Prevention

Keep rodents, especially chipmunks and squirrels, out of homes and cabins.

What can I do to prevent TBRF?

• Avoid sleeping in rodent-infested buildings whenever possible. Although rodent nests may not be visible, other evidence of rodent activity (e.g., droppings) are a sign that a building may be infested.
• Prevent tick bites. Use insect repellent containing DEET (on skin or clothing) or permethrin (applied to clothing or equipment).
• If you are renting a cabin and notice a rodent infestation, contact the owner to alert them.
• If you own a cabin, consult a licensed pest control professional who can safely:
  • Identify and remove any rodent nests from walls, attics, crawl spaces, and floors. (Other diseases can be transmitted by rodent droppings—leave this job to a professional!)
  • Treat “cracks and crevices” in the walls with pesticide.
  • Establish a pest control plan to keep rodents out.
• Pest Control Professionals and Public Health Departments: Remove rodents and nests, stop rodents from reentering buildings, and reduce exposure to infected ticks pdf icon[PDF – 4 pages]