My husband and two youngest boys went hiking at the nearby State Park yesterday evening. They had a great time, but both boys came home with a tick attached. My 7 year old was actually bitten, the 12 year old had one burrowed into his sock.
The two ticks that are commonly found in Minnesota are the Blacklegged Tick (formerly known as the Deer Tick) and the American Dog Tick. There are 13 kinds of ticks, but these are the two that feed on humans.
The Blacklegged Tick carries Lyme Disease. According to the CDC - "Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system."
For a list of ways to avoid being bitten, click here.
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