Yard tick treatment for Sydney homes near bushland, aimed at the shaded, humid edges where paralysis ticks wait for people and pets, from $119.
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Sydney sits inside the range of the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, which lives along a narrow band of the east coast. The risk is highest in leafy suburbs backing onto bush and creek lines, where bandicoots and other wildlife carry ticks right up to the back fence. Dogs and cats are especially vulnerable, and tick paralysis in pets is a veterinary emergency.
Ticks do not jump, fly or roam far. They climb up leaf litter and low vegetation and wait with their front legs outstretched for something warm to brush past. That habit makes a yard treatment worthwhile, because we can concentrate on the shaded, humid bands along fence lines, under shrubs and beside paths, rather than spraying open lawn where ticks rarely survive.
A treatment reduces the number of ticks your family and pets pick up, but ticks keep arriving on wildlife. So every job includes habitat advice, and we will always remind you to keep pets on a vet-recommended tick preventative and to check them daily.
The tick of real concern in Sydney. Unfed it is small and flat; after days of feeding a female swells into a grey, bean-shaped body. Its saliva contains toxins that can paralyse pets and, rarely, people.
A reddish-brown tick that feeds mainly on dogs and can complete its whole life cycle in kennels, dog beds and homes. Unlike the paralysis tick, the problem can build up indoors, so bedding and kennel areas are treated too.
Photo from an Elite job at a large residential property. On bigger blocks we map where the yard meets bush, where wildlife comes in and where pets like to lie, before deciding what to treat.
The paralysis tick feeds on three separate hosts across its life, dropping back into leaf litter between each meal. Timing varies with the weather.
| Stage | What it looks like | Typically most active | Risk to people and pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larva | Tiny, six legs, often found in clusters (sometimes called seed or grass ticks) | Late summer into autumn, roughly February to May | Many itchy bites at once; larvae usually feed on small animals |
| Nymph | Small, eight legs, easy to miss | Autumn through winter into early spring | Can attach to pets and people unnoticed |
| Adult female | Larger, flat when unfed, swells to grey and bean-shaped when feeding | Numbers build through spring and peak around early summer | The main cause of tick paralysis in pets |
Seasons based on published research on Ixodes holocyclus. Many Sydney vets warn that paralysis tick cases rise from late winter through spring and early summer, but ticks can be found in any month.
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General guidance from ASCIA and healthdirect. It is not a substitute for medical or veterinary advice.
ASCIA advises to freeze the tick, not squeeze it: use an ether-containing freezing spray from a pharmacy and let the tick drop off. Healthdirect advises against pulling it off with tweezers before it is dead, and against kerosene, methylated spirits, oils or a lighted match.
People with a known tick allergy should get medical advice on removal and may need it done in an emergency department. Call 000 for difficulty breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, wheeze or collapse, and use an adrenaline injector if one is prescribed.
Tick bites have been linked to allergy to red meat and some gelatin products. If you develop hives or other reactions a few hours after eating red meat, see your doctor, who may refer you to an allergy specialist.
Wobbly or weak back legs, a change in bark or meow, retching or vomiting, coughing or noisy breathing, and not eating are common signs. Do not wait: take your pet to a vet or animal emergency centre immediately.
Most of the job is knowing where not to spray.
We ask where ticks and pets have been found, then check fence lines, wildlife paths, bush edges, garden beds and shaded side passages.
We point out leaf litter, overgrown edges and low branches to clear, because treatment works better where ground cover is reduced.
A registered product goes onto the leaf litter and low vegetation in the shaded strips where ticks wait, not across sunny open lawn.
Kennels, under-deck areas and spots where dogs lie are treated, including bedding areas for brown dog ticks.
You get a written summary and advice on when to re-treat through the tick season if wildlife pressure is high.
These are the zones we inspect and, where suitable, treat.
Deep, damp leaf litter under dense shrubs and trees stays humid enough for ticks to survive between meals.
The strip where a garden meets bushland or a reserve is where wildlife crosses and ticks drop off.
Overgrown edges beside paths and driveways put ticks at leg height as people and pets walk past.
