Ticks are not really insects and are parasitic arachnids that feed on the blood of humans and animals.You might think of these as similar to other insects that bother you. But these ticks can cause some severe irritation, at times even lethal, because they carry some dangerous diseases as well.There is no scarcity of annoying insects, which are also blood-sucking parasites, and in this blog, we bring you a little more insight about a member of such parasitic host, ticks! These are hosts that feed on people and animal’s blood but do not take them lightly because they can be quite risky as they are known to be the carriers of Lyme disease and mountain spotted fever.If you are here to look for ways to get rid of them off your property, then you are at the right place! As we discuss some common predators and organic techniques to keep this host away from you and your loved ones.Do check out our blogs on where do ticks come from and what eats spiders as well for more content!Things That Eat Ticks In The WildThe wild has quite a few animals that eat ticks, which helps prevent the tick population from growing uncontrollably. Their wide range of predators includes various birds, mice, shrews, toads, frogs, lizards, bats, and opossums. Quite a few ground-dwelling birds like chickens, guinea fowl, turkeys, quail, partridge are found to eat ticks. Other insects eat ticks occasionally too. Several animals eat ticks as their food. Let’s see a couple of these natural predators.The tick is a favorite of tiny creatures such as the shrews. The shrew is a tiny animal that is insectivorous in nature. It thrives and survives on insects and small animals like the tick.Opossums are another tick predator, known to be opportunistic omnivore native to North and South America. They are ground dwellers and are bothered by ticks and other parasites on their bodies. In fact, did you know that these animals are cleanliness freaks! They are known to grooming themselves, which is how ticks get eaten by opossums; they are eaten when opossums are grooming themselves.Reptiles also seem to be fond of ticks, and one such is known as the Blue-belly lizard, a North American insect found eating beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, and ticks as well.Things That Eat Wood TicksThe usual ticks that we are all aware of are actually the wood tick. They have a reddish-brown color with silver coloration and are about 3 - 16 inches long. You could spot them as wide, oval-shaped, flat animals in your garden, along with some bugs and other pests, but here’s the good news! If you live in a flat in a high-rise building, then you have nothing to worry about because these ticks do not infest buildings, and they also do not spread Lyme disease like their other fellow ticks. The wood tick population is native to Minnesota, Iowa, and other Midwest regions of America. These parasitic pests enjoy humid places that have abundant vegetation.However, just like every other species, wood ticks have their own share of predators who feed on them. The animals that eat ticks are the ones that these wood ticks as well—chickens, squirrels, beetles, ants, and other small birds too.Can natural predators keep ticks away?The answer is yes and no. Natural predators do ensure population control for ticks. Still, they aren’t something to be encouraged as a medium for tick control because they wouldn’t produce any noticeable difference in the tick populations. To control this pest, you would have to release individual predators in the place where ticks live.Many biologists are working towards various tick control methods, but that is in the absence of any animals that feed on them, usually using some sort of fungi. One of the controlling agents found by scientists is pathogenic fungi and bacteria.What are pest control tips for a homeowner?Are you frustrated with the continued pest infestation around your yard? Well, we’ve got you covered with certain common animals that you can keep around to have the perfect pest control for these species.Frogs and toads! These two animals roam around naturally, and they are absolutely not picky about their food and prey on many insects that come their way, which is why they also consume ticks and spiders. So if you have a garden, then these two animals will kill the tick without you having to make extra efforts.Birds That Eat TicksGood news, if you are a farm owner that already has certain domestic birds. Ticks become your way out for efficient tick control. There are plenty of birds that would love to feast on ticks, so let’s have a glimpse at some of the readily available ones.Guinea fowl, a bird that loves to travel around the yard, will ensure all possible ticks present in your yard are gone. But if you have a small outdoor area for these birds, then it’s best you don’t keep them, as they tend to get loud and irritated. In fact, Guineas would give you better results in controlling tick populations than any other bird.If you have a duck in your yard, then consider your work done! These bird species are bug lovers and would happily wipe away all traces of ticks as well. They are quite common as a pest control animal since most people owning a farm tend to keep ducks with them.Chickens are another bird species that are bug lovers and prey on ticks as well. Although for chickens to be a good pest eater, they must be able to seek out ticks, so do not expect chickens to do the job of tick control if you tie them up!Lastly, turkeys are other wonderful animals that kill these pests. We call them wonderful, especially because of their height advantage, which makes it far easier for them to eat ticks in areas with tall grass and weeds on the lawn. They can even kill other smaller insects and bugs.Plants That Eats Ticks And MosquitoesIf there could be an organic way to get rid of the ticks off your property without having to invest in bringing additional birds, insects, or chickens, then we have a brilliant alternative for you! We all know animals eat ticks, but if ticks were to come near certain plants, then they would easily get killed from specific toxins or oils secreted by plants to protect themselves from a number of bugs and insects. Moreover, certain plants are known to possess anti-parasitic, antifungal, and anti-microbial properties to protect themselves. Let’s have an overview of some of them.Rosemary, a fragrant plant, would not just be a great addition to your yard but also would be an effective repellant for the tick. It is an evergreen herb that repels a variety of hosts and insects. It is a great mosquito repellant as well.Beautyberry, true to its name, is the prettiest tick repellent you could find! Its vibrant green leaves with bright purple berries would be a soothing sight for your eyes, along with driving the tick off your property. A win-win, we must say!Fleabane Daisy is another tall plant and would protect a number of insects, including the tick. Another plus point, you could plant them anywhere in your house or in your yard. This plant is a natural repellent for ticks and mosquitoes. In fact, if you were to crush this plant’s leaves and apply the extracted oil from them to your family and pets, it would make ticks stay far away from you. An excellent protection strategy for your family from these dangerous pests!What animal eats the most ticks?With several animals around and near eat to feed on ticks, a particular animal feeds the most- opossums. They feed on not just ticks but spiders, ants, and a variety of other bugs.Opossums count as one of the top predators for ticks and kill more than 90 percent of ticks they ever encounter! They not only kill but also eat up to 5000 ticks per season.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what eats ticks?, then why not take a look at what eats snakes? Or tick facts.
Ticks are not really insects and are parasitic arachnids that feed on the blood of humans and animals.
