After a long winter, spring is finally on the horizon and ticks will soon become more active! Learn about ticks and what you can do to prevent them from becoming a “hitchhiker” on your pet.
What you need to know:
- Ticks are not insects. They are actually arachnids, belonging to the same family as spiders and mites.
- Ticks cannot fly or jump. They wait on tips of grass, shrubs, and leaf litter where they sense vibrations, odors, changes in temperature, and light patterns that occur when animals (including people) walk past. The tick then extends its legs and grabs on to the passerby.
- Ticks survive by feeding on the blood of birds and mammals such as deer, mice, dogs, cats, and humans.
- Ticks DO NOT die in the winter. They may be inactive in low temperatures but they can survive temperatures down to -4°F (-20°C) under the leaf litter or in the soil.
- Most ticks are not active in extremely warm temperatures either. Spring, early summer and fall are generally when ticks are most active.
- Ticks live mostly in wooded areas but can also be found in urban environments as they become attached to birds, mice, and deer. They can readily be found in parks, along hiking trails, and in backyards.
- There are over 15 species of ticks in North America. The most common are the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick (also known as deer tick), the brown dog tick, and the lone star tick.
- Some ticks can cause serious illness (e.g., blacklegged ticks can transmit Lyme disease).
- Many tick species in North America have expanded their range in recent years due to factors like urbanization and climate change.
- Ticks can be found in every state in the U.S. and in many parts of Canada.
What you can do:
- Use an EPA-approved repellent and always follow label directions.
- Speak with your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets.
- Ask your veterinarian if the Lyme disease vaccine is available or recommended for your dog.
- Avoid areas where ticks live when possible and check yourself and your pets immediately after spending time outdoors.
- If you see signs of Lyme disease in your pet (fever, loss of appetite, pain, stiffness, lameness, fatigue, sudden collapse, or trance-like behavior) contact your veterinarian.
- When removing ticks, do not use “home remedies” like applying petroleum jelly or touching the tick with a match. These methods are ineffective and can actually increase the likelihood of pathogen transmission. Use a tick key for removal if possible. If not, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to you or your pet’s skin as possible and pull the tick straight out with gentle, steady pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick.
- Clean up areas of your yard that make good tick habitat. Rake leaves, keep grass short, and trim around trees and beneath hedges.
For more information please visit CDC Tick Index