Shaded, sheltered areas where dogs lie and wildlife shelters can hold ticks through the season.
Cubbies, swings and trampolines beside heavy planting deserve a check, especially in spring.
Small conical holes in lawns and beds show bandicoots are visiting, and with them, paralysis ticks.
Ticks need humidity and passing hosts. Reduce both near the house.
Reduce the number of ticks waiting in the shaded areas where your family and pets spend time, through the peak months.
Stop wildlife carrying new ticks in, or protect areas beyond your fence. It is one layer of protection, not a replacement for pet preventatives and body checks.
Habitat changes, regular pet checks, sensible clothing and repellent when gardening or walking near bush.
Leafy yards also suit funnel-webs and mosquitoes. Ask about spider control and mosquito control at the same visit.
Paralysis tick calls come mostly from homes that back onto reserves, creek lines and national parks: the Northern Beaches, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and Berowra, the Lane Cove River corridor, the Hills and parts of the Sutherland Shire next to the Royal National Park. Bandicoots digging through lawns at night are often the clearest sign that ticks are being carried into the garden.
If possums are also using your roof, see possum removal. For a whole-property approach on a bushy block, a residential pest treatment covers spiders, ants and cockroaches as well.
Reviewed by Ismail, Founder · NSW Pest Management licence 5122967 · Updated September 2026
Treatment goes where ticks actually wait, which means less product and better results.
Re-entry times, pet area advice and products applied to label.
Practical changes that keep ticks down between treatments.
Leafy blocks from the Northern Beaches to the Hills and Sutherland Shire.
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Everything you need to know before you book. Still unsure? Call us — we're happy to help.
Get a Free QuoteTick treatment starts from $119. The fixed price depends on the size of the yard, how much bushland edge and dense garden there is, and whether kennels and pet resting areas need treating. We confirm the price and any warranty terms in writing with your quote.
ASCIA recommends freezing the tick with an ether-containing spray from a pharmacy and letting it drop off, rather than squeezing or pulling it. If you have had an allergic reaction to ticks before, get medical advice and consider having it removed in an emergency department. Call 000 for any breathing difficulty.
Common early signs include weakness or wobbliness in the back legs, a change in bark or meow, vomiting or retching, coughing, noisy breathing and loss of appetite. Signs can worsen quickly. Take your pet to a vet or emergency centre straight away, even if you have already removed a tick.
Paralysis ticks live along a band of the east coast, so all of Sydney is inside their range. Risk is highest in leafy suburbs close to bush, especially the Northern Beaches, Upper North Shore, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and suburbs bordering national parks and creek reserves where bandicoots live.
Ticks can be found year-round, but many Sydney vets see paralysis cases rise from late winter, with the busiest period through spring and early summer as adult females become active. Treating the yard in early spring and keeping pets on a preventative throughout the year is a sensible approach.
No. It reduces the number of ticks waiting in the areas that are treated, which lowers the chance of bites. New ticks keep arriving on bandicoots, possums and other wildlife, so pets still need a vet-recommended preventative and daily checks, and people should check themselves after gardening.
We use APVMA-registered products applied to label and concentrate them in shaded garden edges rather than play areas. Children and pets stay off treated areas until they are dry, usually a few hours. Tell us about chickens, ponds and veggie patches so we can work around them.
No. Bandicoots and other native animals are protected in NSW and must not be harmed. Instead, make the area near the house less tick-friendly: clear leaf litter, keep lawn edges short, trim shrubs back from paths and consider fencing off bushy areas pets use.
Most bites cause a local itchy lump. Some people have allergic reactions, which can be severe, and tick bites are linked to mammalian meat allergy. Healthdirect notes that tick paralysis in people is rare. See a doctor if you feel unwell, develop a rash or fever, or notice weakness after a bite.
Wear long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks and light-coloured clothing so ticks are easy to see. Use a repellent containing DEET or picaridin, and consider permethrin-treated clothing. Healthdirect suggests putting clothes in a hot dryer after outdoor activities, then checking your body, especially the scalp and behind the ears.
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