You've probably heard by now on the news that ticks in Kentucky are supposed to be pretty darn bad this year...along with mosquitos, termites, and pretty much every other kind of bug. We can thank Mother Nature for that.
What do the ticks in Kentucky look like? What can you do to protect yourself, your family, and furry loved ones from them and the diseases they can cause?
These are different sizes of an American Dog Tick:
This is a Brown Dog Tick:
This is a Black Legged Deer Tick:
These are different sizes and stages of a Deer Tick:
And this is the unmistakable Lone Star Tick:
This image of three lone star ticks on a quarter shows you how small they can be:
So now that you know what to look for, let's talk about what you can do to reduce your risk of these creatures and the diseases they can carry.
- Use tick repellent when outdoors and wear long sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light in color, so ticks are easier to detect.
- Use preventative medicine on pets, as prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Once indoors, inspect clothing and your entire body. Check family members and pets that have been outdoors.
- Keep grass cut low, including around fences, sheds, trees, shrubs and swing sets. Remove weeds, woodpiles and other debris from the yard.
- If a tick is found attached, remove it with a slow, steady pull so as not to break off the mouthparts and leave them in the skin. Then, wash hands and bite site thoroughly with soap and water. Ticks should be flushed down a toilet or wrapped in tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle.
- If you suspect a tick bite, seek medical attention.
If you're not familiar with all of the diseases that ticks can carry (there are quite a few more than just the commonly known lyme disease) you can read up on them here.