Ticks are highly prevalent in Oklahoma, posing a significant public health concern for anyone who spends time outdoors. The state’s warm, humid climate and extensive wooded and grassy areas provide an ideal habitat for numerous tick species. Oklahoma consistently ranks among the top in the nation for the incidence of certain tick-borne diseases. Understanding the common species, their habitats, and the illnesses they transmit is essential for protection.
The Most Common Tick Species
The most frequently encountered tick in Oklahoma is the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum). The adult female is easily recognized by a distinct white or silvery-white spot on her back. This species is an aggressive biter and readily attaches to humans in all life stages—larva, nymph, and adult. Lone Star Ticks feed on a wide variety of hosts, including deer, livestock, domestic animals, and people.
The American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), sometimes called the wood tick, is the largest species found in the state. Adults have a mottled tan and brown pattern on their backs. While immature stages prefer small rodents, the adults frequently feed on dogs and humans, often found along trails and in grassy areas.
The Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis), also known as the Deer Tick, is also present. The adult female is recognizable by its dark, almost black legs and reddish-brown body. While adults primarily feed on deer and cattle, the nymph and larval stages feed on smaller mammals and birds. This species is less common than the Lone Star or American Dog Tick but is found in the state’s wooded regions.
Where and When Ticks Are Active
Tick activity in Oklahoma is not confined to a single season and begins as soon as temperatures rise above freezing. The peak season for most species spans from early spring, around March, through late fall, often into September. Vigilance is necessary throughout this long, warm period.
Ticks are found in areas where they wait for a passing host, a behavior known as questing. Habitats include wooded and brushy areas, tall grasses, and transitional zones between lawns and forests. Ticks do not jump or fly; instead, they climb onto low vegetation and latch onto a host through direct contact.
Walking in the center of trails and avoiding dense brush or leaf litter significantly reduces the risk of contact. Even a manicured backyard can harbor ticks if it backs up to a wooded area or has dense shrubbery. Ticks are often carried into yards by common wildlife like deer and rodents.
Understanding Tick-Borne Illnesses
Oklahoma’s tick population transmits several significant diseases, with the risk varying by species. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a major concern, as Oklahoma consistently reports some of the highest case numbers in the United States. RMSF is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii and is primarily transmitted by the American Dog Tick.
Early symptoms of RMSF include a sudden high fever, severe headache, and often a rash that appears a few days after the fever begins. Prompt medical treatment is essential, as delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications and a high mortality rate. The Lone Star Tick is the primary vector for Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME), a bacterial infection caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis.
Ehrlichiosis symptoms are similar to RMSF, including fever, headache, and muscle aches, though a rash is less common. Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, is spread by the American Dog Tick and the Lone Star Tick, resulting in fever and skin ulcers.
The Lone Star Tick also transmits Alpha-gal Syndrome, an unusual condition causing a severe allergic reaction to red meat. This allergy is triggered by the alpha-gal sugar molecule that the tick introduces into the bloodstream during feeding. Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) is also linked to the Lone Star Tick. STARI causes a rash that sometimes resembles the bull’s-eye rash associated with Lyme disease, though it is not caused by the same bacteria.
How to Prevent and Safely Remove Ticks
Effective prevention involves personal protection and habitat modification around the home. When outdoors, wear long pants and long sleeves, and treat clothing and gear with a product containing 0.5% Permethrin. Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus to exposed skin, following the label instructions.
After spending time outdoors, conduct a thorough tick check on yourself, children, and pets. Pay attention to hidden areas like the hair, under the arms, and behind the knees. Showering within two hours of coming inside helps wash off unattached ticks. Reduce tick habitat around your home by regularly mowing the lawn, removing leaf litter, and trimming brush and tall grass.
If you find an attached tick, safe removal is important to minimize disease transmission risk. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking motions, which can cause the mouth-parts to break off in the skin.
After removing the tick, clean the bite area and hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Avoid using folk remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or a lit match to make the tick detach. These methods can cause the tick to regurgitate its stomach contents into the wound, increasing the chance of infection. If possible, save the tick in a sealed bag or container for identification if symptoms develop.