Just Pluck 'Em

I have always prescribed to the notion that the world’s varieties of creatures are woven into webs of balance, necessity and purpose. Even the ones that make you go yuuuuck. It just seems however, that try as I might, a few of these I just can’t figure out their place in the scheme of things. Such is the case with that slower than a sloth, creepy, crawly, disease-carrying arachnid we call a tick. The absolute only positive relationship I have ever heard is with Diceros bicornis (black rhino) and his friends of Africa and the nitpicking tickbird that rides his back. This wonderful symbiotic relationship allows the parasite eating tickbird a ride with a free meal and the rhino, Lubriderm-like skin.

Jeffrey Vogl, DVM

May 22, 2011