Sid, my little cocker spaniel, and I often take walks in the woods down by the lake. Not only does Sid pick up ticks along the way, but I get them, too. I don't notice the ticks until I stop walking or sit down somewhere. I normally wear khaki pants, and if I look, I can usually see the ticks crawling up my pants leg.
But I don't have to be in the woods to get ticks on me. I can get them from walking in my backyard. And I've heard other people say the same thing (not about my yard -- their yards).
One of Three Species
If you find a tick on you in Georgia it will be one of three species.
If it has a single white spot in the middle of its back and long mouth parts, it's a female lone star tick. Deer are troubled by the lone star tick, too.
The American dog tick has shorter mouth parts and diffuse white markings on its back. This is the tick I usually find on Sid. They also feed on a variety of large animals, including people.
The black-legged tick is smaller than the other two ticks and has no white markings. This tick is common on just about everything that has warm blood.
'Seed Ticks'
The "seed ticks" you may have heard of are immature ticks that recently hatched. They're concentrated in huge numbers in a small area. They're tiny, and if you happen to sit down or even stand still in the wrong place, you can be covered with them.
The bites of ticks aren't normally painful, but they can itch for days. Be careful when you pull a tick off you -- its mouthparts and head may pull loose and remain attached in your skin. This can lead to infection and occasionally blood poisoning.
The sooner ticks are removed, the smaller the chance of getting a disease.
Ticks Cause Diseases
If you develop a skin rash or fever within a few days to several weeks after a tick bite, see your physician and tell him you were bitten. Ticks can cause diseases. A blood test can confirm if you've been exposed to Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease.
The best prevention is personal protection. Wooded trails, high grass and brush areas are prime tick country. You can protect yourself in a number of ways:
- Tuck your pants legs into your socks. I know it's kind of goofy looking, but it helps. You can also use duct tape to tape your pants legs to your boots. That way, the ticks have to crawl up the outside of your pants where you can see them. And tuck your shirt in your pants.
- Check yourself at least twice a day for ticks. The inside of your pants legs are good places to find them -- along with just about everywhere else.
- Use a repellent containing deet that can be rubbed on the skin. Permanone can be sprayed on your clothing for more protection. It not only repels ticks but kills them, too.
- Keep ticks off your dog. He can serve as a reservoir for both diseases.
