As the warm weather approaches and activities such as hiking become more inviting, many people will flock to wooded areas to enjoy the best Mother Nature has to offer. Research shows that being in nature is a great way to combat stress and improve overall levels of health – however, there are some risks associated with being in the great outdoors. One particular risk is getting bit by a tick.
A tick bite is no ordinary bug bite. This is because of the diseases ticks can carry. One such disease is Lyme disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to chronic health issues. Diseased ticks can also carry other types of infections such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Bourbon virus, Colorado tick fever, Heartland virus, Rocky mountain spotted fever, and Tularemia.
Ticks are small arachnids that thrive in wooded areas, grasslands, and forests. Their survival relies on their ability to find a host and feed on its blood. There are many different species of ticks that can be found in North America. Some exclusively feed on wild animals, but there are some that will latch onto a human to get their meal. Those types of ticks are the ones you’ll need to watch out for while you’re out enjoying the fresh air. But how can you spot a tick? And how do you know which ones pose the most danger? Read on for our beginner’s guide to how to identify different types of ticks.
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