In the United States, there are about 80 species of ticks. Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of its host. Ticks feed on hosts by embedding their mouth under the host’s skin. They are classified as arachnids rather than insects, making them relatives of spiders and scorpions.
Ticks and Diseases
Ticks are known to transmit certain diseases. They are able to do this because bacteria are able to live for long periods inside them, and while they are feeding off of their host, the wound creates an open pathway for these bacteria to travel through into the host’s body.
In the state of Florida, the known tick-borne diseases are:
- Lyme disease
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Ixodes scapularis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Southern Tick Associated Rash
- Babesiosis
- Leptospirosis
- Rickettsia parkeri infection
Prevent Ticks in Your Yard
In order to keep ticks from invading your yard and potentially feasting on you, your family, or your pets, here are some things to consider, according to cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/in_the_yard.html.
- Remove leaf litter.
- Clear tall grass or brush around the home.
- Place a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between the lawn and any wooded area.
- Mow frequently.
- Stack wood neatly and in a dry area.
- Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees.
- Prevent wild animals from entering the property by constructing fences.
- Remove old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard as soon as possible.
Following these steps will deter ticks as they will not have any easy way into your yard, and they will not have any place to hide if they do make their way in.
Another important step to remember is to make sure that you are regularly treating your pets with a tick repellant. Many flea treatments now also include tick treatment as well. This helps to prevent your beloved family pet from becoming a victim of tick-borne diseases. It also prevents the family pet from bringing a tick into the family home and spreading the infection.
Removing a Tick
If you find yourself in the unlucky situation to need to remove a tick from yourself, a family member, or a pet, follow these steps to ensure the whole tick is removed.
- Use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers to grab ahold of the tick as close to the surface of the skin as you possible can.
- Pull up using steady and even pressure. Do not twist or yank the tick. This can cause the mouthparts of the tick to break off and remain in the skin. If the mouthparts do break off in the skin, you will need to use the tweezers to try to remove them from the wound. If that is not possible, leave it alone and let the wound heal.
- After removal, clean the wound and your hands thoroughly with soap and water and then rubbing alcohol.
- Never crush a tick with your fingers. This can lead to infection. Instead, dispose of the tick by putting it in alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.
- Keep an eye on the wound for several days after the removal. If you notice a bullseye shaped rash around the wound, see a doctor as soon as possible. If the patient develops a rash or fever within the intervening weeks, make an appointment to see a doctor.
