Logan, I share your concern about ticks. The east coast region of australia where we live is notorious for its ticks...especially in the summer. We have been told that ticks are not just on the ground but that they can be blown in by the wind & fall from the trees above. It's said that they are prevalent on the wildlife that are in our gardens & bush & park areas...but that creatures like possums are immune to their toxin. But they're deadly to domestic animals.
We spray our dogs with Frontline, they take an internal medication called Proban, & I keep an insect repellent handy to spray onto any tick that should attach itself. I'm also considering getting one of the tick collars.
Our dogs have never been poisoned by a tick but one of our cats had to be treated. Some of our friends have had 2, 3 or more tick emergencies with their dogs over the summer.
I give a quick comb over to our 2 shelties & 1 tibbie every day during the tick season so I'd be aware if a tick had attached itself. Then I spray it with the insect repellent.
One of our big universities is doing a major research project on ticks. I'll see if I can find a link for you to find this information.