The types of ticks in Oklahoma City include the American dog and lone star ticks. In Oklahoma City, you may not think about ticks very often, but they are around, living in the tall grass, just waiting to hitch a ride on their next host. Tick bites in Oklahoma City always increase during the tick season. Their season starts in early March and lasts through November, but they've been appearing earlier and staying later than ever during the last decade. If you need pest control in Oklahoma City, contact Brandley Pest Control today.
What Does A Tick Bite Look Like?
Ticks are capable of transmitting diseases through their bites, but some tick bites cause only mild symptoms and can be asymptomatic. Ticks usually bite only once, unlike other insects like mosquitoes or fleas. Once attached to a host, ticks can remain on the skin for up to 10 days. The longer the tick remains, the more the risk of transmitting a disease increases.
Some ticks in Oklahoma City cause a red bump that appears similar to a mosquito bite. Some ticks carry Lyme disease, and the disease presents as an unmistakable bite mark resulting in a bulls-eye-shaped rash that occurs between three to 30 days after you've been bitten. However, not all ticks carry Lyme disease, and some people develop allergic reactions to tick bites.
Three Ways To Identify A Tick Bite
Tick bites can be tricky. If you don't have any allergic reactions or symptoms of illness, they often resemble a mosquito bite. But there are a few ways to narrow down what's bitten you recently:
- It may be a tick bite if you've been near or walked through tall grass during the day recently and experienced an itchy bite.
- If you have a bullseye rash, it may be a tick bite.
- You may see a tick attached to you. Check behind your knees, armpits, and any other bends in your body for ticks after possible exposure.
Ticks don't jump, but they do climb. They can be found and picked up most often in tall grassy areas, and they like to hide in the bends and creases of their host's body. Ticks can carry diseases to humans and animals, and most are treatable with early medical intervention.
Do All Ticks Carry Diseases?
Not all ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis, caused by bacteria spread by diseased hosts from one to another. These two diseases are the most common in our area, but Rocky Mountain spotted fever has also cropped up locally in the past. The larger number of ticks in the same spot will increase the likelihood they may harbor disease and could pass it along. Lyme and ehrlichiosis can be transmitted to humans through ticks and dogs.
Lyme symptoms include a bullseye rash around the bite site, fever, headache or migraine, and fatigue. Ehrlichiosis symptoms are migraine, muscle aches, fever, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rocky Mountain spotted fever symptoms include fever, rash, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Symptoms of diseases spread by ticks can appear in 3 to 30 days. If you believe you've been bitten by a tick and are experiencing any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your local healthcare provider. Symptoms are similar in dogs, and if you believe your pet is experiencing symptoms of Lyme or ehrlichiosis, contact your veterinarian for testing and treatment options.
Tick Control In Oklahoma City Made Easy
In Oklahoma City, tick control may not always be at the forefront of your mind. Ticks are usually associated with grasslands and hiking but are still pests to watch out for. If you've got a property with high grass or are planning an outdoor event, you might want to consider tick extermination services provided by Brandley Pest Control.
Family-owned and operated, we have proudly offered our home pest control services in Oklahoma City for over 14 years. We deliver affordable pricing and quality service and implement a commonsense approach to our pest control solutions. Contact Brandley Pest Control today and request a free inspection.