In the United States there are over 5 different diseases that can be transmitted from a tick bite, including: Aplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Associated Rash Illness, and Monocytic Ehrlichoisis. Of all the diseases that can be transmitted from ticks to humans, Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are the most damaging. Lyme Disease Symptoms Borrelia burgdorferi infection is usually first noticed when someone sees a ring-shaped rash around the point of infection where the tick was. After the initial infection, a fever, chills, muscle pain and joint pain may accompany the rash. Lyme Disease is treated with antibiotics.

 

To read more about Lyme Disease, Deer Ticks, see Deer Tick pictures go to this deer tick page http://www.deer-departed.com/deer-ticks.html

 

 

Ticks are divided into two groups: hard and soft. Hard ticks have a shield on their backs and are tapered at the head end; they are the most easily recognized by people. Soft ticks lack the shield-like plate, have a blunt head end and look like pieces of bark or debris. Both groups are important vectors of disease.

 

Tuck your pants into your socks when outside in grassy areas. Also wear long sleeve shirts when you are in tick prone areas.

 

Ticks prefer to bite your head or neck or shoulders. Light clothing will help you see any ticks crawling up your pants or shirt sleeves.

 

Remove fallen leaves. The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) reported in their winter of 1996 Journal of Pesticide Reform that nymphal ticks are reduced from 72.7 to 100 percent when dead leaves are removed from forest areas surrounding residential areas.

 

Mowing your lawn will help get rid of ticks. Keeping a lawn trimmed, removing weeds, brush, and tall grasses will help keep tick populations lower. Ticks require tall grasses to climb on top of to wait for an unsuspecting animal (like yourself) to walk by so that they can attach themselves.

 

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a mechanical all-natural tick killer made from tiny fossilized water plants. Insects cannot become immune to its action. When ticks come into contact with diatomaceous earth, the sharp edges lacerate the ticks' exoskeleton and then the powdery DE absorbs their body fluids causing death from dehydration. Diatomaceous earth is so safe it may be rubbed right into your dog or cat's fur. Also kills ants, fleas, aphids, silverfish, cockroaches, bed bugs, carpet beetles, slugs, snails, tomato hornworm, house flies, fruit flies, red spider mites, and earwigs.

 

2 tablespoons vegetable or nut oil (almond oil contains sulfur, a repellent in its own right) 10 to 25 drops Rose Geranium essential oil Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; shake to blend. Make: 2 tablespoons with a shelf life of about six months. Dab a few drops on your skin or clothing, making sure to avoid eyes.

 

Rose Geranium is an oil that is a natural tick repellent. People use it as a substitute for a tick bath for dogs, but warn that you should not use this oil with cats. Put some drops on your dog's collar for more control.

 

Palmerosa is another oil like Rose Geranium that can be applied to your dog's collar to help prevent tick infestations. If combined with a moisturizing lotion like cocoa butter or aloe, it can be applied to your human skin also.

 

American Pennyroyal (also called tickweed) is another essential oil that can be used to repel ticks on collars or in baths. This spray is good to use on pet bedding to repel ticks: 2 teaspoons essential oil of rose geranium or palmerosa

 

 

Keep your dog out of the woods and tall grass. Dogs and cats have consistently been shown to be the primary carriers of ticks into homes. If you have a dog that is allowed outdoors,check for ticks each time the dog returns indoors.

 

Treat dogs with a natural flea and tick repellent ( products below) and make sure they have a natural tick and flea collar and are bathed in a natural tick and flea bath.

 

 

Use a combination of citric acid, citronella leaf, lemongrass, and peppermint oil and mix into a mash, then boil in as little water as possible. Put into spray bottle. This can be purchased ready-made as Kathy Santo Organic Flea Repellent (below). To purchase the herbs and lemongrass cheaply, check http://plants.dd-stores.com/Plants-Seeds-Bulbs/Herbs

 

 

 

Don't burn or turn the tick, don't cover it in salt, don't crush it against your skin, and don't twist when you pull it out: these are all the wrong way to remove a tick. Simply pull the tick slowly away from the skin, then apply an antiseptic once the tick is removed. Borrelia burgdorferi can cause a serious case of arthritis to develop, and may even damage your nervous system.