What good are ticks? And how can southern Utahns avoid being a meal?

A Rocky Mountain wood tick clings to grass, location not specified, circa 2008. Southern Utah’s tick activity ramps up in mid-to-late spring and summer. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

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ST. GEORGE — Rainy weather and cooler days could be a boon for hungry ticks, leading to more activity and bites. But some southern Utahns may be wondering why there are ticks in the first place.

Southern Utah’s tick activity ramps up in mid-to-late spring and summer, fizzing out as the days grow hotter and dryer. However, the Utah State University Extension office states these bloodthirsty parasites are more active during monsoon season and into fall.

While there are potentially over a dozen native species in the area, most are harmless to humans, said Samual Wells, an assistant professor in Southern Utah University’s biology department.

People and animals in Utah are most likely to encounter the Rocky Mountain wood tick, the extension office writes. Other Utah species include brown dog ticks, winter fern ticks and western black-legged ticks. While less common, black-legged ticks can transmit Lyme disease but “are not known to do so in Utah.”

“They really are fascinating creatures,” Wells said. “If you look at them closely under the microscope, they’re pretty remarkable creatures.”

Read the entire story at St. George News.

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