Ticks are parasites that feed on warmblooded hosts. They are related to mites and spiders because they have eight legs, also known as arthropods. With numerous ticks roaming the natural world, let’s focus on the Colorado tick season.

Aside from mosquitoes, ticks are the largest disease-causing species in humans. Two diseases contracted from these tiny creepy crawlers include Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of a black-legged tick, also called a deer tick. If the tick is removed within 48 hours of the first bite, contracting an infection can be avoided.

Should infection take hold of a human, the bacteria travels through the bloodstream and affects various tissues in the body. If left untreated, Lyme disease can turn into an inflammatory condition, affecting multiple systems, including skin, joints, the nervous system, and, inevitably, organs. It’s best to treat Lyme disease as soon as it’s detected.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial disease that spreads through the bite of an infected tick. The most common symptoms of RMSF include fever, headache, and rash. This disease is only treatable with antibiotics and can be deadly if not treated early.

In elevations higher than 4,000 feet, the Rocky Mountain wood tick bite triggers fever intervals that can come and go for days or weeks. Luckily, for most people, the illness is mild.

Ticks are generally the size of an apple seed, swelling up after feeding. Ticks live in wooded areas, shrubs, tall grasses, weeds, leaf litter, woodpiles, and bird feeders. Your pets can also be victims of a tick attack.

While your furry family member is playing outside, a tick can hitch a ride on them, not only biting your fur baby but dropping off as your pet passes through your yard or home.

The brown dog tick is a “one-host” tick that feeds on the blood of dogs. This tick is common inside Colorado homes and is often a problem in kennels. You can treat your dog using flea and tick powder, dip, or collar.

It’s also a good idea to treat places the dog frequents, such as bedding, outdoor dog houses, and playing areas. Regularly washing dog bedding is also advised to avoid attracting ticks or getting rid of them.

To protect your home from ticks, use an insecticide and spot-treat cracks along baseboards and walls where ticks may hide. Vacuum room corners where ticks and nymphs can crawl up, and be sure to dispose of vacuum bags or thoroughly rinse vacuum containers that are exposed to ticks.

Depending on the degree of infestation, it may take several weeks and multiple treatments of areas in the home to finally eliminate ticks from a home.

To reduce the chances of encountering these parasites, consider using insect repellents such as DEET or permethrin anytime you’re outdoors hiking, gardening, or walking your dog or cat.

Should you spot a tick on your pet or yourself, pull it out slowly and carefully using a pair of tweezers. The tick season in Colorado begins in March and peaks in May, but this doesn’t mean we’re in the clear for the rest of the season or the year.

To learn more about ticks in Colorado, visit https://www.uchealth.org/today/thetruth about-ticks/.