What are common tick species in Oklahoma?
Ticks are some of the most dreaded pests found in Oklahoma due to their ability to spread several dangerous diseases by biting. As parasitic arachnids, ticks survive by latching onto mammals and feeding on their warm blood. Ticks target all types of mammals, including wild animals, livestock, household pets and, of course, people.
The tick species that live in Oklahoma can be separated into two main categories: hard and soft. Hard ticks have a protective shell that makes them nearly indestructible, and they are known to attach to a person or animal for several consecutive days of drinking blood. Soft ticks lack the organic shield and usually only attach to a host for a short period of time while feeding.
The hard tick species found in Oklahoma are:
- American dog ticks
- Black-legged ticks
- Brown dog ticks
- Gulf Coast ticks
- Lone Star ticks
- Winter ticks
Just two soft tick species are common in Oklahoma:
- Fowl ticks
- Spinose ear ticks
What tick-borne diseases are in Oklahoma?
The scary thing about ticks is that these parasites can spread diseases while they suck your blood, and some of these diseases can have life-threatening consequences. Tick-borne diseases that you should be aware of as an Oklahoma resident are:
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) - A bacterial disease that was first discovered in the Rocky Mountains, tick-borne RMSF has become a major threat in Oklahoma. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is mostly spread by American dog ticks and most commonly infects people living in wooded areas, with children being the most frequent victims. Symptoms of RMSF can include fever, aches, insomnia, delirium, and a spotty rash. If not treated properly, Rocky Mountain spotted fever has a significant mortality rate of 20-30%. No vaccine is available.
- Lyme Disease - Possibly the best known of all tick-borne diseases, Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that is mostly spread by black-legged ticks. Lyme disease is an unpredictable illness; some victims don't even know they have it and recover on their own, while others don't develop symptoms for weeks, months or even a full year after infection. The most common symptom of Lyme disease is chronic pain throughout the body, which can worsen over the time and become debilitating. It is important to treat Lyme disease early to prevent permanent symptoms from occurring.
- Tularemia - Another common bacterial disease in Oklahoma, tularemia is often spread by ticks that have fed on the blood of wild animals. American dog ticks and Lone Star ticks are the most common spreaders in our state. Tularemia cases usually begin with a severe fever that lasts for about two weeks. Symptoms may continue to cause complications with the lungs and lymph nodes even after this initial feverish period ends.
Are you concerned about ticks and the diseases they spread? At Champion Pest & Lawn, we have the products needed to exterminate ticks lurking in your home and yard. Give us a call today if you need professional tick control services in the greater Oklahoma City area!