Spot Check
W
Story by Pamela Cohen
e walk through the maritime forest
enjoying the beauty; yet, we may be
unaware of the minute beings that are less
obvious to the human eye. Ticks are tiny
creatures, the size of an apple seed when fully grown. Ticks
thrive in grassy, shrubby, and woody areas. They cannot fly or
even jump but cling to grasses and leaves in hopes of catching
onto a tasty passing host. Rodents, such as mice and squirrels,
are their preferred meal, but they will settle for others.
Birds and an assortment of other animals in the wild are
also standard fare. Of the over 800 species of ticks that exist
worldwide, a much smaller number bite humans and pets.
While it is essential to take precautions in the summer
months, when ticks are most active, some like black-legged
ticks, can still be found in the fall. You do not have to be deep
in the woods to encounter a tick; even a stroll through the
grass can result in this tiny creature hopping onboard skin,
clothing, or belongings.
American dog tick
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Naturally Kiawah