Here in the foothills and mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, we have everything a person needs. We have the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as the rolling hills of wine country in the Yadkin River Valley.
Our weather is mild in the winter and warm in the summer. There are exciting cities and charming small towns throughout the area. Many people that leave find themselves drawn to return and once again call this special home.
Nevertheless, absence, however brief, can make the heart grow fonder. Traveling from your home in the Carolinas and Virginia is a great way to see the world while appreciating what we have in our beautiful area.
Whether you have to travel as a function of your career or like to get away with your family, there are some inherent dangers to seeing the rest of the country and world.
While you can bring home gifts that commemorate your time away, you don't want to bring home everything with which you come in contact. Unfortunately, bed bugs are hitchhikers looking for rides to their next destination.
Many people are frightened by various pests. A few examples of the scariest insects include:
- Many people are scared of spiders
- Snakes are a common fear in the Carolinas
- Even though slugs are mostly harmless (unless consumed), they are quite unsightly
- Ants and fire ants can be frightening
- Termites are scare if only for the damage they can do
One small pest that doesn’t get the press that spiders and snakes get is the tick. For many in the Carolinas and Virginia, the mention of ticks will send shivers down a person’s spine.
Unfortunately, what makes it worse is that they are so abundant. While encountering a venomous spider is relatively rare, you will likely see ticks multiple times in any given year.
There are five types of ticks in North Carolina and Virginia, and they all carry diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Even though summer is nearly over, tick season is still underway.
Ticks are one of the most feared and despised creatures in the world. The very mention of the word sends chills down the spines of residents of the Carolinas and Virginia. They are as universally hated as mosquitos. Reasons people hate ticks include:
- They are small enough that you cannot see them when you’re outside.
- They intentionally hide on your person.
- They literally latch onto your skin and suck your blood.
- They are difficult to remove once they do start biting you.
- They can make you sick with Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- They like your pets as much as they like you.
Are ticks an inevitable part of living in our area? Even though summer is drawing to a close, tick season will still be in full swing for many months. Unfortunately, they are common in virtually every outdoor space almost year-round.
There are, however, some things you can do to help naturally repel them from yourself and your yard. Here are a few natural remedies for ticks, and what you need to do if they don’t do the trick.
In our previous article from our series on cockroaches, we discussed how to identify and get rid of roaches. Cockroaches have been around for a long time. The dinosaurs were plagued by ancient versions of them, just like we are.
Their longevity and adaptability are of little comfort to home and business owners in the Carolinas and Virginia. Cockroaches can survive extreme temperatures and situations where there are few resources.
There are no pests that homeowners would say they enjoy having in their homes. Some, however, are certainly worse than others. You probably think about spiders as some of our least favorite. Mosquitos are another pest about which we hear a lot of complaints.
No one likes bed bugs or ants. However, no pest elicits a visceral response like cockroaches. It is not just their speedy movements and horrifying appearance that people find so unsettling. Cockroaches are closely associated with trash and filth.
Unfortunately, they can carry harmful bacteria and diseases. Bottom line, you don't want them anywhere near your home, business, or family.
We know you hate roaches. In this post and a future article, we are discussing cockroaches, what they are, how to get rid of them, and how to prevent them.