Ticks again

[Reapward]

Came home with a nice collection of ticks. 5 on me, unattached, and 3 on my husband. Twisp River trail once again, but I suspect they are everywhere now and seem to be in abundance. Have never had so many, except when I lived in Kansas.
Just wanted to post again, to be aware.

[Solstice]

I'm no fan of ticks, but believe it or not, they do play a role in nature. Actually tiny arachnids that feed on the blood of animals and humans, ticks also play a role in the ecosystem by serving as a food source for many animals.

In fact, over 850 different animal species consume ticks—including lizards, frogs, snakes, spiders, chickens, wild turkeys, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, and small rodents. Opossums are an especially effective tick predator, reported to eat up to 5000 ticks per season!

Ticks help to control the population of other animals, weeding out the less fit members of a population. This natural selection process helps in maintaining the overall health and strength of various species, making sure that only the fittest survive to reproduce and pass their genetics on to future generations.

A warming climate—especially warmer winters—may well mean we're looking at increased tick populations both locally and throughout North America.

[farm108]

Thank you Solstice for reminding us that every tiny part of the complex natural system plays an important role. Even those parts we humans do not appreciate!

[Reapward]

Yes, thanks Jim. I sure didn't know they did all that. And the designs on their litte backs are pretty cool. The ones I had on myself yesterday, I just flicked off. I did notice the first 2 I flicked off, I remained pretty mellow. But with each successive tick that I would find, I found myself yelling, usually just a word. The two I found in my house the week prior, I did kill.
I've got an opossum I can rent out. Any takers?

[SherpaDave]

Today if I walk my dog along the river in the brush, we will both come home with ticks. If I walk him through the hills in the bitterbrush, there are none. It's a matter of moisture. Ticks don't like it dry. They like damp cool foliage best. That is why the ticks nearly all disappear in August and September.

[muchaloza54]

Our dog had ticks from walking on the dry hills, not by the river,I think they are where ever deer roam.

[Reapward]

I think you may be right regarding the deer. The ticks are looking for warm blooded beings.

[TomIrvine]

Hiked out to Louis Lake this AM. Found three ticks on me when I got to the lake. Found more when I got back to the car.