If you live near wooded areas or spend time in fields and nature, you’re probably all too familiar with one of the tiniest yet most troublesome pests around: ticks.

These small arachnids may seem harmless at first glance — after all, no one’s ever bled out from a tick bite — but don’t be fooled. Ticks are far more than a minor annoyance. They’re capable of transmitting a host of serious illnesses to both humans and animals, and their bite can leave behind much more than just an itchy bump.

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