By Benjamin Alva Polley EBS COLUMNIST
In the vibrant spring of 1999, I checked into a clinic nestled within the breathtaking landscapes of Yosemite National Park. It was there that I discovered a tick embedded deep in my thigh, a sinister harbinger of potential illness, as a telltale bullseye rash began to blossom across my leg. With relief washing over me, the tick was promptly removed, sparing me from the clutches of Lyme disease. At that moment, the specific type of tick eludes my memory, but the experience lingered vividly in my mind.
Fast forward to the spring of 2008—I ascended a sheer buttress in the rugged wilderness surrounding Missoula. Upon reaching the summit, I was greeted by a stunning panorama where the river wound like a silver ribbon through the lush green valleys, leading toward town. However, amidst this natural beauty, I became keenly aware of 40 different wood ticks crawling over my legs and arms like unwelcome invaders. Ticks thrive on warm, sun-drenched spring days, favoring the rocky outcrops and dense cover of tall grasses, shrubs and underbrush. Realizing that I had overstayed my welcome among these tiny creatures, I quickly decided it was time to retreat.
In recent months, ticks in Montana have captured headlines as the presence of deer ticks—known carriers of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and a range of other ailments—has been confirmed in Dawson and Sheridan Counties within the state. Once considered a threat merely in Eastern regions, these ticks are expanding their territory westward, a disturbing trend likely fueled by shorter, warmer winters and climate change.
Deer ticks are tiny, with distinctive, featuring dark, black legs adorned with a large, bib-like shape on their backs. The males are cloaked in shades of grayish-brown and sport a substantial dark-brown bib, while the females flaunt rust-colored bodies with smaller bibs. These formidable parasites are not picky hosts; they latch onto deer, elk, moose, pets and even humans. It is vital to remember that only female ticks bite and engorge themselves on blood, becoming the very agents of infection they are infamous for. After feasting, these engorged females drop off into the leaf litter, where they hibernate until the following season. In mid to late May, they lay an astounding egg mass—up to 1,500 to 2,000 eggs—before succumbing to death.
Montana’s diverse habitats are home to an array of tick species, some of which harbor pathogens that pose significant risks to human health. These include diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, soft tick relapsing fever and tularemia, each capable of wreaking havoc on various body systems like the skin, eyes, throat, lungs and intestines. If deer ticks become firmly established, it’s a worrying forecast that Lyme disease and other pathogens could soon affiliate themselves with this daunting list.
Lyme disease, the most prevalent vector-borne illness in the United States, is instigated by a bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick, commonly known as a deer tick. Early signs often emerge as a characteristic circular “bullseye” rash around the bite, accompanied by fever, fatigue and relentless headaches. If left untreated, the bacterial invader can escalate to compromise the joints, heart, and nervous system—an alarming progression indeed.
Once a tick is spotted, tranquility often eludes you; it’s difficult to shake the unsettling feeling that ticks may be lurking everywhere, hidden in the grass or behind every bush. Their presence can certainly evoke fear.
Yet, amidst these worries, ticks play a pivotal role in the ecosystem. They serve as sustenance for a variety of other species, fulfilling an important role in nature’s tapestry of life. Numerous animals and insects eat ticks, aiding in the natural control of their populations. Birds such as chickens, guinea fowl and wild turkeys actively seek out these bloodsuckers, while amphibians like frogs and toads indulge in a tick feast as do fish.
Small mammals, including opossums and raccoons, also hunt ticks, with the opossum standing out as a particularly effective predator. Moreover, various insects—such as ants, beetles, and spiders—occasionally snatch up ticks, while lizards, snakes, ground squirrels, chipmunks, and many small birds also partake in this unconventional banquet.
In the intricate dance of nature, even the smallest creatures play a vital role, despite the nuisance they may be to humans.
Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His words have been published in Rolling Stone, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Men’s Journal, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications, and can be seen on his website.
