Fighting An Extended Tick Season - 27 East

Residence

Residence / 1613885

Fighting An Extended Tick Season

icon 3 Photos
Brian Kelly, the owner of East End Tick.

Brian Kelly, the owner of East End Tick.

Brian Kelly, the owner of East End Tick.

Brian Kelly, the owner of East End Tick.

Brian Kelly, the owner of East End Tick.

Brian Kelly, the owner of East End Tick. Courtesy photo

authorHannah Selinger on Dec 15, 2019

As winters on the East End of Long Island get gradually — and not-so-gradually — warmer, the tick population, which was once controlled by consistent low temperatures, has extended its active season. Ticks, which hibernate at temperatures below 35, have renewed their bloodlust in recent years, encouraging many homeowners to seek winter treatment for a problem that used to be seasonal.

For Brian Kelly, owner of the 24-year-old East End Tick and Mosquito Control, the problem of winter ticks has also presented an opportunity.

This year, Mr. Kelly has introduced a granular winter tick treatment, as a response to requests from local homeowners. “We’re really excited about it,” he said. “It’s a new approach to tick control. Most tick control companies, this time of year, end service for their clients. But we’ve realized, over the last few years, [that] winters have been warmer. Clients have been calling and asking for December treatments, for January treatments. We tried to figure out a way to accommodate our clients.”

As a result, East End Tick and Mosquito Control has developed a product that can be applied on a property’s perimeter, where ticks hibernate during the colder months. The product comes out of a spreader, in tiny pellets that are slow-dissolving granules—as opposed to the spray commonly used on lawns. The treatment is delivered to leaf litter and mulch, where ticks live and emerge from on days that are above 35 degrees. “We’ve been working on this for a few years, and we’ve been testing it,” Mr. Kelly said. Those tests now complete, the winter tick solution is available for residents throughout the East End.

Last year, Mr. Kelly said, nearly every winter day was 35 degrees or higher. That means that ticks remained active throughout nearly the entire season. “Whenever the temperature is above 35 degrees,” he said, “the ticks that haven’t gotten a blood meal to survive the winter come out. Ticks are always active when the temperatures are above freezing.”

Because of the nature of the new treatment — slow decomposing granules that release pesticides over a long period of time — it is well suited for the season, remaining in the leaves and mulch for ticks to consume when they come up for a meal. “They will slowly break down, and, as they break down, they will leave a residue of pesticide on those leaves. It lasts a lot longer than a spray. [It has] much better residual,” Mr. Kelly said. The treatment lasts about 45 days. “One application in December will get you through January, no problem,” he added.

As far as children and pets are concerned, Mr. Kelly emphasized that the product is being applied in areas that are removed from daily traffic. “Another reason we’re spreading this product on the perimeter of the property is that kids aren’t playing in the woods,” he said. “Pets and kids can go right back outside after it’s done. Dogs would really have to eat a whole bag of this to be hurt by it.”

Ultimately, the granular winter treatment is, in Mr. Kelly’s view, part of a broad program designed to address tick issues in all months of the year. And although this granular treatment is not appropriate for lawns, it can help to control the nascent population before summer even begins. He suggests using it in addition to — and not in lieu of — a regular, warm weather season spray program.

The lesson inherent, of course, is that the ticks are not gone just because the weather has changed. Should this winter, and subsequent winters, look like last year, in which below freezing temperatures were an outlier rather than a norm, residents can expect more cold weather tick encounters.

As a result, Mr. Kelly expects year-round tick control measures to be a new standard for East End homeowners. “We’re considered the leaders in the industry out here,” he said of his business. “You’ll probably see other companies following [in] our footsteps with this granular control. People think summer is over, but tick season is not.”

You May Also Like:

Hampton Designer Showhouse Kicks Off July 19

The Hampton Designer Showhouse will return to Southampton this summer to benefit Stony Brook Southampton ... 1 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Holiday House Hamptons Opens With White Party on July 12

Holiday House Hamptons will return to the South Fork on Saturday, July 12, for its ... by Staff Writer

East Hampton Art & Design Days Runs July 11-13

The inaugural East Hampton Art & Design Days, running July 11 to 13, will present a lecture series at Guild Hall on Sunday, July 13, featuring interior designers and landscape designers in conversation. The day will begin with a book-signing hour, followed at noon by Aerin Lauder in conversation with David Netto about her new book, “Living With Flowers,” which explores the role of florals in “interior design, inspired living, and timeless style.” “Designing Iconic Interiors and Architecture” begins at 1:15 p.m., with panelists Brian Sawyer, David Kleinberg and Victoria Hagan moderated by Jacqueline Terrebonne of Galerie. The designers will ... by Staff Writer

Marders Hosting Garden Talks Series Covering Range of Garden-Related Topics

Marders, a nursery and garden center in Bridgehampton, is hosting the Garden Talks series, covering a variety of topics relating to garden maintenance and caring for plants. These talks take place on Sunday mornings at Marders at 120 Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and are free to attend. Paige Patterson, a plant ambassador at Marders, has been running talks for over 10 years. The talks grew out of Patterson receiving questions relating to misconceptions about plants, as well as other aspects of gardening that she was unaware of when she first started. “I never ... by Dan Stark

East Hampton Historical Society To Host 19th Annual Antiques & Design Show Benefit

The East Hampton Historical Society is hosting its 19th annual Antiques & Design Show Benefit ... 30 Jun 2025 by Dan Stark

Fireflies Are Back for Summer — or Are They?

Like Fourth of July fireworks, cooling swims and relaxing vacations, fireflies are a sign of ... 26 Jun 2025 by Melissa Morgan Nelson

Gourds Are a Great Growing Project for Curious Kids — and Adults

It’s not too late to plant a few seeds that can be a great project ... by Andrew Messinger

David Harber and Michael Derrig Present 'A Celebration of Art in the Garden'

The David Harber studio in Oxfordshire, England, is bringing its outdoor sculptures to East Hampton ... 24 Jun 2025 by Brendan J. O’Reilly

Salvatore Piazzolla and Grant Wilfley Find Comfort in Southampton

Salvatore Piazzolla and Grant Wilfley found solitude when stumbling upon what inevitably was their dream ... 20 Jun 2025 by Tristan Dyer

Free Tuesday Webinar on 'Case Studies of East End Near-Zero and Net-Zero Residential Properties

Jean-Pierre Clejan, a renewable energy integrator specializing in zero-energy building, will host a free, live webinar, “Case Studies of East End Near-Zero & Net-Zero Residential Projects,” on Tuesday, June 24, at 4 p.m. The two-hour sustainability-focused continuing education unit program, with PDH, AIA HSW and GBCI/LEED credits available, showcases the ways architects have achieved net-zero and near-zero energy for their Long Island clients by incorporating energy efficiency, specifying hyper-efficient electric HVAC and optimizing roof/site plans to maximize solar production. In each case study, Clejan will review the embedded technology, key design elements, and real-world energy/financial performance of the built project. ... 18 Jun 2025 by Staff Writer