By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent
As Kentucky moves through the heat of summer, producers, pet owners, and families are spending more time outdoors—and ticks are active right alongside them. Our state’s mix of humid weather, abundant pasture and forest edges, and thriving wildlife populations creates ideal habitat for several tick species. These include the lone star tick, American dog tick, blacklegged (deer) tick, and the invasive Asian longhorned tick, which has now been detected in at least 16 Kentucky counties.
Why tick awareness matters
Ticks can transmit pathogens that affect humans, pets, livestock and wildlife. For people, the lone star tick is linked to alpha‑gal syndrome — “the red‑meat allergy” — while the blacklegged tick can transmit bacteria-causing Lyme disease. The American dog tick can spread the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Livestock and equines face additional risks. The Asian longhorned tick (ALHT) is especially concerning because it reproduces asexually, allowing populations to explode quickly on animals and in the environment. ALHT also transmits a parasite that causes bovine theileriosis. The Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian has already documented cattle deaths from both theileriosis and severe tick burden.
Horses are also vulnerable. Tick bites may lead to skin irritation and allergic reactions, while the most common tick‑borne diseases affecting horses in Kentucky are equine granulocytic anaplasmosis and Lyme disease. Severe ALHT infestations can also cause skin irritation and heightened immune responses, though information on ALHT effects on equines is still limited.
Protecting livestock and horses
Daily or routine tick checks are essential, especially for animals in brushy or wooded areas. Watch for signs of heavy infestation such as rough or “disheveled” hair coats.
Focusing on areas where animals spend the most amount of time, recommended practices include:
- Maintaining short, well‑mowed pastures.
- Removing brush, leaf litter and log piles.
- Creating buffer zones between wooded areas and paddocks/pastures.
- Using approved on‑animal acaricides; always follow label instructions.
- Quarantining and inspecting new animals before turnout.
- Inspecting livestock and horses for ticks in thin-skinned, high-risk areas such as the ears, eyelids, jawline, chest, axilla (armpits), groin, under the tail and, in horses, at the base of the mane.
Protecting pets and working animals
Dogs and outdoor cats can bring ticks into the home. Keep them on veterinarian‑recommended tick, flea and mosquito preventatives year‑round. Check pets after time outdoors, especially around the ears, neck, belly and between toes.
UK and your county Extension office can help
Tick prevention is especially important during warmer months, and your local Extension agents can help you identify ticks, manage habitat, select repellents or livestock treatments, and understand disease risks in your area.
Contact the Carter County Extension Office for additional guidance. More information on tick bite prevention and tick identification, as well as tick management resources, is available through the UK Department of Entomology Extension BITE Lab. If you suspect ALHT, please bring a specimen(s) to the Extension office. We will work with the BITE lab on reporting new county or animal host records.
The Department of Entomology also offers select tick pathogen screening through the Kentucky Human Health Tick Surveillance Project. A list of submission guidelines is available on the website.
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Upcoming Events:
- The Olive Hill Farmer’s Market is located in the Save-a-Lot parking lot and is open on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 8:00 AM until sell out. The Grayson Farmer’s Market is open on Saturdays at 9:00 AM and Tuesdays at 2:00 PM until sell out and is located in the shed behind the Extension Office. Kid’s Day at the Grayson Farmer’s Market will be on August 4th from 2:00-3:00.
- Ag Development Board – August 3rd @ 7:00 PM
- Little Sandy Beekeepers – August 4th @ 6:30 PM
- Extension Council & District Board Meetings – August 11 @ 10:00 AM
- Carter County Fair – Exhibits can be dropped off at the fair trailer on August 11th from 12:30-2:00.
