Hiking and landscaping are an essential part of summer and the great outdoors. However, in recent years, a massive outbreak of Lyme Disease and other tick-related illnesses has greatly soured our ability to go outside.
While ticks are mostly found in forests, they can easily reach lawns and shrubs. According to the CDC, approximately 89,000 cases of Lyme Disease were reported in 2023, and the number continues to grow.
Even the Lone Star Tick, primarily found in the southeast, has grown in numbers and has been spotted as far north as Maryland and Canada.
While discovering a tick bite may not seem like a big deal, these pests can be hazardous due to the number of diseases they carry and spread. Unfortunately, beyond keeping your limbs covered, there is no sure way to prevent ticks other than applying a tick and mosquito barrier from a professional exterminator.
Before heading outside this season, brush up on some essential tick-related information to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer.
Diseases that Ticks Spread
Just about everyone has had some exposure to ticks in the past, whether you or your pet has been bitten.
Unfortunately, the rate of infectious diseases spread by ticks has multiplied in recent years, making them an extremely dangerous parasite. For example, ticks in Maryland have been known to spread:
- Lyme Disease – Spread by the black-legged (deer) tick; Maryland has a high number of annual cases. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, joint pain, and the telltale bullseye rash.
- Anaplasmosis – Also carried by the black-legged tick. Causes fever, headache, and muscle aches. Often seen in tandem with Lyme disease.
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – Transmitted by the American dog tick. Can cause rash, high fever, and vomiting. Requires prompt treatment.
- Alpha-Gal Syndrome – A red meat allergy linked to bites from the lone star tick, which is expanding its range into southern Maryland.
- Babesiosis – A parasite infection spread by deer ticks. Can cause flu-like symptoms and complications in people with weakened immune systems.
Common Types of Ticks in Maryland
Not all ticks are the same, which is why it’s often important to test ticks that bite you or a pet. As far as scientists are aware, there are six major species of ticks that can be found in Maryland, including:
- American dog tick– Commonly found on both dogs and humans. Can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis.
- Blacklegged tick (deer tick)– This type of tick is the primary carrier of Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks are often found in forests and use white-tailed deer as their reproductive host.
- Brown dog tick– These ticks are most commonly found on dogs and often end up inside people’s homes after hitching a ride on a family pet. This tick can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, canine ehrlichiosis, and canine babesiosis.
- Lone star tick– The lone star tick is mostly found in woodlands with a lot of undergrowth, and near animal resting areas. This tick can spread human ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Southern tick-associated rash illness, and meat allergy.
- Gulf Coast tick- The Gulf Coast tick is not commonly found in Maryland and mainly dwells in prairies and coastal uplands. This type of tick can spread Rickettsia parkeri spotted fever.
- Asian longhorned tick– The Asian longhorned tick is native to East Asia but was discovered in Maryland in 2018. This type of tick typically feeds off of wildlife and livestock, but can also feed off of pets and humans.
Where Are Ticks Commonly Found?
Understanding where ticks typically live is key to avoiding them altogether.
Ticks can be found in a variety of places, but most ticks in Maryland can be found in wooded areas or places with tall grass. They also like to dwell near water and animal resting places, as they commonly feed off of animals and humans if given the chance.
Ticks can also be found in residential backyards, especially if the grass isn’t cut or there is a lot of foliage where they can hide.
Tips to Prevent Ticks in Your Yard
Unfortunately, ticks can easily make their way to your yard or lawn by hitching a ride on another animal, such as a deer or squirrel.
Thankfully, preventing ticks in your yard doesn’t have to be difficult! There are several preventative measures you can take to keep these pests away, including:
- Keeping your grass cut short and foliage neatly trimmed
- Removing fallen leaves from the ground
- Creating a barrier of at least three feet between your lawn and a wooded area using wood chips or gravel
- Use tick-repellent plants in your garden, such as lavender and rosemary
- Install a fence to keep tick-carrying wildlife out of your yard
These tips will seriously limit your exposure to ticks, but the only foolproof way to get rid of ticks for good is to hire professional tick control. A local exterminator can apply a barrier spray that is guaranteed to kill ticks on contact and repel any future ones.
Tips to Prevent Ticks in the Woods
If you’re planning on spending some time in the woods this year, here are a few helpful tips to prevent getting bitten by a tick:
- Minimize exposed skin–wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck your pant legs into your socks
- Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to see
- Treat your clothing with Permethrin
- Try to stay on designated trails and avoid walking in tall grass or leaf litter
- Carefully inspect your body for ticks when you get home
What to Do if You’re Bit By a Tick
If a tick has bitten you, it is imperative to act fast. First, carefully remove the tick from your body using tweezers and grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Once the tick is removed, save it in a plastic bag to send in for testing. You will also want to clean the bite with soap and water, and you can even apply an antiseptic if you’d like. Be sure to carefully monitor the bite area in case a rash develops, and contact your doctor immediately if any other unusual symptoms arise.
FAQs
Are tick bites always dangerous?
No, not every tick bite is dangerous. However, it is important to always be cautious when it comes to tick bites, as some ticks can carry Lyme disease. Because of this, it is important to monitor any symptoms that may arise if you have been bitten by a tick, and call your doctor if you notice anything concerning.
When is tick season in Maryland?
Tick season in Maryland typically runs from spring through fall and usually peaks between May and September.
Should I hire a professional for tick control?
Hiring a pest control professional is smart when it comes to dealing with an infestation of any kind, including ticks. This is because ticks often carry diseases such as Lyme disease that can be harmful to humans if bitten.