Most people love it when the weather cools because mosquitos go back from whence they came; but never mind, Mother Nature has the perfect pest for autumn in the South: the tick.
According to the UGA Extension Office, there are several species of ticks in Georgia, with the Lone Star, American and blacklegged ticks being the most common.
While ticks are active throughout the year, the period of August through November are when most bites occur and they can happen after a walk through a field, a forest or just while someone is weeding out a flower bed.
Contrary to popular belief, ticks cannot jump like fleas, the parasites actually move very slowly, hiding out in tall grass or leaf litter waiting for a mammalian animal or human to walk by. Ticks cling to either fur on animals or clothing.
David Quibedeaux, park ranger with the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, says that it is important to check yourself, children and pets thoroughly after being in a wooded area or maintaining the lawn.
“Ticks are everywhere where animals and humans are present. Especially any area with deer or wild hogs, but they are also in the typical backyard,” Quibedeaux said.
Deer are on the move in Autumn and the ticks go wherever they go.
Once a tick latches onto a victim, they look for a warm spot, commonly in the crotch area or along a belt line. Quibedeaux says that many times, a person may not even know they have been bitten.
“They are tiny and if they bite you, then you might notice redness on your skin and not even realize it is a tick bite,” Quibedeaux said.
Ticks carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the latter of which can be fatal, if left untreated.
According to Nancy Hinkle, an entomologist with the UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, despite being a nuisance to humans, ticks actually have an environmental role that is important in the ecosystem.
“Ticks are food for some birds and also opossums, but they also help with controlling herd populations. When deer or wild hog populations surge, ticks introduce a disease that helps cull the herd,” Hinkle said.
Campbell Vaughn, UGA County Extension agent, says Georgia is experiencing an invasion of the Asian longhorn tick.
“There was a report issued a couple of months ago that identified the invasive species and I know they are causing problems for cattle farmers,” Vaughn said.
Both Hinckle and Vaughn agree that home remedies to keep ticks away do not work and people should use insect repellent that contains DEET.
“People come up with all kinds of crazy concoctions using vinegar and even gasoline and none of them work. There is a product where the active ingredient is Permethrin and it kills ticks on contact, but the stuff is powerful and should never be used directly on skin,” Hinckle said.
According to Quibedeaux, the best way to remove a tick is to “harass” it gently with the eraser of a No.2 pencil to make it let go. However, if a person tries to remove the parasite with tweezers, extra care should be taken to remove the head.
If a person who has been bitten begins experiencing flu-like symptoms, they should seek medical care immediately.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
