Canyon Country Animals
Arthropods: Ticks
Scientific Name: N/A
These tiny insects, about two to three millimeters in length, are found in thick vegetation. Ticks can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and other illness. Care should be taken in removing ticks.
These small, flat insects aren't found often in dry desert areas, but, if you do see them, do a careful, thorough, full-body search every day. Watch for these small passengers along your waistline and ankles, and in the hair on your head. It is important to remove embedded ticks before they have a chance to transmit disease, which may take a day or more.
To lessen your risk of being bitten by ticks, which can carry disease, stay on trails and avoid going into grassy, brushy areas. After hiking, do a tick check to ensure that no ticks have attached themselves to your body.
Photos
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Notes
- The main image on this page was borrowed of of an Internet site.
- We have encountered ticks at several places throughout the west. They are especially prevalent in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Nebraska.
Removing Embedded Ticks
If a tick becomes embedded in your skin, do not pull it out using your fingers or tweezers. There is the risk that the head will remain embedded, which then may cause an infection. There are several safe methods, including the following approach, which seems safe and simple.
Apply several drops of liquid soap, of any type, to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap covered ball and swab it for 15 to 20 seconds. The tick will back out on its own and become entangled within the fibers of the cotton. You can then lift it away and dispose of it.
Tick Related Diseases
Related Sites
Remember to bookmark this site before you venture off down these side trails. They lead to other Web sites that we do not control. We cannot vouch for the content on, nor do we endorse, these sites. The following links are intended to assist you in your quest for further related information. If you discover a broken link, or a link with inappropriate content, or know of a link that should be listed here, please let us know.
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