Ticks are a common concern for anyone spending time outdoors in Florida. The deer tick, known for its association with certain diseases, often raises questions. Understanding their presence, appearance, and potential health implications is important for residents and visitors to take appropriate precautions and safely enjoy Florida’s natural environments.
Presence and Distribution
Deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as black-legged ticks, are present in Florida. They are widely distributed across the eastern United States, with Florida forming part of their southern range. While found throughout the state, their prevalence is higher in northern and central regions, decreasing significantly west of Tallahassee and south and east of Tampa.
These ticks prefer humid, shady environments, often found at ground level in wooded areas, tall grass, brush, and shrubs. They typically cling to vegetation no more than 24 inches off the ground, waiting for a host. Deer ticks are also found in lawns and gardens, particularly near the edges of woods or around old stone walls. Their distribution is closely linked to the presence of white-tailed deer, which serve as a primary host for adult ticks.
Identifying Deer Ticks
Identifying a deer tick involves observing its size, color, and specific markings. Before feeding, adult deer ticks are quite small, measuring about 3-5 millimeters (approximately 1/8th of an inch) in length. They are typically dark brown to black, with distinctively darker legs, which gives them their alternative name, “black-legged tick.”
After a blood meal, their bodies become engorged, changing to a lighter grayish or olive-green color and appearing more rounded. Deer ticks have eight legs and an oval body. Nymphs, the immature stage, are even smaller, roughly the size of a poppy seed, but share the same dark appearance. These characteristics help distinguish them from other common Florida tick species like the American dog tick or the Lone Star tick, which often have white or golden markings.
Diseases Carried by Deer Ticks
Deer ticks carry several pathogens, with Lyme disease being the most recognized. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. In Florida, about 15-20 cases of Lyme disease acquired within the state are reported annually.
Symptoms of Lyme disease often begin days to weeks after a bite, including flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, and fatigue. A characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash, erythema migrans, develops in 60-80% of cases. If untreated, the infection can spread, potentially affecting joints, the heart, and the nervous system, leading to more severe conditions like joint pain, facial palsy, or an irregular heartbeat.
Beyond Lyme disease, deer ticks can transmit other infections, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells and can result in flu-like symptoms, although some infected individuals may have no symptoms. Anaplasmosis is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain, and unlike Lyme disease, it typically does not cause a rash.
Prevention and Safe Removal
Preventing tick bites involves several strategies, especially when spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants minimizes exposed skin. Tucking pants into socks or boots creates a physical barrier. Choosing light-colored clothing also makes it easier to spot ticks.
Using EPA-registered insect repellents is another method of protection. Repellents containing DEET or picaridin can be applied to exposed skin. Products containing permethrin are suitable for treating clothing and gear but should not be applied directly to the skin. Staying on designated paths and avoiding tall grass, dense brush, and leaf litter can further reduce exposure to ticks.
After returning indoors, perform a thorough tick check on yourself, children, and pets. Ticks can hide in warm places like under the arms, in and around ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, and in hair. Taking a shower within two hours of being outdoors can help wash off unattached ticks. Clothes worn outdoors can be placed in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.
If a tick is found attached, remove it promptly. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure, avoiding twisting or jerking the tick, as this can cause its mouthparts to break off. If mouthparts remain, they can often be removed with tweezers or naturally expelled as the skin heals.
After removal, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Dispose of the live tick by sealing it in a container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet; avoid crushing it with your fingers. Do not use methods like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat to remove a tick, as these can agitate it and increase disease transmission risk. If a rash, fever, or other unusual symptoms develop in the days or weeks following a tick bite, seek medical attention and inform your doctor.