Surprise! It’s May! April really didn’t have as many showers as one would hope, but the May flowers are still persistent and blooming anyway. There is likely a lesson in that sentiment, but I am here this month to talk to you about ticks.
Anyone who gardens or spends any amount of time outside is no stranger to the tick. Those pesky tiny fellas with their pesky tiny jowls that pierce our tasty human flesh and drink our blood are out and about and waiting. No, really. Ticks laze about and wait for mammals to pass by and latch onto. With the ever-increasing temperatures thanks to climate change, not only are they out and about earlier and longer than ever, but they are also growing both in number and in geographic footprint.
While there are certainly products out there that claim to annihilate every tick in your backyard, and are correct in that statement, they will also annihilate every single critter within range as well. You are certainly free to do as you wish in your own backyard on your own property, but should you decide to go the pesticide route, please realize that you may be throwing the proverbial baby out with the bath water as a result. Do some research on which chemicals are least harmful to other animals, humans, and the environment before spraying. The world desperately needs to protect pollinators, and pesticides are the number one killer for these beautiful insects.
There are other ways to attempt to reduce the number of ticks in your yard that do not involve harmful chemicals and mass destruction. Simply keeping your grass mowed down in high-traffic areas cuts down the space ticks have to latch on in wait significantly. Ticks also prefer shady, moist areas such as leaf piles, the woods, and brush. Avoiding such places will help keep ticks from latching on. Also discouraging critters that carry ticks on their bodies, such as squirrels, chipmunks, and even deer, from being in your space can reduce the number of ticks in the area.
The best way to avoid tick troubles on your person is through self-prevention. If you will be outside and in the wilderness (or even in your own backyard in the garden!) there are many steps you can take to prevent the little creatures from latching onto you in the first place. First, wear light colored clothing so that the pesky critters are easier to spot should one hitch a ride. If weather appropriate, wear long sleeves and long pants, with the pants tucked inside your socks. Close-toed shoes and hats are also recommended for further tick prevention.
While I did climb above my high horse earlier (her name is Maribelle) in regard to pesticides on the lawn, a good way to prevent ticks and other bitey pests away from your person is by wearing a strong bug repellent. Picaridin or DEET are recommended for skin contact, and insecticides such as permethrin to clothing and shoes. The website for the Global Lyme Alliance is a great resource for the proper way to spray your clothing. You can find it at www.globallymealliance.org.
Once you have had your adventures outdoors, it is recommended that you immediately change out of your outdoor clothing, with tossing them in a hot dryer for at least 10 minutes being an extra bonus assurance of killing them. After you have removed your clothes, give yourself a once-over for any ticks. Some are very tiny little fellas, so a shower as soon as you can isn’t a bad idea either. Ticks, unfortunately, love to find every crevice and cranny, so be sure to check those places extra carefully in addition to the more visible parts of your body.
Should you find a tick latched to your body, get a pair of tweezers and pull it off as swiftly as possible, making sure that you do not leave the head behind. Place the tick in a Ziploc bag and be sure to write the date on it so you know when it was latched. Keep an eye on the spot that was bitten for any signs of infection, or the telltale bullseye sign. Unfortunately, some tick-borne illnesses do not present physically but rather through flu-like symptoms. If you find yourself sick for an extended period of time in the spring/summer/fall, it wouldn’t hurt to get a checkup from your doctor to rule out any tick-borne illnesses.
I hope this wasn’t too terrible an article to read, but it felt like an important one to write at the start of tick season. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, tick season gets earlier every year and causes many problems to humans and pets alike. Lyme disease alone is not a joke, nor is alpha-gal syndrome and any other number of tick-related troubles. Keep aware and remember these tips, and you will be sure to have a fantastic spring and summer!
