Ticks are very common in the wooded mountains. Let’s talk about some of the different species that are out there and the dangers that they can pose.
Ticks have life cycles that last 2 to 3 years. There are many things that factor into tick population including temperature, rainfall, humidity, and available hosts (deer, mice, and other animals.) Ticks start in an egg mass of approximately 6000 eggs. After hatching they are called seed ticks, they have 6 legs and will climb up a blade of grass and wait for an unsuspecting host to come along. After feeding the seed tick will drop off and shed its skin, resulting in a nymph that has 8 legs. The nymph will feed, drop off, and shed its skin reaching its final form as an adult tick.
There are two main species of ticks that are found in Georgia: Lone Star tick and American Dog tick. The Lone Star tick can be identified by a small white star on its back and does not cause any known diseases. The most common tick disease in Georgia is Rocky Mountain Spotted-Fever, which is primarily carried by the American dog tick. A spotted rash appears 2 to 4 days after the onset of fever. The Lone Star Tick is the most commonly found tick in Georgia. They are more active in warmer months. Black-legged tick can still be active in the winter, but they are not as common in Georgia. They are more often found in the Northeast of the U.S., and can carry Lyme disease.
Red meat allergy can be caused by the Lone Star Tick. There is not a lot of information on why this allergy occurs because it has come about in the last 10 years. Not everyone has an allergic reaction after receiving a bite. Research is ongoing to find out more about how red meat allergy is caused.
The best way to avoid ticks is to avoid areas where vegetation is over ankle height. If that’s not possible then make sure that you wear long pants and tuck your pants into your socks and shirt into your pants. You won’t look glamorous, but hopefully you’ll be tick free! Repellants that contains DEET are the most effective. Spraying DEET on your skin and clothes will help keep them away. Permethrin can be used on clothes to kill ticks and insects that crawl over your clothes. If you go out hiking or are working outside check yourself when you come back inside. The longer an infected tick feeds, the higher the likelihood of them transmitting to you. If a tick does bite remove the tick with forceps, grabbing it as near to the point of attachment as possible. Pull it firmly and steadily so that the mouthparts won’t be broken off in the skin. Disinfect the bite and wash your hands.
There are products that can be used on pets as a collar to keep ticks away. Some of them are expensive, but products like Seresto last up to 8 months.
Finally, if you have a question about a tick the Extension Office may be able to help with identifying which species it is. There’s no way to tell if a tick is carrying a disease, but knowing the species will help eliminate possible diseases. Email me at Jacob.Williams@uga.edu.