Tick Alert

By Mary Rumph, Powder River Extension Agent

Ticks are out and about and ready to attach onto warm blooded species, so take precautions to protect yourself from this crawling insect that can be a disease vector.

The most common ticks we have in Montana this time of year are the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni, and the dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. Ticks can be transported into the home from pets and humans. The two species look very similar. The two species of the black-legged ticks, (also known as deer ticks, Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus) that vector Lyme disease have not become established in Montana although they are occasionally brought into the state by travelers (both human and pets).

The Rocky Mountain wood tick is found on livestock, companion animals, and humans in the spring and summer in Montana. It likes stream corridors, grassy meadows, and south-facing sagebrush slopes. It can transmit viral Colorado tick fever (CTF), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), bovine anaplasmosis, and tularemia. The American dog tick is found in eastern Montana. It is one of the major vectors of RMSF and can also transmit tularemia. Neither the Rocky Mountain wood tick nor the American dog tick transmit Lyme disease.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever transmission is rare in Montana; most cases occur in the southern Atlantic Region. Colorado tick fever occurs only in western states. In Montana, cases have been diagnosed west of the Continental Divide – southwest and south-central Montana. Symptoms of CRF occur within four days and include chills, headache, fever, muscular aches and general malaise.

It is important to prevent ticks from attaching to you. If you are out in an area with tall grass, shrubs, and woody ornamentals, you might encounter ticks. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and tuck your shirt in. Light colored clothing will help to spot ticks crawling on your clothing. Try to keep the ticks on the outside of your clothing to make them easier to see. Always do your tick checks right afterwards. Spraying the insect repellent DEET on your pant legs from your knees to your shoes will help prevent ticks from crawling on to you.

When removing ticks, you want to remove them as early as possible. There are some common “tick removal methods” that are not suitable anymore but have become somewhat folklore. The “backing out the tick with a match” technique is one of these “folklore” methods, and ticks do not detach this way. It is important to try to thoroughly remove the tick and to try to remove the mouthparts. The tick has a hypostome, which is barbed and used for insertion into the skin. If this breaks off, it can be a further source of irritation and possibly infection. Also, the crushing of the mouthparts can allow for disease transmission to occur through the skin if not removed properly. Place forceps (try to use blunt curved forceps or tweezers) around the tick and as close to the skin as possible. Remove the tick with a steady pull away from the skin. Try not to jerk or twist the tick. Avoid getting or crushing any tick parts on you. Disinfect your skin with alcohol and wash your hands with soap and water.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an excellent website at cdc.gov regarding the geographic distribution of the different types of ticks and the diseases they carry.