Protect Your Family From Ticks
Expert Tick Control in the Bay Area
Ticks carry dangerous diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. ATCO's natural tick treatments protect your property with targeted perimeter applications that are gentle on your family and pets.
Common Ticks in the Bay Area
Tap any card to identify what you have
Western Black-Legged Tick 
Lyme DiseaseWestern Black-Legged Tick
American Dog TickAmerican Dog Tick
Brown Dog TickBrown Dog Tick
Prepare for Your Appointment
Mow Lawn & Trim Vegetation
Cut grass short and trim shrubs to reduce tick habitats before treatment.
Keep Pets Indoors
Keep pets inside during and immediately after the treatment application.
Clear Yard Debris
Remove leaf litter, woodpiles, and yard waste where ticks hide.
Note Tick Activity Areas
Identify and photograph areas where you've found ticks on pets or family members.
Have Pets on Flea & Tick Preventative
Ensure pets are current on their veterinary flea and tick prevention medication.
Diamond Certified
Since 2009
What to Know About Ticks
Tap a card to learn what it means for your family — and what ATCO does about it.
Remove a tick within 36 hours and your Lyme risk drops dramatically. Daily checks after outdoor time save lives in the Bay Area.
Schedule ConsultationCalifornia is a top-5 state for Lyme disease. Western black-legged ticks are in your backyard — especially in grass, leaf litter, and trail edges.
Schedule ConsultationTicks at every life stage — larva, nymph, adult — need blood meals. A treated yard breaks the cycle at every stage for lasting protection.
Schedule ConsultationAn unfed nymph tick is the size of a poppy seed. This is why you don't feel it attach — and why thorough body checks after hikes matter.
Schedule ConsultationStore-bought sprays wear off in weeks. ATCO's barrier treatment creates 3 months of protection with a single professional application.
Schedule ConsultationOne professional yard perimeter treatment targets ticks at all life stages. Available same-day — call ATCO before tick season peaks.
Schedule ConsultationDid You Know?
Lyme Disease in California
The Western Black-Legged Tick is the primary carrier of Lyme disease in California. Nymphs are most active in spring and are small enough to go unnoticed.
They Can Survive Indoors
Brown Dog Ticks are unique among ticks because they can complete their entire life cycle indoors, infesting homes, kennels, and veterinary clinics.
Tick Season in the Bay Area
While ticks are active year-round in the Bay Area's mild climate, peak season runs from November through May when nymphs are most abundant.
They Don't Jump or Fly
Ticks wait on vegetation with outstretched legs in a behavior called "questing," latching onto hosts that brush against them.
What You Can Do
Do Full Body Checks
After spending time outdoors, check yourself, children, and pets thoroughly. Pay attention to hairlines, behind ears, armpits, and waistbands.
Create a Tick-Free Zone
Keep your yard well-maintained with short grass, cleared leaf litter, and a 3-foot wood chip or gravel barrier between lawn and wooded areas.
Wear Protective Clothing
When hiking or in tall grass, wear long sleeves, tuck pants into socks, and use EPA-registered repellents containing DEET or picaridin.
Shower After Outdoor Activity
Showering within 2 hours of coming indoors can wash off unattached ticks and is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
What to Avoid
Don't Crush or Squeeze Ticks
Never crush a tick with your fingers. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull straight up with steady pressure.
Don't Use Home Remedies
Avoid burning ticks off or applying nail polish, petroleum jelly, or rubbing alcohol. These methods can cause the tick to release more bacteria.
Don't Ignore a Tick Bite
If you develop a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, seek medical attention promptly. Early treatment is critical for Lyme disease.
Don't Skip Seasonal Treatments
Bay Area's mild climate means ticks are active year-round. Consistent perimeter treatments are more effective than one-time applications.
Diseases Ticks Carry
Why professional tick control matters
Lyme Disease
The most common tick-borne illness. Causes fever, fatigue, and joint pain.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
A bacterial infection requiring prompt medical attention for best outcomes.
Anaplasmosis
Causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to serious complications.
Our Tick Treatment Approach
Comprehensive protection for your property
Property Inspection
Identify tick habitats and wildlife pathways on your property.
Perimeter Treatment
Natural applications around your home's perimeter and shady areas.
Landscape Guidance
Recommendations to make your yard less attractive to tick-carrying wildlife.
Ongoing Protection
Regular maintenance treatments to keep your property tick-free.
Tick Prevention Tips
Steps you can take to reduce tick populations
Keep Grass Short
Mow your lawn regularly to reduce tick hiding spots.
Remove Leaf Litter
Clear leaves and debris where ticks thrive.
Check Pets Regularly
Inspect pets after outdoor activities for ticks.