Debbie was the only person I’ve ever known who would say that. I
haven’t heard it since she moved to Texas. Too bad the ticks
didn’t move to Texas.

Sid, my little cocker spaniel, and I often take walks in the
woods down by the lake. Not only does Sid pick up ticks along
the
way, but I get them, too. I don’t notice the ticks until I stop
walking or sit down somewhere. I normally wear khaki pants, and
if I look, I can usually see the ticks crawling up my pants
leg.

But I don’t have to be in the woods to get ticks on me. I can
get
them from walking in my backyard. And I’ve heard other people
say
the same thing (not about my yard — their yards).

One of Three Species

If you find a tick on you in Georgia it will be one of three
species.

If it has a single white spot in the middle of its back and long
mouth parts, it’s a female lone star tick. Deer are troubled by
the lone star tick, too.

The American dog tick has shorter mouth parts and diffuse white
markings on its back. This is the tick I usually find on Sid.
They also feed on a variety of large animals, including
people.

The black-legged tick is smaller than the other two ticks and
has
no white markings. This tick is common on just about everything
that has warm blood.

‘Seed Ticks’

The “seed ticks” you may have heard of are immature ticks that
recently hatched. They’re concentrated in huge numbers in a
small
area. They’re tiny, and if you happen to sit down or even stand
still in the wrong place, you can be covered with them.

The bites of ticks aren’t normally painful, but they can itch
for
days. Be careful when you pull a tick off you — its
mouthparts and head may pull loose and remain attached in your
skin. This can lead to infection and occasionally blood
poisoning.

The sooner ticks are removed, the smaller the chance of getting
a
disease.

Ticks Cause Diseases

If you develop a skin rash or fever within a few days to several
weeks after a tick bite, see your physician and tell him you
were
bitten. Ticks can cause diseases. A blood test can confirm if
you’ve been exposed to Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme
disease.

The best prevention is personal protection. Wooded trails, high
grass and brush areas are prime tick country. You can protect
yourself in a number of ways:

• Tuck your pants legs into your socks. I know it’s kind of
  goofy looking, but it helps. You can also use duct tape to tape
  your pants legs to your boots. That way, the ticks have to crawl
  up the outside of your pants where you can see them. And tuck
  your shirt in your pants.
• Check yourself at least twice a day for ticks. The inside of
  your pants legs are good places to find them — along with just
  about everywhere else.
• Use a repellent containing deet that can be rubbed on the
  skin. Permanone can be sprayed on your clothing for more
  protection. It not only repels ticks but kills them, too.
• Keep ticks off your dog. He can serve as a reservoir for
  both
  diseases.

Take these precautions if you are in the woods, or even in your
backyard.