Hobbies And Interests

Idaho Tick Types

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of a host animal or person. They can either have a hard or soft exterior. Ticks are known for spreading diseases, some of which can be fatal, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever which was first discovered in Idaho. To guard yourself against ticks, wear light-colored clothing--long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants--when going into wooded areas. You can apply a repellent with DEET to exposed skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control, but you must reapply it every couple of hours.
  1. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick

    • The Rocky Mountain wood tick, which is native to Idaho, feeds mostly on larger mammals and humans. This type of tick is the most common source of tick paralysis and has been reported in most Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast states as well as Idaho. Symptoms, which appear about five to eight days after exposure, begin in the hands and feet. They progress to loss of coordination, paralysis of the face and irregular breathing. Paralysis of the heart leads to death.

      The symptoms caused by the tick feeding can be reversed when the tick is removed from the body, writes Roger Drummond in "Ticks and What You Can Do About Them."

    Western Black-legged Tick

    • The Western black-legged tick, also found in Idaho, has a tear-drop shape and is known to transmit Lyme disease. Young Western black-legged ticks are active in the late winter to summer while adult ticks are most active from November through May. The female lays up 2,000 to 3,000 eggs at a time, according to Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner, author of "Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Disorders."

    American Dog Tick

    • The American dog tick, which can be found in Idaho as well as California, Washington and most Eastern states, lives in fields, grassy areas and wooded areas. Although the American dog tick doesn't generally live inside, it may nest close to homes or sheds in rural areas. This tick has been known to cause tick paralysis, though it is not as common as with the Rocky Mountain wood tick. It also spreads Rocky Mountain spotted fever.


https://www.htfbw.com © Hobbies And Interests