Be On The Lookout, Clevelanders: A New Type Of Tick Has Been Spotted In Ohio
By Nikki Rhoades|Published February 20, 2023
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Nikki Rhoades
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Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Okay, before we dive in… don’t panic. Yet. However, if you live in Northeast Ohio, it’s important to keep your eyes peeled for the Asian longhorned tick near Cleveland. This bloodthirsty pest has been spotted in at least five Southern Ohio counties, but the Ohio Department of Agriculture is monitoring populations to make sure it doesn’t spread up north, and you can help. These creepy crawlies are worth keeping a pulse on if you’re an avid Ohio hiker.
Hey, Cleveland hikers... as a precautionary measure, keep your eyes peeled for the Asian longhorned tick (ALHT) this summer.
The ALHT is an invasive species, and it's highly unwelcome in the U.S. Nonetheless, since its arrival in 2017, it has been spotted in at least 17 states. Unfortunately, they've also been positively identified in Southern Ohio.
The Asian longhorned tick, which is smaller than most native Ohio species and has a notable triangular mouthpart, has the ability to spread fast.
As of right now, these ticks are mainly known for bovine theileriosis, a disease that causes fever and (often fatal) anemia in cattle. No other animal or human pathogens have been found in the U.S. population, but these creatures have historically spread other tickborne diseases to humans. However, their spread is absolutely a threat to local cattle populations.
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This tick has been identified in at least five Ohio counties, including a positive identification in Morgan County in late 2022.
This tick is most commonly found on deer and raccoons, making its spread further north a genuine possibility. These ticks can reproduce via parthenogenesis, meaning the females don't need a mate to produce thousands of eggs.
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While small and brown when unfed and gray when engorged, these ticks are easy to miss. After you hike with your pets, give them a good deep scratch to feel for these sesame seed-sized monstrosities.
If you have a cat that goes outdoors, give them a good check in the warmer months, too. These nasty parasitic arachnids have been found on both cats and dogs.
Nymphs, the especially tiny ones, are most common in the spring, with adults appearing most commonly in the summer months. If you see swarms of tiny arachnids in tall grassy fields or on vegetation, those could possibly be Asian longhorned tick populations.
If you find yourself bitten by a tick, save the tick for identification, mark your calendar on the date you were bitten, and keep an eye out for signs of symptoms.
The Ohio Department of Health has a great webpage outlining symptoms to look for. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) are two common tickborne diseases to watch out for. As we stated before, the ALHT populations in the U.S. have not been found to be carrying any diseases threatening to humans, but it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to tick bites.
How can you identify a tick? The OSU Parasite and Pathogen Ecology (PPE) Lab can help with that.
These scientists are actively monitoring tick populations in Ohio, and they are collecting samples of suspicious ticks that may be members of the ALHT population. If you find a tick, plop it in a zip-top bag and mail it to:
Be sure to include a slip of paper with your name, phone number, date and address of where the tick was found, and what it was found on. Keep in mind that you'll likely only hear back if your tick is identified as part of the ALHT population.
Fortunately, these arachnids are just in Southern Ohio, as far as we know... but it's always best to be prepared.
Tick populations tend to experience an uptick (bah dum tsss) after especially mild winters. As there is concern that these ticks may be able to transmit human pathogens, they're worth keeping an eye out for. If you do notice any major populations on livestock or other outdoor animals, immediately contact the Division of Animal Health.
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To protect yourself against the ALHT and other tick populations, where long pants and socks when you're hiking, and keep tick repellent on the shopping list.
If you do find a tick on you, you can grab it with tweezers (close to the skin where it has latched is best) and pull up. If it has burrowed a bit deeper and is not easy to remove, your local emergency clinic is well-versed in removing these bloodsuckers.
While nobody has spotted the Asian longhorned tick near Cleveland yet, it’s still worth keeping an eye out for as you hike during the warmer months. Remember, if you spot a tick that you suspect to be a member of this species on yourself or on your four-legged hiking companion, you can mail one to the labs in Columbus to help track population growth.
These ticks aren’t the only out-of-place species to invade Ohio. Check out our article on odd animals in Cleveland to learn about other unusual visitors, including invasive jellyfish and crab species that are living in Lake Erie as we speak.
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