After the long winter months of hiding out underground, ticks have emerged from their dwellings this spring, hungrier than ever! Typically living in wooded areas, brushy fields or areas of tall grass, ticks can carry infections and diseases, transferring them from host to host as they feed on their blood. According to Lifespan.org, “of the 820 different tick species found throughout the world, only a select few bite and transmit disease to humans,” but “ticks should be treated with caution because some ticks carry pathogens that can cause human disease.”

 

To help you protect yourself, your family and your pets throughout the spring and summer seasons, we’ve compiled a list of the most common tick species found in the New England area:

The American Dog Tick is one of the most commonly encountered of the tick species and is held responsible for transmitting Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. This bacteria can cause humans to develop Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. As its name suggests, this tick usually chooses dogs and medium-sized mammals as its host of choice, but would not pass up an opportunity to feed on larger mammals, such as humans.

The Blacklegged or Deer Tick has the ability to carry and transmit microorganisms that are responsible for anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and lyme disease. This tick feeds on a multitude of hosts, including humans and their four-legged friends.

Like the American Dog Tick, the Brown Dog Tick is also linked with causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Very similar to it’s counterpart, this tick feeds primarily on dogs, but may also choose to bite humans and various other mammals.

The Lone Star Tick is one of the more dangerous species, transmitting several types of bacteria which are known to cause human ehrlichiosis, tularemia and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). Found mostly in dense, wooded areas, birds and deer are this tick’s primary choice of prey. However, they are also very aggressive human biters.

If you live in the New England area and are worried about ticks as the weather warms up, just give us a call at 888-649-9919. Pest Control Unlimited offers an organic tick control program, designed to minimize your family’s exposure to ticks and the harmful diseases they carry. To learn more about our tick prevention program, click here.