Ticks have a variety of natural predators, including birds, amphibians, mammals, and insects. Here are some animals that eat ticks:
-
Opossums: Opossums are one of the top predators for ticks and kill more than 90 percent of the ticks they encounter. They can eat up to 5,000 ticks per season.
-
Guinea fowl: Guinea fowl are commonly promoted as tick controls, but research indicates that their tick consumption is minimal and is not effective in reducing local tick populations.
-
Chickens: Chickens do eat ticks, but their consumption of ticks is minimal.
-
Wild turkeys: Wild turkeys consume ticks on occasion, but their foraging has not been found to reduce tick abundance.
-
Frogs and toads: These amphibians eat almost any insect, including ticks.
-
Lizards: Some species of lizards, such as the common Western fence lizard, eat ticks.
-
Squirrels: Squirrels attract ticks where they live in trees and as they forage and play on the ground. They will happily dine on ticks as a part of their typical diet.
-
Ants and fire ants: Ants and fire ants eat ticks.
Its important to note that while these animals can help reduce tick populations, they are not a foolproof solution. Other methods, such as keeping your grass short and cleaning up lawn clippings, can also help prevent tick infestations.
