Spring, Summer & Fall, Basically April – September months, have the distinction of being “Tick Season!” ALERT! This year, due to the cooler temperatures, the ticks are already out and looking for any innocent host that happens by so that they can silently latch on to a hair, a pantleg, or some skin, then find a good spot to bury its head into the skin and begin feeding and engorging itself on blood! I picked one off one of my dogs already; many neighbors have been reporting ticks on their dogs and on themselves!
Did you know that Ticks are not a beetle? They are an arachnid! From the spider family! I’m not fond of Ticks, spiders, or other creepy crawly things! I get it. Spiders take out other insects; they just look scary to me. In Michigan, I always look out for the Brown Recluse. I have had a few friends bitten by them, and it creates a painful memory! Ticks are external parasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and, in my family, primarily dogs. What is it about sanguivorous creatures like ticks, mosquitos, leeches, vampire bats, and Dracula that feed on blood? This does not mean they don’t like human hosts; they do and are attracted by carbon dioxide and sweat.
Ticks cannot fly or jump; they often hang on to a leaf or weed in a process called “Questing.” In the case of my dogs, when they walk into the brush, the game begins: “Tick On!” A few years back, I found a tick on my Golden dog Charley. I had read on the internet about applying alcohol and soap and then snag it with tweezers. I was squeamish about going after the Tick. I called a local dog boarding facility, and she walked me through the process on the phone. I asked her to stop and let her know that I learned best by watching and asked her to let me come over for a Tick removal lesson that I would pay for. She agreed. Charley and I drove to her business, about a ten-minute drive, and I brought Charley in and helped him on the table. I pointed out the Tick, and she grabbed her Tick kit, picked out the right size for that specific tick, slipped the tool underneath the Tick from behind, and slowly lifted the Tick up and off my dog. Now that I understood the process, I went to town to build my Tick kit. The next day, Charly came in with another hitchhiker, a Tick. I grabbed my kit and went to work. I had all the confidence of a surgeon, and within a few seconds, I had the Tick in a plastic bag.
In Michigan, there are over 20 Ticks. My kit came with pictures of different ticks, including this one, an “American Dog Tick.” Ticks can carry harmful bacteria, like Lyme Disease. Over 40% of adult Ticks may have the disease. There are lots of names, including Lone Star Tick, Black-legged Tick, and Woodchuck Tick, to name a few. There is also Alpha-gal Syndrome, which causes a red meat allergy. It can be life-threatening.
Over the years, I have taken off dozens of Ticks. They are hard to find, and long-haired dogs can be a challenge. Inspect yourself and your dog when coming in from outside. I believe it is better to be “Ticked Off” Than “Ticked On!” The dogs love it when I check them; it’s a major petting and massage time. They don’t know I’m checking them for Ticks and loving them simultaneously! One year, I took a tick off of my Grandson; I had to enlist the help of 2 adults to hold him down; it was like a WWW World Class wrestling match! I took the tick off; he did not even feel it. He forgave me and then thanked me after I let him squish it in a plastic bag.
For dogs, prevention includes oral medication, liquid neck drops, and chemical and natural dog collars. For humans, prevention includes tucking pant legs into socks, spraying a deet or other chemical or natural product on pant legs, and inspecting them when you get back home!
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 05/23/2025 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com
