FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY


bears tend to be shy and retreat from humans, they have been known to attack and can be
dangerous when with cubs.

 Insects

 Ticks are a significant hazard in North Florida. Two of the most common tick-borne
diseases of concern are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lyme disease is a
bacterial infection caused by a spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) which is transmitted via the tick
bite (CDC, 2008a). Lyme disease can have symptoms (rash, muscle aches, fever, and mild-flu-
like symptoms) which may mimic other diseases and can often be misdiagnosed.
 Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is caused by a bacteria (Rickettsia rickettsii)
which is spread through tick bites. Common ticks in Florida which may transmit these diseases
include the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the lone star tick (Amblyomma
americanum), and the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Initial signs and symptoms of the disease
include sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle pain, often followed by development of a
rash (CDC, 2008b).


 Photos courtesy of
University of Nebraska
Dept. of Entomology
Photo by Jim Kallsch
 'A


SDeer tick
- (Ixodes scapularis)


 Lone Star tick '
(Amblyomma americanum)


 "w4Wog tick
(Dermackntor variabilis)


 Three FGS staff members (two samplers for the springs team and one of the drillers) have
contracted RMSF due to tick bites. The photos on the next page are of: 1) the rash resulting from
RMSF (left) from the bite of a lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and 2) the site of a tick
bite (right) which resulted in the infection of one of our staff members with RMSF.