Preventing Ticks This Season

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One word can sum up all the weather we’ve been having in our region during the past few days: beautiful.  Spring is here once more, and it is time to do all the activities that we have been waiting to do for so long.  Pests feel the same way—especially ticks.  Join us today as we give you tips on preventing ticks during the spring!

Bundle Up

Sure, you may want to break out the shorts, t-shirts, and boat shoes, but all of these invite ticks to hop on for a quick meal.  While it’s totally fine to wear weather-appropriate clothing for general things, make sure you are properly covered up when spending an extended period of time outdoors or if you know that you will be doing something in the woods. Long pants and sleeves are the way to go, as they provide less of an area for ticks to latch on to.  Be sure to throw on boots or closed-toed shoes, too!

Repel

In conjunction with covering up your body when going out, you should also be covering your body in some sort of pest repellent, especially one with permethrin.  Luckily enough, there are some clothing items out there that are permethrin-treated, like socks and shoes.  Wearing these types of clothing will be your best effort in preparing against ticks, as they have the ability to crawl across DEET surfaces without being harmed.

Stick to the Sun

Here’s a little-know fact about tick prevention— by staying out in the sun, or just sunny areas, you significantly reduce the chance of having ticks bite you.  This is because tick nymphs cannot stay out in the sun for too long, thanks to their leaky cuticles, meaning that they will literally dry out.  By sticking to areas well in the sun and staying away from leaf piles or cool, humid spots, you are choosing to be tick free.

Check

The reason why we go to such extensive lengths to prevent ticks is because they can carry Lyme disease.  However, most ticks need some time to transfer the disease to you or your family, so you can stop it by doing regular checks after spending a day outside.  A general rule of thumb is a tick removed within 48 hours of being latched on should not transmit the disease, so it is imperative to do regular checks after outdoor activities.  Take extra care to check your armpits, groin, and scalp, as ticks will naturally gravitate towards them, since they are the biggest source of warmth on your body.  Should you find one, remove them promptly.   

Ticks are out and about already in our region, but that should not limit the amount of fun you can have outdoors.  Just follow along to these simple tips, and you’ll be in a better position to be tick-free, all season long.

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