. I would be sure to put the tick tubes where the birds will not be able to access them.
Sounds like a good plan. Another thing those of you who live in rural areas can do, it keep a small flock of Guinea hens. They are voracious bug eaters, and they will keep you yard and garden tick free. The are also great watchdogs, and create a ruckus when visitors come calling. You get eggs too!
Loving this idea!
This is a great idea, but in having cats that meander outside, I would worry too much about them accidentally getting near the cotton, or in just being plain nosy and getting near it. The reason why – the chemical used is permethrin and that is toxic to cats.
I was wondering the same thing about pets. What if you wrapped the tube in chicken wire? Then the pet couldn’t get to the chemical.
Please, also be very careful around cats – they cannot metabolize permethrin, and even small doses can be lethal.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/providing-nest-material-for-birds-dos-donts/
I would think the insecticide would kill bird mites, too, an added plus.
What about my dog? Is this a safe product to have around a puppy?
We feel blessed to have so many Fire Ant mounds on our homestead. They have decimated the tick population here in Texas! Sure, they hurt if they sting you, but no exotic diseases are transferred!
I think this stuff is in the bug spray from Avon
Does it ruin the coverage if it rains on them?
They last for about 3-4 weeks even in the rain. Even if you spray it on clothing it last for about 6 washes.
I read that it can be harmful around bees. We need those bees!
Yes! This is just the sort of container a bumblebee queen would use to hibernate over winter. It might still be ok if you didn’t put them out until the bees went dormant for winter. I would even go as far as saying to pick them up and dispose of during the spring. A really tempting idea but I don’t think I would risk it in my yard as I’ve been working very hard at improving bee habitat and wouldn’t want to lure them in to be poisoned
I have plastic pvc tubing about the same size as tissue rolls. Would that work too?
Yup!
Oh my….we have the worst problem with ticks here. I think I’ll spray my hiking shoes!
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.
How many should I put our per square foot of yard?
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.