Tick Alert!

I noticed that I have been having numerous conversations lately with a variety of different people about ticks.  TICKS - just the very word makes me feel a tickly sensation on my legs! I have heard tick stories this week from birders, gardeners, appraisers, Rail Trail hikers, dog walkers, and seen them on nice little clean kids. These blood sucking creatures are nowhere as appealing as Robert Pattinson and a most unwelcome guest. An increase in the tick population is probably the result of a mild winter and the unusual weather this spring. You run the risk of one of these insects hitching a ride on you or your pet any time you are in the grass, especially if the grass is a bit high. If they can remain undetected, they will bite the host and bury their head/mouthparts in the skin so that they can begin feeding on the blood.  Undisturbed, they will become engorged and resemble a plump grey green bean with 8 tiny legs.

How can you avoid all this? Inspection is critical any time you have been in the grass. Check your legs and clothing and wear light socks when possible. It is important to apply a strong bug repellent, designed for ticks, although I have heard stories of bites despite the spray. Ticks are parasites with a fairly thick shell or carapace, which makes it difficult to kill them easily. If you find one already feeding, it is critical to resist the temptation to yank it off as you might just rip the body away from the head which can remain embedded in the skin and cause an infection. Most ticks do not carry diseases, and here is a good link for a procedure on How to Remove a Tick. There are also different kinds of ticks so it is beneficial to identify whether the tick you have found is a Dog Tick, or a Deer Tick, known for carrying Lyme Disease. A bullseye shaped rash is often an indication of a Deer Tick bite.  Flu-like symptoms and joint & muscle pain might indicate that further medical attention should be sought immediately.