I don’t know how things are in the rest of the country, but up in the Northeast if you want to go outside and be near trees, you have to worry about ticks.

There are a couple of different types of tick that you need to be aware of. First, the American Dog Tick.

The female is dark reddish brown with a crescent shaped, light colored plate near the front of the body. The male is completely covered by a plate that is mottled in appearance (see the images below).

The American Dog Tick is commonly found on medium height grasses and shrubs on the leeward side of sand dunes, brushy or overgrown fields and open areas in or adjacent to woodland groves. This tick carries Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

AMERICAN DOG TICK [female]

AMERICAN DOG TICK [male]

The Black Legged Tick is also known as the Deer Tick. This is the one that’s been making the most news over the last several years. The Deer Tick is common in areas containing woodlands inhabited by deer but can be found in other areas as well. The Deer Tick is known to carry Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Tularomia.

The female has a reddish body with dark brown legs, a dorsal plate and mouth parts. The male is primarily dark brown in color (and is smaller than the female). The image below is the female Black Legged Tick.

BLACK LEGGED TICK [female]

Keep in mind that not all ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting the diseases they are known for. They can carry additional microorganisms that can cause serious illness and even death in humans, so being carefull and doing a thorough search of your body is critical. Ticks climb (usually from 6 inches to 2 feet) on vegetation and wait near the end of a twig or blade of grass. When a person or animal brushes against the plant, the tick transfers from the plant to the person or animal.

Here are some precautions:

  • Apply insect repellent, particularly to clothing from the waist down
  • Stick to the center of trails where possible to avoid brushing against plants
  • Light colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks.
  • Tuck your pants into your boots or socks and your shirt into your pants. You’ll look like a dork but they won’t bite you where you can’t see them (at least in public).
  • Check clothing constantly while working or walking in areas inhabited by ticks. Check exposed body areas and clothing again after you leave the area and make sure you check your unexposed areas before retiring at night.
  • Ticks usually crawl on clothing in an upward direction until they find a site on the skin for attachment. Common places for ticks to attach are the back of the neck, the scalp, behind the knees, arm pits and in the groin area.
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