Study finds some ticks can survive up to 3 weeks on home floors

Ticks may persist on household floors far longer than many pet parents assume, according to new Ohio State University research that found unfed Gulf Coast ticks and lone star ticks could survive from about one week to roughly three weeks on common flooring surfaces. In the study, published in the Journal of Vector Ecology, researchers tested tile, vinyl, wood, short-pile carpet, and long-pile carpet, and found Gulf Coast ticks generally survived longer than lone star ticks, while lone star ticks lasted longer in long-pile carpet than on other surfaces. The work adds evidence that ticks carried indoors on pets or people may remain a household risk after detaching. (bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the findings strengthen the case for year-round tick prevention, routine tick checks, and more specific client counseling about indoor risk. CAPC recommends consistent tick control because ticks can transmit disease agents to pets and people throughout the year, and untreated pets can bring ticks into the home. This study gives clinicians a concrete, evidence-based way to explain why a tick found indoors shouldn't be dismissed as a short-lived nuisance, especially in homes with carpeting or in regions where lone star and Gulf Coast ticks are expanding or commonly encountered. (capcvet.org)

What to watch: Expect this study to show up in more client education around home tick checks, prompt tick removal, and year-round prevention messaging as vector ranges and tick-borne disease risk continue to shift. (vet.osu.edu)