Kicking the Tick Out of Outdoor Living!®
Tick Talk - Info & FAQ
There are many tick borne diseases in the United States The most common tick species in the South Carolina region include the Blacklegged DeerTick (lifecycle shown above), Lone-Star Tick, American Dog Tick, and Brown Dog Tick. The Blacklegged Deer Tick is extremely small and is most known for spreading Lyme disease. Some of the symptoms of Lyme disease Lyme disease include fever headache, fatigue and a skin rash.
The Lone-Star Tick
The Lone-Star Tick is easier to recognize. The adult female tick sports a white dot on its back, prompting its “Lone-Star” name. Tularemia is one of the most common diseases associated with this tick. Its symptoms include a skin ulcer at the site of the bite, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fever, chills and fatigue.
The American Dog Tick
The American Dog Tick, typically brown to reddish-brown in color with grayish markings on the upper body, causes Colorado Tick Fever (rare in the South), another malaise with signs and symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is another disease linked to the American Dog Tick, with symptoms including nausea, lack of appetite, fever and muscle pain.
the Brown Dog Tick
Last, but not least, is the Brown Dog Tick. Although this uniformly dark reddish-brown tick is mostly a threat to pets, humans can also be affected through the spread of Rocky Mountain Spotted FeverFound a tick? Prompt removal is the best defense against the diseases described. The longer the tick is in place, the higher the chance of transmission if the tick is carrying a disease. Here are tick removal instructions from the CDC.
FAQS
Like fleas, ticks are always hitching a ride. They wait in grass and bushes for a host to brush up and then attach. When walking in nature, stay in the center of the trails and wear long sleeves and pants.
Venison stew is a winter favorite, but ticks love to dine on deer year round. Hence, the name deer tick. They also love rodents, so keep those wood piles away from the house and play areas.
Maybe, but the idea is to get them out as quickly as possible, so use a tweezer and pull straight up firmly. The nail polish wearers in the house just said, “Amen!"
Yes! Mowing, leaf clean-up, mulch or rock barriers between lawns and natural areas are some of the ways to keep ticks away, but probably not the neighbors.
Please see the image below for guidance and the CDC for more help with ticks on pets.
We can protect your yard with our tick control applications. Click on the button below to schedule a service.