 During the warmer months in Wyoming, it is common to encounter ticks while participating in outdoor activities. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a common bacterial disease that is passed from ticks to humans. Ticks generally hang from vegetation and wait for an unaware mammal passing by to latch onto you. Once the tick has found a suitable location on the host and has started sucking blood, a tick-borne disease can then be passed on. The heart and kidneys can experience very damaging results due to the disease. Symptoms are generally similar to that of the flu and a rash that forms around the wrists and ankles. It is important to seek medical attention if you have come into contact with a tick and have these symptoms. The Rocky Mountain wood tick requires blood meals from three host animals to complete its development after hatching from the egg. The first two life cycles of the tick are found mainly on rodents. The adult stage likes larger animals. The complete life cycle can range from as little as two years to as many as four. Wearing long sleeves and pants, applying insect spray that contains deet, conducting routine body checks, and avoiding thick vegetation are all strategies to help avoid tick contact. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Brian Sebade, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.