Teton County Entomologist Studies Wyoming Ticks

MARCH 31, 2025 |

Photo – Tick – Courtesy City of Mississauga Canada

As temperatures rise in the coming days and weeks, you are advised to be on the lookout for ticks. The tiny parasites are hungry for your blood and they can cause trouble.

Bigfoot99 spoke with Teton County Weed and Pest District Entomologist Mikenna Smith about the dangers of ticks. Smith explained that parasitic ticks, which are closely related to spiders, rely on blood as their main source of nutrients.

Seeing a lack of official data on ticks in Wyoming, Smith has taken it upon herself to conduct a study to determine what species of ticks live in the Cowboy State and the diseases they carry. Unlike more forested states, Wyoming does not have a large native tick population, with only four known species thought to exist here.

Smith said the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is the most prevalent tick in Wyoming, with scientific literature claiming that it lives mostly in isolated regions of the state, mainly on south-facing, brushy mountain slopes.

Smith’s study challenges the widely accepted belief that ticks are found only in secluded areas. The Teton County entomologist said her data indicates that ticks are beginning to appear in places where they are more likely to come into contact with people.

Smith acknowledged that ticks might have always inhabited those areas, but a lack of historical data makes it impossible for her to verify that hypothesis.

Smith said that ticks can transmit a variety of diseases, ranging from fevers to paralysis. Additionally, dogs are not immune to tick-borne illnesses.

Some of the symptoms of Colorado Tick Fever include fever, chills, muscle aches, adnominal pain, and a rash at the bite location.

Smith said tick paralysis can be especially worrisome because the victim may not be aware that they were bitten by a tick.

The Teton County entomologist provided an example of a Jackson resident who contracted an undiagnosed case of tick paralysis. Luckily, once the parasite was removed, the victim quickly recovered.

Smith explained that tick paralysis is caused by the tick’s saliva, which is used as an anti-coagulant. Once the parasite is removed, the body begins to break down the proteins in the saliva and the symptoms cease.

A common life-threatening pathogen carried by ticks is Lyme’s disease. The illness can begin with a fever and muscle aches. Untreated, Lyme’s disease may result in heart palpitations, severe joint pain and swelling, and chronic neurological issues, such as memory loss.

Smith said, thankfully, the tick responsible for spreading Lyme’s disease isn’t known to live in Wyoming. However, the parasite has been reported in Utah.

As part of her research, Smith is asking people to send her ticks they find while hiking, hunting, or fishing. The Teton County entomologist said last year, she received over 400 tick samples from around the state. Using those samples, Smith said she was able to confirm that the American Dog Tick can now be found in Wyoming.

Smith said her program has revealed that the Lone Star Tick is making its way into Wyoming by hitching rides on livestock transported from other states. Additionally, testing of tick samples has shown that parasites carrying Colorado Tick Fever can be found statewide.

Here in Carbon County, Smith has received several samples of Rocky Mountain Wood ticks, a species known to transmit Colorado Tick Fever, tick paralysis, and tularemia, a bacterial disease known to cause skin ulcers.

Smith recommended wearing long pants while hiking and said tucking your pant legs into your socks is an effective way to prevent tick bites.

Smith also recommended using an insect repellant that has been proven effective by the Centers for Disease Control, such as DEET or Picaridin.

If you are bitten by a tick, Smith said the most effective way to remove the parasite is to simply grab it as close to your skin as possible and pull. Older remedies, such as burning the tick or applying petroleum jelly to the bite area, may cause infection.

Smith said removing the parasite quickly is the best way to prevent a tick-borne illness.

For more information about Mikenna Smith’s tick research, or to submit a tick sample, call the Teton County Weed and Pest District at 733-8419, extension 10.