Glad you’re here to get educated about the dangers of ticks and tick bites! It’s very important that you are proactive in keeping yourself, your family, and your pets safe.
Ticks Common To Davenport
The Illinois Department of Health claims that, although at least 15 species of ticks occur in Illinois, only five of these ticks are likely to be encountered by people.
Blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick) - This tick has a reddish-orange body, and black shield. This tick will search for a host anytime temperatures are above freezing. They are known to spread Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
Lone Star tick - This tick is reddish-brown, and the female is distinguished by a white dot (or lone star) on her shield. The greatest risk of being bitten is early spring, to late fall. They are known to spread ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, and STARI.
American dog tick - This tick has a dark brown body. The females have a whitish color on their shields. The highest risk of being bitten is by the female in the spring or summer months. They are known to spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia.
Brown dog tick (also known as the kennel tick) -This tick has a reddish-brown body and shield. It will attach itself between the toes of a dog, and drop off after it has fed. This tick is not a carrier of human disease.
Winter tick - It attaches to the host as a larva, and remains attached throughout its life. It is rarely encountered by campers or hikers. The winter tick may carry diseases of large wild mammals, it is not known to transmit disease to humans.
What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Tick
Whenever you return from an outing in an area that has tall grass or is wooded, it’s best to check yourself for tick hitchhikers before entering the house. People who are unaccustomed to tick ‘protocols’, usually do not find the tick until it is well attached. If you find yourself in this situation, follow these steps for removal:
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull upward slowly. Don’t twist the tick; this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers.
After removing the tick, clean the area with rubbing alcohol, or soap and water.
Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.
It may be wise to retain the tick in a sealed plastic bag in the event you become ill. This will help the doctors with diagnosis.
Please do not attempt to use any old-fashioned remedies, such as painting with nail polish, heat, or petroleum jelly as they may cause complications.
Signs of Complications From Tick Bite
Be watching for a target-shaped rash to appear around the bite area. This is one of many rashes that can occur after a tick bite. Also be aware of fever, chills, and any unusual aches or pains. Some of these symptoms can be treated at home, but others such as a target rash need to be seen immediately by a doctor.
Best Way To Control Tick Population On Your Property
Some natural repellants help keep the ticks at bay: lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, rose geranium, cedar oil, and apple cider vinegar. You can also get chickens to gobble up all the ticks they can find, but these practices are limited. The best way to control the tick population around your Davenport property is with professional assistance. The folks at Quik-kill Pest Eliminators have been in business since 1929. We have the experience needed to put an end to your tick infestation. Call for a free estimate of our tick control services today.