If you use a spray that will kill ticks, say good bye to butterflies and any other beneficial insects. Get a guinea fowl. It'll eat all of your ticks. On the other hand, you won't need an alarm clock after.

That's the rub OK. Anything that kills ticks will kill birds, bees, frogs, pets, children.....
You might try to find out from your neighbors WHAT they are spraying. And also if the stuff needs an applicator's license. if it is poisonous to pets, birds, people, maybe this is something you should know about?