Ticks are tiny bloodsuckers that cling onto unsuspecting hosts. They fall in the arachnid family meaning they have eight legs. And while they’re most prevalent between March and mid-July, they also become active in the fall.
Fun Facts
- There are two categories of ticks: Soft and hard. Hard ticks are more common, with a hard exterior shield. Soft ticks are less common and sort of look like a raisin.
- Not all ticks carry Lyme disease. The only Lyme-transmitting tick in Utah is the Western Black-Legged tick which is very rare.
- The most common tick found in Utah is the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. It’s a reddish-brown hard tick that can spread Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or tularemia.
Stay Safe
- Wear repellent and when possible wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks. Don’t worry, all the cool kids are doing it.
- Ticks usually take a few hours or more (ick!) to find their feeding location. So check yourself before you wreck yourself. Search your entire body but especially armpits, backs of knees, waist, belly button, between the legs, around the scalp, and ears.
