Do ticks actually serve a function? I suppose random birds must eat them, but I would gladly eradicate them from the planet without feeling even a little bit environmentally aware. Everything about them is just nasty and gross...
Ticks are the bane of my existence, and this time of the year they are heinous here in the big woods of Minnesota.
ZOE, our Great Pyrenees, is a tick magnet. Years ago I begrudgingly tried some of the pour-on stuff and she had an adverse reaction, so no more of THAT stuff.
By the way, I actually found an image when I Googled Zombie Tick...go figure!
So, I Googled and searched and came up with a couple of more natural tick be-gone alternatives…
Cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary or thyme have all been shown to be effective, when used sparingly, to keep fleas and ticks away from pets and their favorite haunts. Substitute any of these oils for the Rose Geranium above and see what works on the ticks in your area.
I have heard about amber collars and all sorts of other alternatives, but in real life, ticks are pretty much bomb-proof.
Best of Luck for a tick-free year!