If you’ve spent much time camping, backpacking, hiking, or participating in any other activity that involves time spent outdoors, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about ticks and some of the problems they present. Information about ticks, how to deal with them, their behavior, and what they do abound. The problem is that not everything you hear is necessarily true. Let’s take a closer look at some of the common myths surrounding ticks.
Burning or Suffocating a Tick Is a Good Removal Method
Some people will tell you that using a heat source on a tick or trying to suffocate it using Vaseline or liquid soap is an effective way to get the tick to back out of you on its own. That is not a good way to get rid of a tick. In fact, it can actually increase the chances of it infecting you with a disease. Instead, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and slowly pull it straight out. Then wash the area with soap and water.
Ticks Fall on You from Trees
Most of the time ticks don’t just fall out of trees onto people. They actually tend to be on the ground or close to it far more frequently and will climb up onto their chosen host before biting. Most ticks will exhibit a questing behavior, which means they stick out their front legs until they’re able to grab onto something.
You’ll Get Lyme Disease If You’re Bitten
Lyme disease may be the most commonly known illness spread by ticks, but getting bitten doesn’t automatically mean you’re infected. In fact, deer ticks and western black-legged ticks are the only types that can actually spread Lyme disease to humans. It’s also important to note that some people get Lyme disease without the trademark bullseye in the bitten area. On top of that, Lyme disease isn’t the only disease ticks can spread. Other tick-borne diseases can be contracted, depending on the area where you live.
Dealing with ticks doesn’t have to be tricky, but it sure works a lot better if you have the right information to go off of. There are some myths out there that can mislead you if you don’t have the right information. Remember, the more you know, the better you’ll be able to protect yourself when you’re out and about enjoying all the wonders that the great outdoors has to offer.
Ticks are just one of the pests we can handle for you in Pasco. Check out the other pests we can tackle for you with our Pasco Pest Control Services.