Tick season in Western Australia has reached its most intense period, with the bush around Perth experiencing a significant surge in these parasitic arachnids. According to local reports, the current peak activity aligns with the typical WA tick season running from September through April.
The Tick Threat in WA's Bushland
These persistent creatures inhabit bushland areas, climbing vegetation to await passing hosts. Alarmingly, they demonstrate active hunting behaviour, even marching towards individuals resting in the bush. Their stealthy approach makes them difficult to detect until they've already attached.
Ticks are parasites that survive exclusively on blood meals from humans and animals. They infiltrate clothing, secure themselves to skin, and burrow mouthparts into their host to feed. The reproductive cycle drives this behaviour - female ticks require blood before producing eggs, while males seek hosts primarily to find mates.
Health Risks and Common Species
The WA Health Department identifies two main tick families in Australia: hard ticks and soft ticks. Western Australia's most common hard ticks include the ornate kangaroo tick and the brown dog tick. These vary dramatically in size from nearly invisible larvae to engorged adults approaching little fingernail dimensions.
Fortunately, the dangerous eastern paralysis tick remains confined to Australia's east coast. However, WA residents still face health concerns from local species. The most frequent issue involves localized reactions at bite sites, which can persist for months as itchy, bruise-like marks.
More seriously, ticks can transmit bacteria causing rickettsial disease, with confirmed cases occurring in WA. Symptoms include fever, rash, muscle pain, headaches and fatigue. Rickettsia gravesii infections are notifiable in Western Australia, emphasizing their significance to public health.
Prevention and Safe Removal Strategies
Effective prevention begins before entering tick habitat. Experts recommend treating clothing with permethrin wash and wearing long-sleeved shirts tucked into trousers, with pant legs secured inside socks. Light-coloured clothing improves visibility for spotting ticks before they reach skin.
After bush excursions, clothing should undergo hot tumble drying for 20 minutes or freezer storage for several days to eliminate hidden ticks. Thorough body checks focusing on hidden areas like behind ears, scalp, groin and underarms are crucial.
For removal, avoid folk remedies involving kerosene or burning. Current research supports killing ticks before removal to reduce saliva flow and reaction risks. Permethrin-based creams or ether-based sprays effectively dispatch ticks, with products like Medi Freeze Tick Off available from chemists.
Once deceased, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull directly upward without twisting. After removal, apply antiseptic cream to the affected area and monitor for unusual reactions.
Despite being pests, ticks serve ecological purposes as food sources for birds and reptiles, while also contributing to natural selection processes in animal populations.
