The COS Tick Primer
by Lauren Kostas
It is tough to be neutral about ticks. These tiny bloodsuckers like to hang out in woods, fields, and gardens, just waiting to find something or someone to feed on. More than a mere nuisance, some ticks carry diseases that can affect people, and transmission of tickborne illness has been on the rise in Illinois.
Unless you intend to limit your birding to a manicured backyard, a rushing stream, or a snowy mountainside, knowing something about these petite pests can help you plan your next outdoor excursion to reduce the chances of having a negative encounter with ticks.
The Big Three in Illinois
Ticks are arachnids, like scorpions and spiders, and have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Although at least 15 species of ticks occur in Illinois, only a few species are common, and fewer still pose a threat of tickborne illness. The big three in Illinois are the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick, and the lone star tick.
American Dog Tick or Wood Tick
This tick, also known as the wood tick, is among the most frequently encountered in Illinois. Most active in spring, this tick feeds on medium to large mammals (e.g., you) and can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever humans.
Blacklegged Tick or Deer Tick
Lone Star Tick
All three active stages (larva, nymph, and adult) of the blacklegged tick, or deer tick, will feed on people, and the species is active from spring through fall. The blacklegged tick has a confirmed population in Cook County and can transmit Lyme disease to humans. In addition to Illinois, the tick is common in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the northeast United States.
The lone star tick is primarily found in the southern half of Illinois. This pinhead sized feeder is most active from April through the end of July and is not known to transmit Lyme disease.
The Quest to Feed
Ticks prefer shady, densely wooded or shrubby areas and avoid dry, sunny, and open spots. Contrary to popular belief they can’t fly from the trees or jump from bushes. To find a host and feed, they sit on the tips of grass or shrubs at roughly knee height and “quest,” which means they extend their legs and wait for a potential meal ticket to pass by. When a person or animal brushes them, they let go of the grass, leaf, or branch and climb aboard.
If you are going into tick terrain, some basic precautions can help you avoid bites and possible illness:
Your first line of defense is your clothing. Long-sleeved shirts, pants tucked into socks, sturdy shoes, and a cap provide a barrier. It is easier to see and then remove ticks from light-colored clothing.
Bug spray is another layer of protection. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend treating clothing and gear with permethrin and using EPA approved repellents like those that contain DEET. Obviously, some repellants are indiscriminate insect killers, including insects that are food for birds. So do a little research on what you need for your circumstances and follow all directions.
Stick to the center of trails, avoiding dense shrubbery. Try not to disturb or sit in leaf litter on the forest floor.
A thorough tick check is a must if you have been in an area where ticks proliferate. Thorough is the operative word, and your check should include the bellybutton, hairlines, nether regions, armpits, inside the ear, behind the knees, and around the waist. In other words—everywhere.
What Do You Do if You Find a Tick?
If you find a tick, it is important to remove it quickly. Put away the petroleum jelly, step away from the nail polish, and blow out that lit match. If the tick is on your clothes or crawling on your skin, you can capture and dispose of it with some masking or clear tape. If it is lodged in your skin, get a clean pair of tweezers and grab it by its head to remove the whole thing. Soap, water, and disinfectant should prevent irritation and infection.
The CDC offers a Tick Bite Bot to walk you through all the steps to remove an attached tick and guidance on when to seek medical attention after a bite.
Watch for symptoms of tickborne illness if you have been bitten or exposed to ticks. The early symptoms of most tickborne diseases are similar: fever, headache, joint swelling, and muscle pain. The IDPH recommends contacting a physician if you have a rash or any unexplained illness accompanied by fever following a tick bite.
Staying Informed
Below are just a few of the myriad resources that can help you stay informed about coexisting with ticks:
The CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) offer national and regional information about the distribution of ticks, the transmission of tickborne diseases, identification tools and tips to avoid being bitten.
The IDPH site provide detailed information on the ticks you might encounter in the state, including an identification guide and a flyer with large photos of the various species.
IDPH and the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Laboratory have partnered to conduct active tick surveillance across the State. The results are available on the interactive Tick Surveillance Map, which shows the Illinois counties where different tick species and tickborne pathogens are present.
Tick Encounter from the University of Rhode Island is a comprehensive site on ticks and managing the spread of tickborne illness.
For an interesting take on the possible link between invasive plants and tick proliferation, check out Kate Baggaley’s 2018 article in Popular Science.