Ticks are bugs that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Dog ticks and deer ticks are found throughout Massachusetts and may
spread different disease causing germs, such as Lyme disease, Babesiosis and
Tularemia, when they bite you. Ticks do not fly or jump, they attach to animals or people that come in contact with them. With this in mind, when out
walking, stick to main pathways and the center of trails.
Ticks like damp, shady, brushy, leafy areas where they can wait for their new host to walk by. To help reduce the number of ticks in your
yard it is recommended to keep grass short and prune low lying bushes to let in
more sunlight.
Adult dog ticks are about the size of a watermelon seed while deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed or a bit smaller if still developing.
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The single most important thing you can do, especially in the spring and fall, is to check yourself and your pet for ticks routinely. Favorite places ticks like to go on your body include areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, along the hairline and behind the ears. Whether on your pet or on you, ticks should be removed as soon as possible. In most
cases, for the Lyme disease bacteria to be transmitted, the tick must be
attached for at least 36 hours.
A tick should be carefully removed using fine point tweezers to grip the mouthparts of the tick as close to the skin as possible. The tick should
be pulled straight outward with steady, gentle pressure. Do not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match tip to remove a tick.
These measures are not effective.
Notify your doctor if you have been bitten by a deer tick or if you develop a rash or other signs of illness following a tick bite. Talk to your veterinarian about
the best ways to protect your pets from ticks.
