Ticks are disease-carrying arachnids that can spread illnesses to you and your loved ones. These blood-feeding pests live in lawns and yards and can attach to you and your pets. They insert their mouthparts into your skin and feed on your blood. If you’re having a problem with ticks, it’s important to contact a good Tulsa exterminator to help eliminate them.

Let’s take a look at ticks and what you can do to stop them from attacking you.

Where Ticks Live and How They Feed

Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids that live outdoors. They love tall grasses and bushes, where they can wait to be picked up by a passing animal. Many times they will attach to a deer, raccoon, or some other woodland creature, but they can also get on you or your pets if you’re not careful.

They feed on blood slowly and may take hours or even days to become fully engorged. Some ticks swell up like a balloon as they feed.

What to Do if You Find a Tick

If you see a tick attached to your skin, it’s important not to panic. If you simply rip it off, its mouthparts could break off and remain in your skin, potentially causing irritation.

To remove a tick, the best way is to use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Grip the tick as close to your skin as possible and pull straight upward with steady, even pressure. This helps remove the tick without leaving mouthparts behind. Then dispose of the tick safely, clean the bite area, and follow basic first aid. The CDC provides guidance on what to do after a tick bite.

Keep an eye on how you’re feeling afterward. If you develop a spreading rash, especially one that looks like a target with concentric circles, or experience fever or other unusual symptoms, contact a medical professional promptly. Not every tick-borne illness causes a bull’s-eye rash.

Diseases Ticks Can Spread

Ticks can spread serious diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, tularemia, and Lyme disease. Certain tick bites can also trigger alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat and other mammalian products. Some tick-borne diseases can become life-threatening if they’re not treated. That’s why keeping your medical professional involved when you develop symptoms after a tick bite is so important. Oklahoma State University Extension provides information on ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Call TermMax Pest Control

If you’re having a problem with ticks or any other pest control issue, it’s important to get a Tulsa exterminator involved for a good exterior treatment. TermMax Pest Control can help with that and get you back on track. Call us today for help, and we’ll come out as soon as we can.