It's Tick Time Again

I know. Ugh, right? 

Ticks and lyme disease are something to be aware of but not scared of.

While ticks are active April through October, spring is especially the time to be aware of their activity. As temperatures rise into the 40's, ticks become active outdoors again.  Of course, that's the time we want to be on trails and in the woods enjoying early wildflowers, migrating warblers and foraging for edibles like morels, fiddleheads and ramps.

The black-legged deer tick is the primary carrier of lyme's disease. But don't despair. Usually, a tick has to be attached to you 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacteriumcan be transmitted. If you remove a tick quickly (usually within the first 24 hours), you reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease.

Here are a few quick pre- and post-hike prevention tips that can help with peace of mind and no ticks attached to you!

• Wear light colored clothing (easier to find ticks on them).
• Tuck pants into socks. 
• Spray boots and pants legs with a Picaridin or DEET-containing insect repellent.
• After hikes, toss your hiking clothes into the dryer on high for a 10 minute spin (it kills the little beasties)
• Check your body carefully for any tick action post-hike
• Shower/wash hair (usually it takes from 24-36 hours after a tick attaches. A good scrub helps to dislodge them).
• Consider spraying a set of "hiking clothes" with Permethrin. 

What do you do if you find a tick on you? The safest thing is to grasp it firmly near it's mouth parts with a tweezers and pull it gently out. Save the tick to bring with you to urgent care if you develop a fever or rash so the tick can be tested.

With a few precautions or a general awareness, you can enjoy the outdoors even in the tickiest springs. So get out there and hike!

RESOURCES

This 2022 New York Times article has some recommendations on very effective brands of insect repellant sprays for skin and clothes and where to purchase them.

The CDC has a very informative Lyme's Disease section on their website if you want to dig deeper into identification, prevention,