Tick, tick, tick ...
BY NICOLE STEELE
BHG News
Have you seen more ticks lately? With the weather getting warmer, enjoying the great outdoors and soaking in the sunshine, you might come across a few ticks. It’s not uncommon to see a few more ticks this year.
According to Michelle Feist, program manager of the N.D. Department of Disease Control, "This is the time of year where you will see an abundant population of ticks."
Chad Trautman, park manager at Fort Stevenson State Park, said, "Ticks always seem to be thick this time of year and anyone walking through tall grass should check themselves as they are very prevalent."
North Dakota State University officials said, "Ticks are blood-feeding external parasites of several mammal species, including humans, dogs, cattle and horses. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts that are inserted through the skin of their host. Once engorged with a blood meal, a tick will drop off its host to mate, lay eggs or continue development.
"The life cycle of ticks is comprised of four distinct developmental stages: one inactive stage – egg, and three active blood-feeding stages – larva, then nymph and adult."
