If you have spent time outside, then you know that ticks can be a major issue. I know that when I go camping, I do a check for ticks every night. Sometimes, I find one.
Then, I feel appreciative knowing that I could have avoided contracting a dangerous disease. Furthermore, I also check my pets for ticks as well. They can be hard to spot because they tend to hide in the fur of animals.
At the same time, it is also possible to control the population by fostering the growth of animals that eat ticks. What animals eat ticks? There are a few going to keep in mind.
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Birds Eat Ticks
Without a doubt, birds are among the most common animals that eat ticks. At the same time, there are other animals that can help keep ticks aa well. Take a look below at some of the most common animals that can help keep ticks at bay.
Lots of Animals Eat Ticks
It is important for everyone to learn about animals that eat ticks. This is one of the top ways to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases. Some of the illnesses that ticks carry include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis.
All of these conditions have the potential to be fatal. The good news is that there are plenty of animals that also naturally prey on ticks. These animals know how to spot ticks and can devour them, helping to prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases.
Some Species of Birds Eat Ticks
First, there are some species of birds that eat ticks. There are many people who live in rural areas that raise chickens and guinea fowl to eat ticks.
These animals are natural predators of ticks and can keep them at bay.
Those who live in suburban areas or urban areas might also want to consider raising ducks. Domesticated ducks that live in a local area and also help keep ticks causing problems.
One of the best animals to keep ticks out of the way is called the guinea hen.
Guinea hens are native to Africa but have been embraced for years by farmers in the United States.
These are natural predators to ticks. They tend to hang out in the nearby areas, wandering around and pecking at anything that looks like an insect. This includes ants, Japanese beetles, slugs, and, of course, ticks.
Take patrol the area and make sure that it is free of insects. Sometimes, they eat beneficial insects as well; however, this is a trade-off to keep ticks at bay.
There are some other species that will do serious damage to ticks as well. Wild turkeys are a fantastic option to keep ticks from spreading. Reach out to the Department of Fish and Game to see if it is possible to raise wild turkeys.
If so, they will do a great job of hunting ticks and getting rid of them. It could also be a good idea to reach out to the National Wild Turkey Federation. They might have some information on wild turkeys in the local area as well.
These are a few of the top bird species that can be used to keep ticks at bay. Therefore, if the city allows it, consider building some sort of local bird habitat.
All of these birds do a great job of controlling ticks. Furthermore, those who decide to raise chickens will also have a nice supply of eggs they can consume. If you are looking for an exceptional species to keep ticks from spreading, birds might be the way to go.
Possums Are Exceptional Tick Killers
In addition to bords, there are a number of other animals that will be text wherever they find them. One of the top animals on this list is the possum. While the saying, “playing possum,” it’s not exactly endearing, possums are expert at killing ticks.
Numerous scientists have discovered that when possums groom themselves routinely, they are also looking for ticks. If they find ticks, they look them up and swallow them. Possums can pick up plenty of ticks during the course of their travels.
Therefore, they can also carry ticks. For this reason, there is a risk that comes with relying on possums to sweep ticks out of the way. At the same time, they also have plenty of experience finding and removing them.
Therefore, opossum could probably use a PR makeover. Even though they are often maligned as carriers of certain conditions, they are certainly good at killing ticks.
While possums are not exactly animals that should be domesticated, it is probably worth keeping around.
Even though many people have traditionally tried to get possums removed because they tend to get into the garbage, it might be worth keeping around, particularly if you have a tick problem in a local area.
Even though more research is needed on how to use these animals are able to kill ticks, the reality is that they should be a welcome presence if there is a tick problem that has to be addressed.
In addition to possums, there are a number of other animals in the family that will eat ticks.
These include squirrels, mice, and other rodents. Even though these animals are known to dine on ticks and other insects, they can also carry them. Therefore, they aren’t the best choice to control ticks. They might also spread other diseases.
Frogs and Toads Are Natural Tick Predators
Finally, it is also important to address another natural predator of ticks, which are frogs and toads. Amphibians are natural tick predators.
These animals, along with lizards, or extremely quick at identifying and devouring ticks. While there isn’t a lot that people can do to enhance the growth of a natural population, it is worth fostering the growth of these animals if they are uncovered in the local area.
For those who spend a lot of time outside, it might be worth setting up shop in an area where there are lots of frogs or toads nearby. For example, I know that when I go fishing, I usually look for frogs and toads before I cast out for the day.
I know that if there are frogs and toads in the local area, there is a much lower chance of me ending up with a ticket at the end of the day.
In addition to frogs and toads helping to keep mosquitoes away, what can carry serious diseases as well, they will also eat any tick that is unlucky enough to come within reach of its a sticky tongue.
What Makes Ticks So Dangerous?
The biggest reason why ticks are so dangerous is that they can spread dangerous illnesses. Without a doubt, the top disease on this list is called Lyme disease.
Lyme disease pens to prevent about 24 hours after a tick has attached itself to a person. It is spread by the bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and it passes from the tick into the person’s blood when the tick attaches itself.
The problem with this disease is that baseball contracts don’t even realize they had a tick on them until the disease starts to present with some things.
Some of the most common symptoms of this disease include fever, chills, muscle and joint aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. The Hallmark symptom of this illness is the development of a rash mild erythema migrans.
This rash presents in the shape of a bullseye and can be hard to spot, particularly if it is concealed by hair. The rash tends not to show up until about a week after the development of other symptoms.
Furthermore, Lyme disease can also lead to a serious complication that could impact the heart.
Those with this condition are at risk of developing certain arrhythmias, which impact the electrical signals that flow through the heart and can lead to serious problems pumping blood to the rest of the body.
While there are antibiotics that can be used to treat Lyme disease, it is always better to try to prevent this condition from happening in the first place.
This is why it is a good idea to learn about animals that can control ticks and keep them from biting people. Ticks are a dangerous and potentially deadly insect that needs to be exterminated in areas with people.
