Tick Pest Control

What Are Wood Ticks?

Wood ticks, also known as American dog ticks, are commonly found in wooded areas, grassy fields, and along trails. These parasites attach themselves to animals and humans to feed on blood. Recognizable by their reddish-brown color and eight legs, wood ticks are larger than other tick species. Female ticks can swell to the size of a small grape after feeding, while males remain smaller.

Health Risks Associated with Wood Ticks

Wood ticks are more than just a nuisance—they can transmit serious diseases, including:

• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) – A bacterial infection that can cause fever, rash, and other severe symptoms if left untreated.
• Tularemia – A rare bacterial infection that can lead to skin ulcers, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Tick Paralysis – A condition caused by tick saliva, leading to muscle weakness and even temporary paralysis in severe cases.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Pets

To reduce the risk of tick bites and disease transmission, follow these precautions:

• Wear protective clothing – Long sleeves, pants, and light-colored clothing can help keep ticks off your skin and make them easier to spot.
• Use tick repellents – Apply insect repellent with DEET or permethrin when venturing into wooded or grassy areas.
• Perform regular tick checks – After outdoor activities, thoroughly inspect yourself, your family, and pets for ticks.
• Remove ticks promptly – If you find a tick attached to your skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull it out slowly. Clean the bite area with soap and water.
  

What Do Ticks Eat?

Ticks are parasitic arachnids that survive by feeding on the blood of their hosts, which can include mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Using their sharp, specialized mouthparts, ticks pierce their host's skin to access blood, their sole source of nutrients.

The Tick Life Cycle and Feeding

Ticks have a multi-stage life cycle—egg, larva, nymph, and adult—each stage involving different feeding behaviors:

• Larvae: After hatching, tick larvae feed on small mammals or birds to obtain their first blood meal.
• Nymphs: As ticks grow, they move to larger hosts, such as deer or medium-sized mammals.
• Adults: Fully mature ticks often target larger mammals, including humans, dogs, and livestock. Adult ticks are the stage most associated with transmitting diseases to humans and pets.

Nutritional Needs of Ticks

Unlike other creatures that consume a variety of food, ticks rely entirely on blood for their sustenance. Blood provides all the nutrients they need for survival, growth, and reproduction. Remarkably, ticks can endure long periods without feeding—sometimes up to a year or more, depending on the species and life stage.

Health Risks Associated with Ticks

Ticks are not just parasitic pests; they can also transmit serious diseases, including:

• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Ehrlichiosis

These illnesses can have significant health impacts, making it crucial to avoid tick bites and address infestations promptly.