20 Years of Lyme Disease Advocacy Fuels New Chapter for Tick BYTES

Founders Offer Do It Yourself Tick Control Tools and Resources

WINDHAM, Maine, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Barb and Bob Maurais have launched Tick BYTES (Back Yard Tick Eco-friendly Solutions), building on over two decades of pest management experience and community-based tick-borne disease education and advocacy. Their mission with Tick BYTES is to expand outreach and protection beyond individual homes through an innovative Do It Yourself approach to tick control. What began in 2005 as a community-based pest control business has grown into a movement and commitment to tick reduction on a broader scale, grounded in personal experience and community connections. Tick BYTES combines education, practical support, and advocacy—empowering families and neighborhoods with low-cost DIY tools and resources to reduce exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases.

A Personal Journey That Gained Momentum 

In 2005, Barb, while building her previous company's website, wrote, "You could have Lyme disease and not even know it." Little did she know that she was writing about herself. Later that year, after co-hosting a Lyme disease seminar and continuing to educate herself, she recognized the symptoms described by a physician as her own—which finally led to a diagnosis of Lyme disease along with two co-infections. Barb was one of six founding members of the Maine Lyme Support Group, which in 2007 worked alongside many Lyme advocates and Maine legislators to pass a bill declaring May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Throughout her 20 years working to increase awareness about Lyme and associated diseases, Barb has remained committed to providing vetted resources to educate the public.

Urgency Meets Innovation 

We're often reminded to avoid tick habitat – but what if that habitat is your own backyard? According to a recent study, an estimated 31 million Americans—nearly 1 in 10—are expected to experience a tick bite annually. Data released by the University of Maine's Cooperative Extension 2024 Tick Surveillance Annual Report indicated that approximately 68% of those who submitted blacklegged ticks encountered them on their own property, with yardwork/gardening and playing in the yard being the most commonly reported activities at the time of encounter. This makes Tick BYTES' mission more urgent than ever. The organization delivers prevention education, how-to technical assistance, and trusted experienced support when families need it most. In addition to the Time to Treat for Ticks guide, Tick BYTES currently provides two free downloadable and shareable guides, Protection Strategies Home & Away and Time to Drag for Ticks – both define strategies to help families protect themselves year-round.

Holistic, Eco-Friendly Solutions 

More than just a property treatment provider, Tick BYTES promotes sustainable, eco-conscious, do-it-yourself tick reduction methods that provide homeowners with expert advice, DIY tips, and time-tested professional application techniques to reduce future encounters with Deer Ticks, Dog Ticks, Lone Star Ticks, Longhorn Ticks and others—while also teaching how to protect pets and pollinators.

Building a Network of Support 

Individuals can share the Tick BYTES model of education and advocacy by working together to create tick safer zones throughout their neighborhoods. Sharing ways to modify landscapes, personal protection strategies, research-based information, and best practices will create a supportive network that advances public health and prevention. Working together, collective efforts and DIY tools will build a resilient foundation for safer, healthier communities. Purchase your downloadable Tick BYTES Time to Treat for Ticks DIY Guide and learn how to effectively treat your property.

About Tick BYTES 

Tick BYTES is a testament to what can happen when advocacy is both personal and persistent. Through lived experience, community partnerships, and a focus on public health, the organization continues to lead the way in tick-borne disease prevention for Maine—and beyond.

To learn more or to join the DIY Tick BYTES tick and mosquito control community, visit www.tickbytes.us

Contact:
Tick BYTES LLC, 354 Gray Road, Windham, ME 04062
Bob & Barb Maurais: 207-893-8035
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Tick BYTES LLC