The most dangerous animal

The common tick, which everyone knows about, is probably the only animal in Denmark that can really be dangerous. Ticks, which are blood-sucking mites, are found all over Denmark. They have a rounded, almost teardrop-shaped body with eight legs, and they can suck so much blood that they swell up and become as big as a pea. Ticks’ natural prey are all kinds of large animals, from lizards (that can be badly affected by them) all the way up to deer and humans.

It is, however, not just the number of tick bites that can be a problem. Ticks can also transmit the dangerous sickness Lyme borreliosis which can result in permanent damage to the body if the tick isn’t noticed and removed quickly. You should always check yourself and your pets after you have been out in the forest.

If you catch a tick, or kill one, you should have a look at it with a magnifying glass. Its mouthparts, which make a hole in the skin, are covered with saw-toothed spikes and barbs. This is why ticks are difficult to remove once they have attached themselves.