by Aimee Keenan-Greene

Spring means tick season is in full swing.

The University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center says right now adult deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) aka. black-legged ticks are currently active in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic south to Virginia & upper mid-West.
These ticks are dangerous because half carry a disease-causing pathogen like Lyme disease bacteria or the protozoan parasite of Babesiosis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic round 'bullseye' skin rash called erythema migrans.

If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics, says the CDC.

Adult dog ticks are just starting to become active.

The Rhode Island Department of Health says it takes just a day or 2 for ticks to transmit bacteria so it is important to remove ticks from your skin as soon as you discover them.

To remove a tick: 

  • Using a pair of pointed (fine-tipped) tweezers, grasp the mouthparts of the tick as close to the skin as possible.
  • Pull the tick straight out with a firm and steady force.
  • Wash the area of the bite thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Place the tick in a jar of alcohol.  Your physician may recommend that you have the tick identified or tested for disease.
  • Watch the bite for signs of a rash.
  • Do not attempt to remove the tick by touching it with a burnt match or swabbing it with alcohol or petroleum jelly. 
  • Do not squeeze the tick’s body
  • Do not handle the tick with bare hands     

What kind of tick is it? Click here to identify.

The CDC has steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, landscaping, and integrated pest management. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tick-borne diseases as well.
Click here to learn how to make your Protection Action Plan
Additional Resources:

Video: Learn how deer ticks become infected 

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