DEER TICKS GUARD REPORTED WATER SOURCE IN SOUTH COTTAGE GROVE

Initial attempts on the part of Journal staff to locate and photograph a reported spring at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA have been unsuccessful. The search which took place Friday afternoon, was not without purpose however, as spring wildlife has been confirmed to exist and be once again active in the area.

Among the smaller insect wildlife important to recognize are those commonly known as “ticks.” Some are more deadly than others.

With regard to the SNA in south Cottage Grove, those who would seek the spring reportedly located in the SNA’s southeast corner, should be particularly aware of is that commonly known as the “deer tick,” confirmed to be present and actively guarding the reported spring site.

Adult deer ticks are divided into male and female, with the female larger than the male in a classical insect case of dimorphism, or different sizes according to biological sex. Known to inhabit Washington County generally as well as surrounding areas in the eastern and central parts of Minnesota, deer ticks follow their hosts, hiding in wooded or bushy areas with shade and other tick survival advantages, with a two-year life cycle from egg to adult for deer ticks.

As to dimorphic recognition, female deer ticks are recognizable by an aft portion colored reddish-brown with a black circular portion towards the front, while male deer ticks are black with a white stripe around the edge, and are smaller than females.

Among the hazards of the deer tick are Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan virus.

Tending to hide and attach in hard to reach or find areas such as the groin and arm pits, but also behind the knees, up to two days are needed to transmit Lyme Disease, making swift detection and removal imperative. As for common symptoms of Lyme disease, these include fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and a bull’s eye pattern rash.

Should you find a deer tick, the Minnesota DNR recommends using a tweezers to “grasp the tick close to its mouth,” before slowly and gently pulling the tick straight out. To avoid the bacteria causing Lyme disease, if present, one should not squeeze the tick’s body.

With primary risk season from mid-May through mid-July, there are ways to avoid the lacked-on tick issue altogether, or at least mitigate risk for humans active in tick country.

Among these, listed on the DNR website, are the following:

• When in tick habitat, walk in the trail center to avoid picking up ticks from grass and brush.

• What light colored clothing for greater visibility and easier detection.

• Create a barrier to ticks by tucking pants into socks or footwear and long-sleeved shirts into pants.

• Use a repellent containing DEET or Permethrin, and follow container instructions.

• After visiting tick country, change clothes and do a full body check then shower and vigorously towel dry. Wash affected clothes immediately to do away with any ticks that might be hiding in them.

• Check your pets! Regarding the last one, there are no dogs allowed at the Grey Cloud Dunes SNA in south Cottage Grove, while keeping the furry friends healthy requires human following of the rules.

Also active and worth being aware of this time of year are the American Dog Tick (“aka “wood tick”), the Brown Dog Tick, and the Lone Star Tick, all of which can carry diseases. With regard to the Lone Star Tick, it is so named for a white dot the female has on its back, with habitat normally confined to the southern portion of the United States but currently expanding reach. Among the hazards of the Lone Star Tick in particular are its aggressive human biting tendency (aggressive compared to other ticks), and several diseases, including STARI, Tularemia, Heartland Virus, Ehrlichia Ewingii, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis.

The American Dog Tick and Brown Dog Tick, meanwhile, can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, with dogs the primary host for the eight-legged pests. American Dog Ticks can also transmit Tularemia, colloquially known as rabbit or deer fly fever.

Keep yourself and man’s best friend safe by taking tick precautions this outdoor season!

A male deer tick highlighted against khaki-colored pants, with the weave pattern background helping to indicate size. Photo by Joseph Back.

Returning from a Dakota County field raid, these geese were flying north towards Cottage Grove. Photo by Joseph Back.

One of many reported springs listed on the Minnesota Spring Inventory, the feature as indicated with blue dot, has not been field confirmed in the Grey Cloud Dunes SNA. Springs are a karst feature in which groundwater seeps out naturally, carrying with them potential indication of underground caverns, among different possibilities. Image from Minnesota Spring Inventory.