Summer Tick Warning Sydney | Protect Your Family & Pets

How Do I Prevent, Identify & Remove Ticks in Sydney?

When it comes to ticks, ignorance is the opposite of bliss—prevention and awareness are your best protection this summer. Ticks spread dangerous infectious diseases, and the paralysis tick found along NSW’s east coast can cause severe reactions in people and pets.

For a full property inspection and targeted treatment, Contact Sydney’s Best Pest Control.

What Are Ticks & Where Do They Live?

Ticks are not insects—they are arachnids, related to spiders. They have four pairs of legs and no antennae. They cannot jump or fly; they climb onto vegetation and grab onto passing people or animals, or drop down from above.

In NSW, the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus is common along the east coast, including bushland and suburban green spaces across Greater Sydney. According to the NSW Health, tick bites can cause paralysis, allergic reactions and infections like tick typhus. While Lyme disease has not been confirmed from Australian ticks, other emerging tick-borne illnesses are still being studied.

What Happens When a Tick Bites?

Unlike mosquitoes or flies, a tick stays attached for days. It burrows its mouthparts into skin, injects numbing and blood-thinning saliva, and feeds for 2–3 days. Females swell to twice their normal size as they feed.

Reactions range from mild redness to severe allergies or muscle paralysis. NSW Health reports that around 10% of tick bite cases require medical attention, especially in children, pets or people with sensitivities.

If you live near bushland or have pets that roam, early detection and professional yard treatment are essential—call us now on 1800 819 189 to reduce tick numbers around your home.

How Can I Avoid Ticks This Summer?

Personal Protection

• Stay clear of long grass, scrub and known tick spots.
• Tuck pants into socks or boots; wear light colours so ticks show up clearly.
• Check yourself, kids and clothing after being outdoors.
• Check children twice a day—focus on scalp, neck and skin folds.

Yard & Pet Prevention

• Keep lawns mown short; trim shrubs over paths and play areas.
• Clear leaf litter and mulch away from doorways and walls.
• Restrict pets to mown areas and check them daily—especially lips, ears, toes and under limbs.

How Do I Check for & Remove Ticks Safely?

Self-Check Steps

1. Undress over a bathtub so loose ticks can’t escape.
2. Feel scalp and body for tiny lumps; use a fine comb on hair.
3. Check all skin folds and use mirrors to see hard-to-reach spots.
4. Shake clothes into the tub and wash them hot to kill any ticks.

Pet Check Steps

Run your hands against the fur and check ears, lips, eyes, between toes and under the tail. If you find one tick, keep looking—pets often carry several.

Safe Removal Steps

What you need: fine-point tweezers, alcohol or soap and water.

1. Clean skin around the bite.
2. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Pull slowly and straight up—do not twist, jerk or squeeze the body.
4. Clean the bite and your hands afterwards.

Never crush a tick with your fingers—this can expose you to infection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ticks in Sydney

Do Australian ticks carry Lyme disease?

There is no confirmed evidence that local ticks carry the exact bacteria causing Lyme disease. However, they do carry other serious infections like tick typhus and can cause paralysis or severe allergies. Research into other tick-borne illnesses is ongoing.

How long does a tick stay attached?

Usually 2–3 days if left undisturbed. The longer it feeds, the higher the risk of illness, so prompt removal is important.

Can I treat my whole property for ticks?

Yes. We use targeted, safe treatments on lawns, edges and garden beds to reduce tick numbers. We follow NSW biosecurity guidelines and only use APVMA-approved products.

When should I see a doctor after a bite?

See a doctor quickly if you get a spreading rash, fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness or shortness of breath—especially in children or pets.

📚 Related Guides

• Ticks
• Tick Control Treatments
• Tick Control Sydney: How to Protect Your Home, Yard & Pets From Ticks
• The Diseases and Horrific Effects of Ticks on Humans
• Ticks and Their Tricks & The Opportunistic Bloodsucker
• FLEA AND TICK INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS
• PESTS THAT MAY BE BUGGING YOUR PETS
• Tick Bites & Symptoms, treatment & prevention
• Tick Bite Signs
• Battling Ticks in Sydney? Prevention & Tick Control Guide
• Ticks in Sydney: How They Find You & How to Stay Protected
• Signs of Tick Bites: Symptoms, Risks & Prevention Tips
• Tick Diseases &Health Risks | Sydney Tick Prevention Guide
• Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Tick Prevention &; What You Need to Know