It's Tick Time Again

It's the spring so the ticks are out again looking for a meal off you or your dog. Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of animals, including people. The size of a tick varies, depending on the stage of its life cycle, gender, species and whether it has fed recently. Nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed, while adult ticks look more like tiny spiders.

Ticks can survive in many places, but prefer moist areas with dense vegetation or long grass. The species of tick most frequently found on people is Ixodes ricinus, more commonly known as the sheep or deer tick. They are usually found in woodlands, grassland, moorland, heathland so they're very often found out of the Lakeland fells.

Ticks don't jump or fly, but wait until an animal or person brushes past to climb on. They then bite to attach to the skin and start to feed on blood. It may take several days to complete their blood meal, before they drop off.

Ticks can transmit bacteria that cause diseases such as Lyme disease, which can lead to very serious conditions if left untreated. Symptoms of Lyme disease can include flu-like symptoms, fatigue, muscle and joint pain.

To find out more about ticks, including symptoms of Lyme disease and how to remove ticks visit our Look out for Ticks page.

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