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Native American Tick Mythology

Like other biting insects, ticks are viewed as enemies of humankind by many tribes, and some legends feature blood-sucking or man-eating monsters transformed into mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies after their deaths.

Native American Legends About Ticks

Coyote Kills A Giant:
    Navajo legend telling how the wood tick got his flat shape.
Indian Tick Tale:
    Salish Indian legend about the origin of deer ticks.

Recommended Books of Tick Stories from Native American Myth and Legend

Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies:
    Book about the meanings of Indian animal spirits, including a chapter on ticks.
Insect Mythology:
    Interesting book on the meaning of ticks and other insects in world mythology, including Native North America and Mesoamerica.
Native American Animal Stories:
    Great collection of American Indian tales about animals, told by Abenaki storyteller Joseph Bruchac.



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