Ticks Carry Dangerous Diseases In Ohio: How To Avoid The Insect

OHIO — With summer in full swing, more Ohioans are wading into the woods and enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately, anyone going outdoors in the Buckeye State faces the threat of ticks.

There are three dangerous species of ticks in Ohio: the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick, and the lone star tick. Each species can carry diseases and transmit them to people and pets.

The American dog tick is the most common tick in Ohio and is usually found in grassy areas. The tick is most active in the summer and commonly transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

“Ticks have the ability to transmit diseases to humans in 36 to 48 hours after the initial bite,” said Ohio Wildlife Council President and retired veterinarian Paul Mechling. “Urban and suburban development as well as outdoor recreation allows the spread of these diseases as people come in close contacts with mice, white-tailed deer, and other hosts for ticks. Pets in an outdoor setting should have tick control.”

How to Prevent Tick Bites

These are tips for preventing tick bites from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

• Wear long clothes that cover most of your skin, whenever possible.
• Cover your outer clothing with permethrin-based repellent. Follow label directions when applying.
• Tuck your pants into your socks or boots, and tuck your pants into your shirts.
• Wear light-colored clothing because it makes spotting ticks easier.
• Check your clothing thoroughly for attached ticks. Check your pets and their gear too.

“Ohioans are at greatest risk for contracting tick-borne disease from June through August, but Lyme disease is possible year-round,” says Dr. Glen Needham, Associate Professor Emeritus of Entomology at The Ohio State University. “Wear proper clothing and use repellent to help prevent tick attachment.”

Dealing with a Tick Bite

If you spot a tick on your skin, you need to remove it as quickly as possible. Getting rid of the tick quickly can reduce your risk of contracting a tick-borne disease.

Here's how to pull the tick out, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said:

• Use tweezers or gloved hands to remove the tick.
• Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible.
• Pull the tick out using steady, even pressure.

Despite the common myths, Ohioans should not use petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, alcohol, cigarettes, matches or other dangerous methods to try to kill or remove the ticks.