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| The three ticks most common to Ohio showing relative size, from top to bottom: the black-legged deer tick, the American dog tick, and the Lone Star tick |
My apologies to all those arachnid lovers out there -- you know who you are! I'll make sure to find time to post about some lovely, little spider in time, I promise. Honestly, I hate my first subject be such a nasty one . . . but consider it a public service announcement. Like it or not, we're now deep into "tick season," and while our particular marsh has not been consistent in producing these disease-carrying pests, we need to stay vigilant . . . as do you.
I can count on one hand how many times over the last two years I've found ticks on me following a day in the marsh. And usually, they've just been on my clothes. But I can tell you that it would have taken both hands (and a couple of toes) to account for the dozen dog ticks that I removed a couple weeks back after one particularly warm, windy afternoon in the field. That certainly got my attention!
Warm winters are thought to make for a "bad" tick season. The right balance of warmer spring temps (50s+) without too much standing water seem to bring them out of the woodwork. Ticks should not cause hysteria. But they do cause disease . . . and some that should certainly be respected.
Not surprisingly, there is a fair amount of literature out there about ticks. The Ohio Department of Health has a particularly helpful page devoted to the three most common species in our area. Their photo insert gives you a decent idea of markings and relative size, but they are all small (i.e., smaller than a pencil eraser when not engorged with blood). The smallest, the deer tick, is the most revered for its propensity to carry Lyme disease, but truth be told, all ticks should be avoided, if at all possible.
Depending on the species, ticks like tall grass, scrubby shrub habitat, and even the branches of the tree canopy overhead (which they can parachute from onto unsuspecting hosts). Therefore, total avoidance can be difficult. The Ohio DOH and the ODNR both have good tips on chemical deterrents that -- if used properly -- are considered to be safe. Look at DEET and/or permethrin. I'm a strong advocate for (1) wearing long sleeves and long, light-colored pants, (2) tucking in pant legs and shirts, and (3) getting in the habit of regular self-checks.
Ticks tend gravitate to joints, transitions in clothing, and especially hair. If you do find one attached, do not panic. Refer to the links above. Do a little reading on how to safely and effectively remove them, and then keep an eye on overall health to make sure there are no signs of infection or illness.
Don't let ticks be a deterrent to getting outside in the spring and summer. As with so many other things in life, a few basic preventative steps and some healthy vigilance can go a long way!