Here in Ohio, we like to brag we have it all. We have four seasons. We have big cities and small towns. We have world-class attractions and beautiful parks -- including our very own national park! We have a low cost of living and high quality of life, and generally don't experience dramatic natural disasters or dangerous animal attacks. Generally. No state is perfect, and even the Buckeye State has its fair share of dangers. The Asian longhorned tick is the most recent dangerous species to invade Ohio, marking the first established population of this parasitic arachnid in the state and, more alarming, it has a preference for large livestock and wildlife, such as cattle. With farming an important part of the Buckeye State's economy, these cattle-killing ticks are an unwelcome presence in Ohio. Here's more about these bloodthirsty bugs:
The Buckeye State is known for its bucolic beauty and fertile farmlands, with some 77,000 farmsteads dotting the landscape.
Cattle farming is an especially important part of the state's agriculture; Ohio's cattle farmers raise approximately 296,000 cows on nearly 17,000 beef cattle farms, a subset of farms that can be found in every Ohio county.
So the appearance of a brand-new kind of tick that has the potential to affect Ohio's literal cash cow? That's alarming, in more ways than one.
This is the Asian longhorned tick, a tiny, parasitic arachnid that's long been a major livestock pest in East and Central Asia. Not normally found in the Western Hemisphere, these ticks were reported for the first time in the United States in 2017 and have been rapidly spreading ever since.
Now in Ohio, the ticks are believed to be responsible for the death of three cattle due to severe blood loss, according to Ohio State researchers. With females laying eggs and reproducing without mating, Asian longhorned ticks can multiply exponentially; thousands of ticks may be found at a time in grass or shrubs.
Asian longhorned ticks have been found on pets, livestock, wildlife, and people, but unlike other tick breeds, the Asian longhorned tick appears to be less attracted to human skin. Instead, these bloodthirsty insects have shown a preference for large livestock and wildlife, such as cattle and deer.
One recent experimental study found that this tick is not likely to contribute to the spread of Lyme disease bacteria in the U.S., but it's best to abide by the "better safe than sorry" approach: wear long pants and sleeves when hiking in thick, grassy areas and woodlands. I always wear a baseball hat when hiking, too, as a line of defense against the ticks found in my corner of Ohio.
Don't let these invasive ticks deter you from getting out and exploring Ohio, as the ticks pose little threat to humans. Knowledge is power, and awareness is key! So lace up your boots and wear your Ohio pride proudly... just keep an eye out for ticks!
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