Ticks
Ticks are small, blood-feeding parasites that affect humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. They are second only to mosquitoes in spreading diseases that impact public health, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. Ticks have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Larvae have six legs, while nymphs and adults have eight. To grow and reproduce, ticks must feed on blood at each stage of development.
Ticks locate hosts by sensing body heat, breath, movement, and odors. Many species use a behavior called “questing,” where they perch on grass or leaves with their front legs extended, waiting to latch onto a passing animal or person. Smaller ticks tend to stay closer to the ground and target small mammals or birds, while adult ticks climb higher to find larger hosts like deer or humans.
When a tick bites, it uses specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and anchor itself while feeding. This process allows disease-causing germs to pass from the tick into the host’s bloodstream. Because of their role in spreading illness, it’s important to be aware of ticks, take steps to avoid bites, and check for ticks after spending time outdoors.
In the United States, some ticks carry pathogens that can cause human disease, including (bold indicate diseases found in New York):
∗ Anaplasmosis * Babesiosis * Bourbon virus ∗ Colorado tick fever * Ehrlichiosis
*Hard tick relapsing fever * Heartland virus ∗ Lyme disease ∗ Powassan virus ∗ Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis
∗ Rocky Mountain spotted fever ∗ Soft tick relapsing fever ∗ STARI ∗ Tularemia ∗ 364D rickettsiosis
Ticks in New York
The three most common ticks in New York State are the deer (black-legged) tick, the American dog tick and the lone star tick.
Only deer ticks can carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. They can also carry the germs that cause babesiosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Young deer ticks, called nymphs, are brown and the size of poppy seeds. Adult female deer ticks are red and black, while males are black. Adult deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed.
American dog ticks can carry the bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Dog ticks are reddish-brown and larger than deer ticks. Deer and dog ticks are most active during the spring, early summer and fall.
Lone star ticks are becoming more common in New York State. They can carry the germ that causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis and are another rash illness that has been seen in over 20 other states. Adult female lone star ticks have a white dot on their back and are similar in size to deer ticks. They are most active from April through July.
- Protective Clothing:
- Long sleeves and pants: Cover exposed skin to minimize tick contact.
- Tuck pants into socks: Creates a barrier to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
- Light-colored clothing: Makes it easier to spot ticks crawling on your clothes.
- Consider gaiters: Provide additional protection for your lower legs.
- Permethrin-treated clothing: Permethrin kills or repels ticks on contact and remains effective for multiple washes.
- Repellents:
- Apply insect repellent: Use repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or other EPA-approved active ingredients on exposed skin.
- Use permethrin on clothing and gear: Effective for extended protection.
- Trail Etiquette:
- Stay on the trail: Ticks are often found in tall grass and brush.
- Avoid walking through dense vegetation: Stay in the middle of the trail to minimize contact with ticks.
- Check for Ticks:
- Regularly check yourself: Look for ticks, especially in crevices and areas with hair.
- Check after the hike: Showering shortly after leaving the trail can help wash off any unattached ticks.
- Check your gear: Inspect clothing, backpacks, and other gear for ticks.
- Other Tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to potential tick habitats, such as wooded areas and tall grass.
- Choose trails wisely: Research the area for tick prevalence and take necessary precautions.
How to Remove A Tick
Don’t panic. Not all ticks are infected, and your risk of acquiring Lyme disease is greatly reduced if the tick is removed within the first 36 hours after attachment. Removing a tick is easy, but it’s important to stay calm and avoid causing stress to the tick or yourself.
When trying to remove the tick:
- DO NOT touch the tick with your bare hands.
- DO NOT squeeze the body of the tick as this may increase your risk of infection.
- DO NOT put alcohol, nail polish remover or Vaseline on the tick.
- DO NOT put a hot match or cigarette on the tick in an effort to make it “back out.”
- DO NOT use your fingers to remove the tick.
These methods do not work and only increase the likelihood the tick will transmit Lyme disease to you. Applying alcohol, nail polish remover, or a hot match can irritate a tick and cause it to regurgitate its gut contents into your skin. The gut contents of a tick can contain the Lyme disease-causing bacterium.
Instead, use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull the tick out. After removing it, wash the area with soap and water. Redness at the site should go away in a few days. If the area becomes red, warm, or painful, contact your doctor. While removing a tick, if the tick’s mouthparts break off and remain in your skin, don’t worry. The mouthparts alone cannot transmit Lyme disease, because the infective body of the tick is no longer attached. The mouthparts can be left alone. They will dry up and fall out by themselves in a few days, or you can remove them as you would a splinter.
After cleaning the area, watch the site of the bite for the appearance of a rash 3 to 30 days after the bite. The rash will usually be at least 2 inches in diameter initially and will gradually expand to several inches in size. Rashes smaller than the size of a quarter are usually a reaction to the bite itself and do not mean you have Lyme disease.
If you develop this type of rash or flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately. Although not routinely recommended, taking antibiotics within three days after a tick bite may be beneficial for some persons. This would apply to deer tick bites that occured in areas where Lyme disease is common and there is evidence that the tick fed for more than one day. In cases like this you should discuss the possibilities with your doctor or licensed health care provider.
