Carnivore's Curse: The Tick That Can Ruin Your Ribeye
Posted by Mosquito Squad
June 9, 2025
Mosquito Squad of Northeast Florida advises residents to beware of the tiny tick that has a beef with meat-eaters!
You might be wondering how on Earth a tick can affect your red meat appetite. As we know, Florida ticks can pose a health threat to people and their pets. From Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to the potentially fatal Powassan virus, tick bites can pack a very detrimental punch. What exactly does that have to do with grill meats?
Lone Star Ticks in Florida, Most Prevalent Human Biters
The tick threat in question is the Lone Star tick, native of the eastern United States. This tick is not only found here in Florida, but it has been identified as the biggest human bite threat among tick species here.
Aside from the fact that you are being bitten by a tick, the aftermath can be even more feared due to a meat allergy that can develop in the human body after a Lone Star tick bite. You read that correctly. We can develop a mild, moderate, or severe allergy to red meats, pork, and to products of red meats – ergo, dairy products.
What Causes the Meat Allergy, Alpha-Gal Syndrome?
If you receive a bite from a Lone Star tick, alpha-gal, a sugar molecule, can be introduced into your bloodstream. This molecule causes our bodies to produce an immune response, which develops antibodies to alpha-gal. What happens next?
We enjoy a delicious steak off the grill, or even another protein that has simply shared a grill surface with red meat. Hours later, we begin to feel ill. This could be a headache, severe stomach cramps and G.I. symptoms, or it could be more severe hives and heart palpitations. Because meat was consumed hours before, alpha-gal syndrome can go undiagnosed. This is especially true if we don’t even realize we’ve received a tick bite. And if we do correlate the meal we ate with our symptoms, we might believe we have food poisoning.
Alpha-gal diagnoses are on the rise in 2025! For this reason, if you love a good steak, be on the lookout for this dreaded meat allergy tick. Try with all your might to keep ticks out of your yard. Mosquito Squad of Northeast Florida can help!
Get Tick Control Treatments for Your Yard by Mosquito Squad
Tick yard treatments will greatly augment your efforts to avoid alpha-gal ticks. By eliminating the on contact and providing control and deterrence for weeks thereafter, Mosquito Squad of Northeast Florida will be your frontline defense against Lone Star ticks, as well as other ticks hiding out in your yard – and mosquitoes too!
Search for mosquito control near me and choose Mosquito Squad.
Mosquito Squad of Northeast Florida is a trusted tick control and mosquito control company, serving Jacksonville, Saint Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and surrounding areas. Also call us for outdoor pest control in Yulee, Atlantic Beach, Fruit Cove, and beyond!
At Mosquito Squad of Northeast Florida, our goal is your complete satisfaction. That’s why we offer a
Put our yard tick control to work for all your needs. Call Mosquito Squad of Northeast Florida at (904) 844-0816 to learn more about our formulas and outdoor pest control plans.
