About Ticks in the East Valley
The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is the most common tick species in the East Valley and the one most likely to cause problems for homeowners. Unlike most ticks that live in wooded or grassy wild areas and need wildlife hosts, the brown dog tick thrives in residential environments and can complete its entire life cycle indoors. That means once they are introduced to your property — usually by a pet — they can establish a breeding population inside your home.
Brown dog ticks are a health concern for both pets and people. They transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to humans and canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis to dogs. Arizona has one of the highest rates of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the country, particularly in communities with large outdoor dog populations. A single female brown dog tick can lay up to 5,000 eggs, so even a small introduction can turn into a serious infestation quickly.
Where Ticks Hide and How They Get Into Your Home
Outdoors, brown dog ticks hide in block wall joints, landscape rock and gravel, under patio furniture, in dog kennels, along fence lines, and in any sheltered crack or crevice near where dogs spend time. They wait in these harborage areas for a host to pass by, then climb on and begin feeding.
Indoors, they establish themselves along baseboards, in window and door frames, inside furniture joints, in carpet edges, and especially in and around dog bedding. They can climb walls and are often found high up near ceilings and in curtain folds. Because they hide deep in cracks and crevices, indoor infestations are hard to detect early and even harder to eliminate without thorough professional treatment.
When Are Ticks Most Active in the East Valley?
Tick activity in the East Valley ramps up in spring as temperatures warm and peaks from May through June. They remain active through monsoon season and into early fall. Brown dog ticks can survive indoors year-round, making home infestations a concern in any season.
How to Get Rid of Ticks
Over-the-counter flea and tick sprays may kill individual ticks on contact, but they do not reach the eggs and larvae hiding in cracks throughout your home and yard. Pet-applied preventives like collars and topical treatments help protect your pet but do not address the population breeding in the environment around them.
Professional tick control requires treating both the indoor and outdoor environments. Inside, a technician applies targeted products to baseboards, crevices, dog bedding areas, and other known harborage points. Outside, treatment covers the yard, block walls, kennel areas, and fence lines. Because tick eggs are resistant to many treatments, follow-up visits are scheduled to target newly hatched larvae and break the reproductive cycle. Pairing professional treatment with consistent pet preventive care gives the best long-term results.
