Any advice on what I need to know about country living/owning property?

Back when I was in Jr. High school we had some new neighbors move from California, they were new to the backwoods life. One day on the school bus he told me his head was bleeding and didn't know why, I looked at it and he had busted a big tick in his head, I told him what had happened and he didn't know what I was talking about, he'd never seen a tick. I told him he'd have to start checking for them if he was playing in the tall grass or woods. So I guess when moving to another area you should "smell out as Rob said" any new critters in the area that might be new to you.