What To Do If Bitten By A Tick In Twin Falls

August 21, 2021


Twin Falls, Idaho, is the proud caretaker of over 1,650 acres of parks and open spaces. The city’s mission is to protect the health of its residents and offer wonderful places that provide opportunities to relax, play, exercise, and connect with neighbors and nature. One parasite the Twin Falls community does not want to connect with is the tick. Nothing can mess up a day enjoying nature more than bringing home a tick that can make you ill.

deer tick on a leaf

What Everybody Ought To Know About Ticks In Twin Falls

Ticks are small arachnids that live primarily outdoors; they are parasitic pests that feed on the blood of people and animals. Since different ticks transmit different diseases, it is wise to identify what ticks you have picked up.

Three common ticks around Twin Falls are as follows:

  1. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick: These ticks are normally brown but become a grayish color after feeding. They are an oval shape that is somewhat flattened from top to bottom. Females can be 1/8” long to 5/8” long and up to ½” wide when engorged. Males tend to be smaller ranging from 1/16” – ¼” long. Nymphs and adults have 8 legs. These ticks can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis.
  2. Western Black-Legged Tick: Females that are about 1/8”-3/8” when fed, long with a dark reddish abdomen and black dorsal plate. Males tend to be brownish-black in color and are slightly smaller than females. Nymphs and adults have 8 legs. These ticks can cause Anaplasmosis and Lyme disease.
  3. Brown Dog Tick: Normally a flat, reddish-brown with an oval body that changes to a gray-blue/olive color when engorged. These ticks are about 1/8” long, but once engorged, it can expand to about ½” long. Male dog ticks have tiny pits scattered over their back; their shield is present and covers their entire back. With the female, their shield covers the front part of the back. Nymphs and adults have 8 legs. These ticks can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Boutonneuse fever.

The Best Way To Treat A Tick Bite

When you locate a tick attached to your skin – Do Not Panic! As quickly as possible, remove the tick with a set of fine-tipped tweezers.

Here's how:

  • Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
  • Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick to prevent the mouthparts from breaking off and remaining in the skin. (If the mouthparts do break off, try to remove them with tweezers.) If unable to remove the mouth easily, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
  • Once removed, clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly with rubbing alcohol followed by soap and water.
  • Dispose of live ticks.

If the tick you remove is still alive, or if you find a live tick that is not yet embedded, it is important to ensure it doesn't bite again. You can do this by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.

Potential Health Issues Caused By Twin Falls Ticks

Symptoms of tick diseases are typically mild and treatable at home; however, sometimes symptoms can be severe and result in hospitalization.

Symptoms of serious issues from tick-borne diseases include:

  • Fever/chills
  • Aches and pains, headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches
  • Joint pain in the case of Lyme disease
  • Various rashes/lesions

If you experience these symptoms following a tick bite it is important to seek medical attention. Whenever possible let your doctor know what species of tick you encountered.

What Is The Best Way To Control Twin Falls Ticks?

At Owyhee Environmental, we have affordable, long-lasting, and effective tick control solutions. Our eco-friendly pest solutions help keep you and your loved ones safe and tick-free. Contact Owyhee Environmental today to put in place preventative solutions that keep ticks far away from your property.




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