Ticks are found in grassy, brushy areas where they wait for a host to pass by.\u00a0 They are especially prevalent along paths used by animals.\u00a0 Ticks are not choosy about their host and often get onto a person’s leg.\u00a0 They crawl upward on the body, looking for a place to attach.\u00a0 Their populations are greater than in the spring and summer following a mild winter.<\/p>\n
Ticks have a 4-stage life cycle:\u00a0 egg, larvae, nymph, and adult.\u00a0 The nymph and adult forms are able to attach to humans and other animals and possibly transmit diseases.<\/p>\n
A tick bite is not painful and may go unnoticed.\u00a0 In most cases, the tick simply bites, draws blood for its nourishment, and drops off.\u00a0 If the tick happens to be infected, the infectious agent is transmitted during the feeding process.\u00a0 It is important to realize the majority of ticks are not infected.<\/p>\n
How to Protect Yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n The number of ticks in endemic residential areas may be reduced by removing leaf litter, brush and woodpiles around houses and at the edges of yards, and by clearing trees and brush to admit more sunlight and reduce the amount of suitable habitat for deer, rodents, and ticks.\u00a0 Tick populations have also been effectively suppressed through the application of pesticides to residential properties.<\/p>\n How to Remove a Tick<\/strong><\/p>\n Tick-Borne Diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n Helpful Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n Fairfax County Health Department Tick Prevention Video<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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