Hunters should keep eyes out for ticks

The black-legged tick, or deer tick, is responsible for the spread of Lyme disease in the United States.
The black-legged tick, or deer tick, is responsible for the spread of Lyme disease in the United States.

Common Arkansas ticks should not be impacted by the weather more so than usual this season.

Kelly Loftin, professor of entomology at the University of Arkansas, said ticks have methods to survive even theharshest winters.

He did say, though, that hunters should be wary of adult black-legged ticks, or deer-ticks, which is often associated with Lyme disease.

“It’s common to find them on deer harvested,” Loftin said.

The black-legged tick can also be seen on livestock, cattle and horses, and will bite humans.

Loftin said if a person finds a tick on them to remove it with a pair of tweezers and by pulling with steady pressure.

Loftin also said many of the ticks commonly found in Arkansas, including the black-legged tick, are three-host ticks, meaning the tick will feed from three separate hosts during its lifetime. Loftin said this means the ticks are able to pick up different pathogens that could lead to different diseases.

Loftin said this is particularly common with the Lone Star tick, which is also a three-host tick, although the species is overwintering and becomes more active as early as February.

“They’re basically just hunkering down until winter’s over,” Loftin said.

However, Loftin said people may see the Lone Star tick since its population is closely associated with that of the white-tailed deer, which are becoming increasingly comfortable with urban and suburban settings.

Loftin said the concern with Lone Star ticks is that they’re closely associated with Alpha-Gal, which is an allergic reaction to red meat. Symptoms include hives, itching and even anaphylaxis, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Loftin said a good way to personally avoid ticks is by using both skin and clothing tick repellent. As a community, though, it’s important to maintain yards and remove any sort of clutter, like rock or wood piles.

He also said ticks can spread pathogens to domestic animals, like dogs and cats, so it’s important to have them on a routine tick treatment. Not only will this keep the animals healthy, but it will help prevent ticks from coming into someone’s home.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health, tickborne disease known to occur in state include: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, Anaplasmosis, Lyme Disease, Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness and Alpha-Gal.

Other tick species found in Arkansas include the American Dog, Brown Dog and Gulf Coast.

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