Ticks cling to their host using an anchor located just below the mouth.
Pulling on an attached tick is likely to sever the body from the head which could cause an infection. Tabasco sauce placed on the head of a tick is a good way to make the tick loosen it's grip. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease are all diseases transmitted by ticks. Lyme Disease symptoms mimic the flu but if left untreated can lead to long term health problems. Lyme Disease is often transmitted by the deer tick.