The pain it induces when you touch the bark, stem, or leaves has been described as excruciating, lasting up to a month. It causes all of your lymph nodes to swell as your body's immune system reacts to the poison. And, just as a reminder of the experience, the pain returns to the affected area months later, with temperature changes or when wind hits it. Ticks, of course, are a concern. We do daily checks to be certain we aren't playing host to these hungry arachnids.
Paralysis ticks can cause paralysis and even death in some livestock and dogs.
We don't get away scot free, however. Once the paralysis tick burrows into your skin, it exudes venom. The venom can cause extreme and painful swelling, in an elephantiasis fashion. If the tick finds itself in your neck, the swelling may constrict the windpipe, creating a need for a tracheotomy. Tiny leeches, less than an inch in length and about the diameter of a pencil lead, wait in the soft, dark soil and in foliage.