Tick Identification and Tick Health Risks

Spring is almost over, and summer is just days away. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and you can’t wait to get outside. Your kids, your dog, everyone is itching for some fresh air and exercise. But something sinister lurks in the grass and bushes.

Ticks – small, bloodsucking parasites – are out in full force, waiting to latch onto you or your pets. Don’t let these nasty creatures ruin your fun. I’ll break it down so you can play it smart and stop ticks from making you sick.

Different Kinds of Ticks

Let’s start by getting to know our bloodsucking foes. What do ticks even look like? There are a bunch of different types, but here are some mean ones to watch for:

Before we battle the bloodsuckers, we need to know exactly what they look like. There are a bunch of tick species, but some key gross ones to watch for are:

The Tiny Deer Tick of Doom

At less than 2mm long, deer ticks are teeny tiny, and that makes them extra sneaky. They’re dark brown or kind of reddish brown, and their legs are black.

Deer ticks love to feed on white-tailed deer. But if they can’t find Bambi, you or me will do! These ticks spread nasty diseases like Lyme. Definitely public enemy #1.

Lone Star Tick – The Diva

Bigger than deer ticks at around 5mm long. The females have a bright white spot on their backs – that’s how they got their name. Makes it easy to ID these drama queens.

Males are just plain brown. But both genders will gladly bite humans and give you diseases. Jerks!

American Dog Tick – The Brute

These big boys are up to 8mm long – like an ugly bloated giant compared to other ticks!

They’re brown with gray and white speckles. As you’d guess from the name, they prefer chowing down on dog blood. But they aren’t picky – you’ll do in a pinch!

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick

Like it sounds, these are up in the mountains in the western states. But they bite humans too – not just cute little rodents!

About 5mm long and plain brown. Keep an eye out if you’re camping or hiking out West.

Brown Dog Tick – The Freeloader

This tick has a thing for dogs. It doesn’t even bite humans…unless you have a dog it can hitch a ride on! Then it might snack on you if no doggos are around. Rude!

Reddish brown little freeloader. Likes warm places like dog houses and human homes.

Check yourself and your furry friends closely after going outside. Don’t let ticks go unnoticed – that’s how they get you!

Tick Hot Spots

Okay, now that you can spot a tick, where are these bloodthirsty critters likely to hang out? Ticks love places like:

• Woods, bushes, shrubs – prime tick real estate!
• Overgrown fields with tall grass – a tick’s paradise!
• Trails through woods and fields
• Lawns or gardens with lots of leaves and vegetation
• Abandoned, brushy lots – tick heaven!

When looking through tick land, stick to the center of trails. Try not to brush against plants and grass.

Pro tip: Ticks hate wide open, sunny spaces like fields or manicured lawns. They need shade and protection from that evil sun. So treat any shady, wooded trail or garden as a potential tick zone!

How Ticks Go In for the Bite

Now that you know where ticks live, how do they actually get on you? Well, the little punks are experts at ambushing hosts for a quick blood meal. They’ve got skills, I’ll give ’em that. Here are their sneaky attack moves:

• They’ll climb to the very ends of branches, grass, and shrubs near trails, then reach out and grab onto passing humans or animals. Little hitchhikers from heck!
• Some even do a “questing” behavior – they crawl to the edge of leaves and stick their front legs out to latch onto hosts. Super gross.
• When you walk under branches or tall grass, ticks literally drop down right onto you or your dog. Surprise!
• Ticks grab onto furry pets as they wander through tick zones, then hitched a ride right into your house. Dirty drifters!

Check for stowaway ticks immediately after coming inside. Keep pets on flea and tick preventatives. Inspect kids thoroughly – ticks love those warm hidden spots behind knees, elbows, and ears!

Pro tip: Ticks can’t fly or jump. But they are master hitchhikers, so beware of tall grass and shrubs along trails. Avoid direct contact if you can!

Tick Diseases

Okay, as if ticks weren’t bad enough already, here’s the really ugly part. When they bite into you, they can transmit nasty diseases through their saliva. Let’s talk about some of the major tick-borne diseases:

Lyme Disease – The Worst of the Worst

This one is spread by our nemesis, the deer tick. It’s most common in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. Watch out!

At first, Lyme causes a big red rash around the bite location. Then it brings on fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. Not fun!

But untreated Lyme gets much worse. It can cause severe headaches, heart palpitations, facial paralysis or drooping – yikes! Plus severe arthritis-like joint pain. No thank you!

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Sounds like a band from Colorado, but it’s actually transmitted by American dog ticks nationwide. This one is bad news.

Symptoms are high fever and a rash with spots that start as tiny red bumps and spread. Hands and feet swell up.

Untreated, it can lead to amputation of fingers, toes, even whole limbs. And it can be fatal. You don’t want this!

Anaplasmosis

Also spread by our pal the deer tick. (Can you tell deer ticks are the WORST?)

This causes fever, chills, headache, nausea and muscle pains. Basically makes you feel like death.

It can be deadly for older folks or people with compromised immune systems. Not ideal!

Ehrlichiosis

Spread by lone star ticks and American dog ticks.

Early signs are fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, confusion.

If untreated, ehrlichiosis infects your white blood cells and can be life-threatening. Super dangerous.

