Ticks

Ticks, related to spiders and scorpions, live in all parts of the U.S. They have oval-shaped bodies and eight legs. They are parasites, feeding on the blood of people and animals.

Like mosquitoes, they can transmit any diseases they carry to the people and animals they feed on. They primary disease that they can cause in people is Lyme disease which can cause skin rash, fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and potential problems with joints, the heart, and central nervous system (more information is included later in this course).

If you have a tick on you and have access to a trained medical professional, have them remove it. If not, you can remove it by using tweezers. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and firmly, but slowly, pull the tick away. Do not burn the tick off or kill it while it is attached to the skin. Clean the bite area with soap and water and apply a disinfectant.

Ticks do not move quickly, and cannot jump or fly, so they attach themselves to brush, plants, trees, and other similar vegetation. As an animal or person passes, they climb on and start feeding slowly. They attach to areas such as the armpits, groin, scalp, or hairy or hidden body areas.

They are abundant in late spring and early summer. Although ticks are found all across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that regions in the Northeast and Wisconsin are at moderate to high risk for ticks carrying Lyme disease. The West coast and Southeastern states are at low risk. The Midwest is at minimal risk. The map on the right shows this risk.

To learn more about Outdoor Biological Hazards visit our Outdoor Biological Hazards Online Training web page.