Texas is home to various tick species, small arachnids that feed on blood. Texas’ diverse landscapes and warm climate create environments where ticks thrive. Ticks in Texas can pose health risks by transmitting various diseases to people and animals.
Common Texas Ticks
Texas is home to several tick species. The Lone Star tick ( Amblyomma americanum ) is recognizable by a single white spot on the back of adult females. Lone Star ticks are known for their aggressive biting behavior. The American dog tick ( Dermacentor variabilis ) has a brown body with yellowish-gray markings.
The blacklegged tick ( Ixodes scapularis ), also known as the deer tick, has a dark body and brown legs. It is more common in the eastern and coastal regions of Texas.
The brown dog tick ( Rhipicephalus sanguineus ) is reddish-brown and primarily infests domesticated dogs. The Gulf Coast tick ( Amblyomma maculatum ) is found along the Gulf of Mexico coast and inland.
Where Ticks Live in Texas
Ticks inhabit various outdoor environments, from dense woodlands to urban and suburban areas. They are often found in grassy, brushy, or wooded regions with cover and host access. These arachnids do not fly or jump; instead, they wait on vegetation for an animal or person to brush past, allowing them to attach.
Higher concentrations of ticks are often observed in East Texas due to dense pine forests and lush underbrush. However, ticks can also be found in residential backyards, urban parks, and along hiking trails. Their ability to adapt to different host species allows them to persist in diverse habitats.
Health Concerns from Ticks
Ticks can transmit a range of bacterial and viral pathogens. Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial disease, with the American dog tick being a primary carrier in Texas. Symptoms appear 3 to 14 days after a bite and include sudden fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash that often begins on the extremities and spreads. Untreated RMSF leads to severe health complications.
Ehrlichiosis is another tick-borne illness transmitted by the Lone Star tick. Symptoms emerge one to two weeks post-bite, including fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue; a rash is more common in children. Anaplasmosis, spread by blacklegged ticks, presents with similar flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, often 5 to 14 days after a bite. While less common in Texas compared to other regions, Lyme disease may occur, transmitted by blacklegged ticks. Its symptoms include fatigue, fever, headaches, and sometimes a characteristic bull’s-eye rash.
Beyond these, the Lone Star tick is associated with Alpha-gal syndrome, causing an allergy to red meat. Tularemia, a bacterial disease, is also transmitted by Lone Star and American dog ticks, leading to symptoms such as fever, skin lesions, and swollen lymph nodes. Early diagnosis of any tick-borne illness is important for effective treatment.
Protecting Yourself from Ticks
Taking preventative measures can reduce the risk of tick bites. When outdoors, consider wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes. Tucking pant legs into socks or boots helps prevent ticks from crawling onto the skin. Choosing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks that may have attached.
Applying insect repellents containing active ingredients like DEET (at least 20%), picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) to exposed skin offers protection. Additionally, clothing and gear can be treated with products containing 0.5% permethrin for extended repellency. Staying on marked trails and avoiding dense brush or tall grass minimizes exposure to tick habitats.
After spending time outdoors, it is important to conduct a thorough tick check on your body, children, and pets. Ticks often favor warm, moist areas such as the armpits, groin, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, and behind the knees. Showering within two hours of coming indoors helps wash off unattached ticks.
If a tick is found attached, remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure, avoiding twisting or jerking. After removal, clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Avoid using folk remedies like petroleum jelly or heat, as these may agitate the tick and increase disease transmission. If illness develops after a tick bite, consult a healthcare provider.