Bottom line: don’t play around with symptoms after a tick bite. See a doctor pronto for antibiotics. The sooner tick diseases are treated, the better.

Pro tip: If you start feeling under the weather with flu symptoms after spending time in tick zones, get checked ASAP. Ticks are sneaky – sometimes you don’t even notice the bite!

Protect Yourself from Ticks

Now that you know exactly what we’re up against, here’s how to prevent tick bites and stay safe out there:

Avoid Tick Hot Spots

• Stick to the center of trails – no straying into the bush!
• In your yard, keep grass mowed short and free of brush and leaf litter. Eliminate tick habitat!
• Place gravel borders or barriers between your lawn and any adjacent wooded areas. Contain the bloodsuckers!
• Use deer fencing around your property to keep out prime tick taxis like deer. Make your yard a no-tick zone!

Wear Protective Clothing

• Light colored shirts and pants make ticks more visible. I see you, you little punk!
• Tuck your pants into your socks so ticks can’t crawl up your legs. Blockade tactics!
• Wear closed toe shoes – no sandals in tick land. Protect your feet!

Use Repellents

• Look for EPA-approved sprays with DEET or picaridin. These are you allies!
• Spray your clothes, shoes, and any exposed skin, especially ankles and wrists. Full coverage = no ticks.
• Shower with repellent soap after exposure. Wash off any hitchhikers!

Do Tick Checks

• Scan yourself thoroughly after coming inside, including your scalp. No tick escapes detection!
• Carefully check little kids too. Ticks love warm hidden spots like behind ears, knees, elbows. Search every inch!
• Toss clothes in the dryer on hot to kill any stragglers. Cook ’em up!

Follow these rules whenever ticks are active. Teach kids early to protect themselves too.

Tick Removal 101

Even with precautions, you may still find a tick has latched on. Don’t freak! Just remove the little jerk safely and properly.

Proper technique is important to avoid leaving mouth parts in your skin or squeezing the tick’s icky guts into you. Follow these steps:

DO:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to your skin surface as possible. Get the head!
• Pull straight up slowly and steadily. No sudden jerking or twisting the tick. Nice and easy.
• Swab the bite area with antiseptic after removal. Don’t let it get infected!
• Wash your hands thoroughly in case any tick fluids got on you. No tick cooties!
• Keep an eye on the bite for any rash over the next few weeks. Early Lyme detection saves you!

DON’T:

• Don’t use your bare fingers to pull off a tick. Their fluids could enter the bite wound or your fingers. Gross!
• Don’t try any folk remedies like covering ticks in vaseline or burning them. This just makes them vomit nasty fluids into you.
• Don’t squeeze the tick’s body as you pull. This shoots more fluids and infectious germs into the bite.

If the mouthparts stay stuck in your skin, leave them be. Your body will slowly eject them on its own.

Pro tip: The quicker you remove an attached tick, the lower your risk of getting sick. Don’t let them chow down for long!

Tick-Proof Your Yard

You can make your own yard unappealing and hostile to ticks. Reclaim your outdoor space! Here are some tactics:

Clear Out Tick Habitat

Ticks need shade and debris to survive in yards:

• Rake up any leaf litter, sticks, or grass clippings where ticks like to hide.
• Prune bushes and shrubs so they don’t touch the ground or each other. Eliminate tick bridges!
• Remove wood piles, kids’ playhouses, anything that gives ticks a shady spot. Bear with some clutter to beat the ticks!

Make It Too Hot for Ticks to Handle

Ticks hate sunlight and dry conditions. Make your yard less hospitable:

• Keep lawn areas mowed nice and short so ticks are exposed.
• Rake up leaves or mulch around trees and gardens to create dry, bare areas.
• Place gravel borders or paving stones between your lawn and wooded or natural areas. Stop tick migration!
• Install deer fencing to keep prime tick taxis like deer out of your yard. Protect the perimeter!

Apply Pesticides

Kill any ticks lurking in shady spots with targeted pesticide applications:

• Treat the perimeter of lawns, especially shady edges near woods.
• Spray mulched or gravel areas between lawn and natural spaces.
• Reapply every 2 weeks while ticks are active. It’s war!

With some work, you can make your yard a tick-free oasis for playtime and gardening!

Protect Your Pets from Ticks Too

Don’t forget about the furry family members! Our pets pick up ticks in the yard or when out walking. Keep them protected:

Use Preventatives

• Ask your vet about oral tick preventatives and anti-tick collars specifically for dogs.
• Some last a full month, while chewable tablets work for only a few days. See what’s best for your pet!
• Don’t forget flea prevention too – some products kill both fleas and ticks. Two birds, meet one stone.

Inspect for Ticks

• Check your pet thoroughly for ticks every time they come inside.
• Run your hands over their coat feeling for bumps. Check everywhere – ears, tail, between toes.
• If you find a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers like you would on a human. Bye bye, bloodsucker!

Limit Time in Tick Zones

• When outside, keep pets in sunny open areas of the lawn, and off wooded trails.
• Stick to neighborhood streets for walks rather than tick-infested parks or wilderness. Sorry Fido, no hiking!
• Bring dogs inside if yard work kicks up brush or leaf litter. Wait till it settles so they don’t pick up hitchhikers!